Ok, I just bought a 2001 SE AE from the dealer. Its majestic blue and loaded with everything I wanted BUT it is an auto which kills me. But the car only had 26000 miles and is perfect condition. My questions are how come the 2001 AE's are more expensive than the 2002's, and is it worth more trouble than its worth trying to find a manual transmission? And if I keep it, what are the first mods, either free or $$$ that I should do. (I already deeply want the newer headlights with HIDS...but that will come!)

So basically, should I keep the AE or try to find a 2k2+? I just dont know exactly if anything the AE offers is better than anything offered in the years after that even though the newer ones have the better headlights and engine. Thanks!

 

6 speed, i heard you can even get more stuff compared to how much an A.E. edition cost.

 

Well then can anyone point me to a good site to buy HIDs? or alot of Maxima parts?

 

www.ebay.com

 

http://www.car-part.com/

 

the AE is a rare car, hence the reason why its "supposed" price is relatively higher compared to other 5th gens. However the value of the car isn't really justified depending on what you plan to do to the car.

If your gonna stay mostly stock, a AE is a good compromise. It has a slightly different exterior look, cosmetic mods, and vlsd transmission in both manual and auto mode. Its basically a fully loaded SE model. A 2k2-2k3 on the other hand will have more power to start off with. However rims, bodykit, and other goodies will add up anyway but at least you'll start off with more money in the pocket.

 

AE manual is hard to find and they look pretty good to start off with depends on what u wanna do with your car, just like Larrio said

 

Yeah, I pretty much decided just to stick with my car. The body kit and the majestic blue mix just drive me wild and I hate buying/painting bodykits. The black leather is immaculate too, so I can do without the manual. BUT, I figure intake/entire exhaust is a good place to start, and forgive me for probably asking redundant questions to you but my search function doesnt work. Are there any good 'free mods' that will get you some extra hp with very minimal spending in the time being? When I had my eclipse there were numerous little tweaks that you could do, but so far I havent seen any.

 

One other thing. My friend used to own a 300zx when we were younger and I remember there was a part that kept the pressure in the automatic transmission constant so that the automatic was actually faster than the manual. I know about engines but am clueless to if this would work on a maxima like it did with the Z. Ooh well, Ill have to look into that.

....Can most 300zx parts work on the maxima? they are pretty much the same engines just mounted differently?

 

no they aren't the same motor. 300zx is the VG and the maxima is the VQ. the only couple parts that work are the brakes, injectors, all the good stuff.

 

It sounds like you are not happy with the car and made an impulse purchase. If you wanted a manual, and a 2002+ why did you buy this one? Return it to the dealer, if you can, and look for the right car.

 

I'll sell you my 2003 6 speed!

 

man you need to keep that if you like it you know only 75,000 20th ae's were
made in 01, or in that fact ever... tint,cai,ypipe,cat back is a good start i think i too have an auto its nice

 

the injectors do not work on our cars. The injectors that we can run are from the 350z/g35 vq35. I believe the PE380cc's fit right in

 

a good place for you to start is a supercharger my friend: ]

Since you seem to like them by yer sn. If i had that option, i wouldnt of bothered with other stuff (atleast not right away)

 

I, too, have an auto. I like it, but a 5-spd would be better for me. I don't think that 75,000 were built. I had heard that only 8000 - 10000 were built. Anyway, I like it because it's more unique. Sounds like a very nice AE with very low mileage. Good find.

 

Not at all. I love the AE edition, and having the AE with the blue color that was only available on the AE that year makes me love it. I have always been a manual kind of guy, and the only thing I truly wanted from the 2002+ is the headlights, but thats easy enough to fix. I looked at probably 30-40 Maximas during the week, and NONE were manuals. So if thats the one thing I have to miss to have my dream car, then so be it.

Hah! I used this back when I had my 98 Eclipse GSX. I had that poor little 4-banger with 480hp and ran an 11.2 1/4 mile @ 5280 feet high, so at sea level I would have done better. Supercharger is definately down the road, but it wont matter unless I get all the Intake/Exhaust opened up to handle it.

Thanks for the tips though!!! Now if Nissan would just start installing REAL audio systems I would be totally happy!

 

I think the intake would be a waste of time if u did SC but, they do sound nice with headers and exhaust ; )

All the little things add up, my point was if u got money to spend, i'd shoot to the stuff that really did something (if i even had that option : /)

Second recommandation from boost is an awesome suspension setup. My favorite mods to the car that is.

p.s that eclipse sounded awesome, my friend had one like that, it got robbed right in front of his place. His was a GS i think and he did the turbo himself all custom.

 

You are correct only about 8,000 of them were built if they had built 75,000 that means about 60% of the 01's would be Anniversary Editions. Not the case.

 

Yeah, the eclipse was a fun little car, but my insurance was killing me at the time. Heres all the pics and info that I made on it. And if you want to see a RARE truly clean eclipse...that was the one, and I figure you all will appreciate the massive Skyline Intercooler I fit in there! But Im more familiar with turbos than superchargers, I just assumed that the more air the SC can bring in /push out the better, but I guess Ill have to do my research!

BTW, does anyone know of the 8000 or so AE's made, how many or what percentage of them were the majestic blue? I figure some of you maxima buffs out there should know!

 

I too have an AE auto and wanted a 2002 stick, but i went for looks over speed. the AE is hot. I used to drive a 95 mustang gt auto so i was used to speed and wanted a stick really bad. yes i still wish a had a stick, or at least mustang speed in an auto but i love the AE.

 

I know. I know all it is is a body kit, but I hate doing that kind of stuff to cars. Ive never added anything exterior to my cars besides clear corners, but they always look the cleanest just from performance mods (coilovers, FMIC, etc...)

But the AE's do just look so much different, so now Im actually considering doing the tranny swap and am just about to start a definitive thread on it. By the time you buy all the stuff, then sell your current tranny / pedals / etc... It wont be too expensive I dont think...

 

Does anyone have pictures of their AE Floor Mats?

My regular 2001 mats are a little worn and I want to get some new ones and I thought the AE would be nice since they come in Frost.

I've searched eBay and around but never found good pictures of them. What's different about them? I assume they just have "Anniversary Edition" somewhere on them.

**EDIT**
I think they are the same as regular floor mats since they have the same part number as regular floor mats and even between the years. I guess I'll stick with what I have.

 

I have the gray AE floor mats in my car. You can see them on my cardomain web site (there are a couple of interior shots). Basically, they just have Anniversary Edition embossed under the Maxima logo. Probably need to go to a dealer or try Dave Burnett.

 

Boost -- I just got my AE about a month ago with the auto tranny and am absolutely thrilled with the car. I, too had wanted a 5th gen with a manual tranny but don't mind the auto at all now after driving it for a month. The AE is definitely a unique vehicle and I am extremely glad I went this route. Have fun with it!

 

Glad to know that i'm not the only one who feels special because of having a AE. I wish mine had a stick, BUT being a MAXfanatic and owning an AE makes it worth the automatic. Plus me and the Maximas both celebrated our 20th birthdays the same year, gives me that warm thrown back in your seat pushing the pedal kinda feeling

 

does anyone by any chance know how many of the 8000 AEs were made manual? just curious