bluemaxx

Disclaimer: I know this is the 5th gen forum but if you've looked around on the 6th gen forum you know nothing is happening there, for now. There isn't a VQ35 forum and since I had a 5th gen until yesterday maybe you'll tolerate me for a while until the 6th gen forum gets revved up.

I engaged a 2k3 SVT Cobra this evening. I didn't know what it was until I saw his assend, he came up from behind. To be sure, he was the winner in every way. But...

I can't believe how close I was able to stay with him. We had one run from 0 to about 65ish, he pulled me less than 2 car links. We turned onto I-35, I was behind him on the access road, and tried some more. I was in 2nd, he jumped ahead a little but I held my own. When we made it onto the freeway I was at the top of 2nd when we went for it, he got about half a car on me when I made the 2-3 shift. In 3rd he was pulling on me but he damned sure wasn't doing a disappearing act. I got wobbly knees at about 120, but he wasn't more than 3 cars on me and wasn't pulling away from me fast enough that I had to hang my head in shame.

I'm not a Ford follower and didn't really appreciate what I was dealing with. When I got home I did a Google search on SVT Cobra. This is what I learned, sorry if y'all already know this. I assume it's accurate, I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong.
"...The Cobra begins with the proven 4.6 liter Ford power plant included in a mustang GT - It has been fitted with a supercharger, a water-to-air intercooler...and with this and some extra goodies...the engine makes 390 horse power and 390 foot-pounds of torque (6000/3500 RPM respectively..."

As far as I know he was stock. Looked and sounded like it. My only mod so far, took the sun roof wind deflector thing off.

I am very encouraged by my first engagement in my new Max. Yes I was behind with no hope of catching him but I have to believe that he was wondering WTF. Big assed 4 door Japanese 6 cyl, should be disappearing in the rear view. I was thinking that with some... what I don't know. Super charger? NOS? I was stunned. We both bumped the rev limiters, he was definitely trying.

How can this be? How much does a mustang weigh? Is the conventional wisdom that the 2k3 Max is faster than the 2k4? How much? I'd need a butt load more power to go around him. But I wouldn't need that much more to stay with him.

Oh well, gives me something to think about. I wonder if anyone is planning hp parts for 6th gen?...

maximamaybe

You sure that it was a 2003 and not a 2001? 2001s had 320 and seems more possible. A 2003 runs in vette Z06 territory and I just don't see you being that close.

Craig Mack

They get to 60 in 4.6 seconds and throughout the quarter mile in the high 12's....he is a sucky driver; or maybe he never downshifted.

BJGemini

bluemaxx.... pls respond to these possiblities (2001 Cobra vs 2003, didnt downshift, etc.) as it would be interesting to see if there have been any changes made to ECU.

You posting in the 5th gen is cool, since nothing much changed in the engine b/w 2003 and 2004. It could either be ECU or intake changes that would explain the differences in the rated HP among all these Nissan VQ35s.

Brian

p.s. a 2003 Cobra SHOULD sound modded, even when it is stock.

bluemaxx

No I'm not sure. Your right. I'v driven a Z06 and it was sure enough fast. That would explain alot. Like I said, he was the obvious winner, no one would have been confused. Either way, I'm happy as hell. I'm thinking now I may want to prank with my boss and his SLK 32. I wonder what the career implications of that would be?

bluemaxx

He absolutely did downshift, like I said we were both bumping the rev limiters, either that or he was floating valves if they don't have limiters. I was close enough to hear that.

And I must fess up, I am still in break in period. I have a good grip on reality, that is why I was so stunned. You may be right about it being a 2k1 and not a 2k3. I may never know for sure. I'm sure he lives in my area we both turned around and headed back to Lewisville. Maybe I'll run into him at the supermarket sometime and I'll ask him. He looked to be about my age, maybe he has slow reflexes like me.

bluemaxx

So is a 2k3 Max faster than a 2k4? I think I've read that here somewhere.

