Will

iTrader: (2)

I'm pleased to inform you guys I got a 2003 Titanium Edition, slushbox though, to replace my 3rd gen of 8 years. I miss the old girl dearly, but the power, pimp features, and muscular mid-range on this VQ35DE are all great, and I'll be hanging around this forum more now.

First question, might be n00bish, but has anyone here with an auto 5.5 ever changed their shifter ****? I'm interested in getting a woodgrain (burlwood) one, but haven't been able to find one locally when I was asking around at performance shops. Wondering if they are even available. Any ideas?

I've only had the car for 2 weeks, and so far, I've done little mods here and there. Took out those Gosh-awful stock foglight bulbs and put in yellow ones (like the older QX4 and ES300 fogs), and debaged the Maxima from the trunk (left the SE on). More to come.

CoolMax

iTrader: (7)

eh...not a fan of woodgrain, especially in an SE.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/694281/3

charr82

iTrader: (3)

Congrats on the new ride.
I have an autotragic '03 as well, except it's a GLE. Since the VQ35DE has more than enough power for most people (even with an auto), you should definitely look into doing suspension mods first if you have the mod bug. The car looks 10x better lowered (aka no 4x4 look) and handles better too.

Good luck with it and have fun.

Teufelhunden

iTrader: (8)

good buy on the 03 max. dont get the wood grain, try to get a brushed aluminum to match your TE interior.

Will

iTrader: (2)

Thanks everyone, and to you charr82. Is Delaware near Columbus? I've been to Columbus twice in the last two years for business. I like the accents, esp. hearing it from the girls.

Suspension and wheels will be next spring since summer is almost over. There's some rust underneath the wheel wells that I need to blast off and prime. I've got 4th gen SE wheels from my 3rd gen for winters, and I'm pretty much set.

I know most people dislike the woodgrain, but I actually like a bit of it in moderation to go with the titanium trim for a more cozy look to go with the black leather. My junkyard contacts will notify me when they get a wrecked '02 or '03 GLE, and then I'll just take the woodgrain power window switch trim pieces and shifter bezel among other things. Last winter, I had an OEM carbon fibre trim kit for a 5th gen that I sold...should kept that entire set, doh!

Will

iTrader: (2)

Cool, thanks. Having to use the pipe wrench for the shifter was definitely extreme!

Do those aftermarket shifters all have univeral threading that works for all Japanese cars? I'm just asking because if I do find a wood one, I wonder whether it'd be direct fit or not like yours was.

Peter Taylor

CoolMax...I bought the exact same MOMO shift **** for my o3 Auto...and there was no way that it bolted or screwed right on. Did you have any trouble attaching it>>