nm

I was just thinking, the new altima is 240HP (and 0-60 of 6.3sec) and is the same size as the 5th gen MAX, and the 2002 Max is suppose to have a 3.5L engine tuned to 260-275HP which would give it a 0-60 of let's say 6 sec. Now, to trade-in a 5th gen max for a 5.5gen(2002) max would cost about 5-6K (if you have a Y2K) which is about the price of a SC w/install and if the SC can give you a sub 6 sec 0-60 I think it would make more sense to get the SC than to trade up.

What do you think? (Also, does anyone know the real 0-60 time of a supercharged maxima?)

psing23

well wouldnt u want to add the supercharger to the 3.5 liter engine? if it adds about 85hp to ours now... then it will prob add close to 100hp on the 3.5 liter for the same $$ cause the blower will cost prob around the same and the install will cost about the same... so its just better to start with the better thing...

2001SE

I wouldn't put a supercharger because it kills the engine so fast. You will enjoy it but it will cut your engine life almost by half. The last time i saw an auto 2000 supercharged maxima it did 6.4 sec from 0-60.

nm

yes, of course it would be better to add a supercharger to a 5.5 gen maxima(win + win), but my point is that it might be cheaper to add a supercharger to a 2K max than to trade up to a 5.5. Remember you loose money on the trade-in, so instead you spend that money on a supercharger and get 300bhp on a 5th gen for the amount it would cost you to get a stock 275hp 5.5gen.

nm

There are things you can do to counter the extra wear on you engine from a supercharger, like adding a very big oil cooler and having the engine properly tuned (after the SC is installed), but also considering that maxima engines should live to 200K, if you take care of the engine it should last 150K by which time you should have plenty of other non engine problems which would make you think it's time for a new car, but for me 150K miles is still 8 years away.

Also, 6.4 sec for an auto compares very well to 7.1 sec for the auto altima, from which I would guestimate the 5.5 auto max woud have a 0-60 of around 6.8.

So for me a SC still looks like a better solution than a trade-up.

mbcp_tdogg

Kudos, nm, this is actually some good thinking. After all, most of us average folk can't exactly trade in our cars for the next best thing to come around. Besides, you get pretty attached to your ride after awhile. Not that I'm going to SC my Max up anytime soon but it's nice to think about the possibilities.

slick

rather than a s/c. of course i'll pay more for the 2002, but i'm getting a new car, with a really nice stock engine. s/c engine, wont last that long, voids warranty, and for a little bit more hp than the stock engine, not worth it, imho.

nm

Thre are a few catches to trading up to a 2002 though...
first the 3.5 liter is a newer engine in it's first year, compared to a 5th gen engine which is really a 4th gen engine with intake and exhaust modifications,
then it looks like there is going to be a 5 speed auto on the new Altima, which would mean the maxima would get it too, and everyone who has a 2K max knows what happens when you have a new model automatic
basically all of these are 1st model year bugs, but by the time 2003 rolls around and they are fixed the maxima is going to become full size and and heavy at which point you might want to consider other options.

mbcp_tdogg

My reason exactly for getting the 2K1 Max