BJGemini

2k4 added weight, just like 99's are faster than 2k's.
All massive overgeneralizations though.
Thanks for the fast responses.

Brian

maximamaybe

You chould do OK with the SLK 320. I would think better than with the cobra. Did the rear look like this

or this


Basically the non 2003s were all painted on the back and the 2003s have a black peice betweent the exhaust tips. THe hood is also much different as well.

bluemaxx

It's an SLK 32, I'll have to get back to you on that one.

I really wasn't taking notes about the assend of the Mustang. I think it had amber on the tail lights though.

So are we saying I should have been able to take a 2k1 or just that it couldn't have been a 2k3? Was there no 2k2?

Bottom line, the 2k4 SE Maxima honks. I looked around for a 2k3 that I liked but couldn't find one. Plus it didn't seem worth it going from a 2k1 AE to a 2k3 just for 30ish hp and a couple of toys.

The 2k4 has excellent road manners, much better than the 2k1, in a different league. It goes around tight corners like a pig though. Deffinately a candidate for sway bars or a sway bar upgrade. I haven't even bent over to look at the bottom side. Around town and normal highway driving, it's fabulous.

And what about the run of the mill Mustang GT? Have I got a shot there?

BJGemini

1) amber tails = Cobra (unless switched out)

2) Seriously glad you are happy w/ the 6th gen.

3) Stock GT auto you should be able to hang with (260hp but more weight, unsure of torque). You might have a harder time with the GT manual might give you some problems, but it would probably come down to driver.

Brian

p.s. as a side note, when i was in high school, my friend had his 89 GT auto smoked by a 97 max auto w/ 5 people in it. $10,000 later he has a 12.7sec 1/4 mile manual. The Max will always be the ultimate sleeper

krmaxima

iTrader: (13)

the spoiler is different thats how i tell hehehe the 03 cobra spoiler doesnt have a gap between the spoiler and the trunk and all i got to say is the 03 cobra is freaken crazy.

NismoSpeed113

Wow that's a nice *** blue..I raced a turbocharged rs impreza last nite...I passed him up right away then I we went through this wide *** turn and he got all close to me so I slowed down, then I was by his door...As soon as I started to pass him up again he slowed down and turned...Bah what a pu$$y...Btw I raced a cobra last year on the highway, I kept up with him at 100 then all of a sudden I passed him up and he tired catching up but I had to slow down cuz of traffic..I hate highway and street racing..I mean not drag style but just street racing, cuz there is no limit or end, you just keep going..It's so lame!!! ugh

KLOOGY

iTrader: (12)

This is a stock 12 sec car, that you will not be able to hang with any day of the week.....

NismoSpeed113

Well maybe it wasn't a cobra, he prolly just did all that wanna be cobra mods like most riceboys with a v6 stang do! =)

Shift_VQ

I find this hard to believe...I raced my friend's stock auto 87 GT stang in my 2k stock auto and he had about a half a car length on me by the time we were at 90. He has flowmasters and some other little stuff I think...would that make the difference?

Blu

iTrader: (63)

what do you have done to your car

2001SE

exactly...thats what i had in mind

those thing can just blow you away on the highway...they are supercharged V8. i know the maxima has a special engine the VQ35, but still maxima is no race car

2k2kev

A friend has an SLK 320. He ran exactly 15.0 for 5 runs in 1/4 mile, so it should be close but you should win.

You will not beat an SLK 32 AMG. It does 0-60 in 5 seconds and 1/4 mile in the high 13s so it shouldn't run away, but it will win no doubt.

dblrr900

2 things.....

He could have had Traction control on. I know my boy gets pi$$ed when he forget to turn it off and some turbo honda smokes him, because the car doesn't go anywhere with TCS on.

As for the noise, the 2k3 Cobra is very quiet stock, it sounds wierd because the more gass that it gets the quieter is seems with only a hissing sound. Now drop an exhaust on it like my buddy did and that thing sounds like it should.

This Cobra is fast as he11. Not to be messed with at all, I can't see any of our maximas taking one down.... well, maybe "mardigras"