I just picked up a faily clean 2003 6-spd Maxima SE the other day with 85,000miles for $7k. One owner and the car has never been in an accident. Exterior needed some minor help, the interor is in awesome condition and mechanically she runs perfect. Negatives with the vehicle were a dented front bumper, rock chips in hood and a brutal scratch on the driverside door. Staying true to my maxima.org name, (i.e. perfectmax) I sent the car over to a buddy at a reputable body shop to get a new front bumper, paint hood, paint driverside doors, and touch up the scratches. Got it back yesterday and she looks awesome!

I do have to admit that the drive quality of the 1997 Maxima (with OEM suspension) seemed tighter. But with 85k miles, upgrading the shocks is probably something that I should address. I don't think that I'm going to change the springs like i did in the 1997, I think I'll just stick with changing the shocks. I'm a little older now and have a 14 month old so I don't think that I'll change the ride height. But who knows, give me few months back on this forum and the max will probably be completely moddified with a supercharger.

So, 5 years later, a few cars in between (my favorite being a 6-spd 2005 G35 coupe), and I'm back. I have to admit that I glad to be in a Maxima again. It will definitely serve its purpose well as my daily driver. I hoping one day soon I can have a sports car sitting in the garage next to the maxima serving as a sunday driver. That is the plan...











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nice pick up. looks great.
i just bought a 00 GLE last night.

 

Looks nice, congrats on the new ride

 

looks good!. so jealous! ive been looking for one and cant find one.

B

 

oh I think after you drive around a bit more you will consider doing springs also. Im not fussy about the ride height but I hate how this car feels so floaty... Its like driving a boat, I'm trying to get some money together to buy a strut/spring combo asap

 

Go coilovers. Save up and just get them. Don't waste your time with regular springs and struts.

 

Hey OP, I really think you should get tein SS coilovers. You keep the stock-like comfort even when its dropped. I have them and theyre amazing. Even for a nice moderate drop that can be achieved with springs, I'd say go with the tein SS coilovers.

So how does this compare to your old G?

 

+1

 

damn, i never seen a grey lustre without black interior...weird

 

very nice pick up! wish i found a 6-speed before i got stuck with auto

 

Need I say anything...???

 

hummmm, but I'm not going for the lowered look. IMHO the coilovers give the maxima a close to slammed appearance.

 

A loaded 6MT with HLSD... very nice! Love that frost leather interior. Seems a great find for a really good price.

Good pictures, too. You have gutters in your driveway? Wow, that's unusual.

 

Just b/c you have coilovers doesnt mean you have to slam your car. You can attain an H&R type drop with coilovers for example. Quality coilovers will give you the comfort that youre looking for since you have a kid. The Tein SS really do offer a stock-like ride. I had 4 different spring/strut setups and none give me the kind of comfort my coilovers do. Just something to think about when youre ready. Enjoy the 4X4 look for now

 

you could just get a very mild spring like maxspeed or h&r. you'll have a lot of suspension travel, comfort, and a much tighter feel!. it'd be cheap too. congrats on purchase btw. grey lustre is nice

 

As much as I'd surely appreciate the better handling of coilovers, the $1200+ price tag doesn't equate for the daily driver. One man's opinion. Or maybe two. Although PBN85 makes a good point about ride and height w/coilovers. It's just so darn expensive.

Love your car, man. Gray Luster with frost leather is sweet.

 

Sup Bud- Welcome back, but I give you a month maybe less to start modding again.

 

I admit that I don't know anything about coilovers. I didn't realize that you can choose different springs with the setup. How could i go with coilovers but have a 1.5" drop in the front and a 1" drop in the rear? If I can go that route, I'd be game! @$&%!!... already talking about mods....

 

From what I understand coilovers are not the best for my situation. I live in calgary and we get snow 6-9 months a year. Lots of gravel/salt etc etc.... I heard they are not good for cold weather and crappy roads... is this not true?

 

heh and you said you didnt want to get into modding... just wait, you'll buy one little thing and be hooked all over again.

 

ill take one please!

 

No no..you dont get different springs. The coilover consists of a damper (strut) and a spring. You can ADJUST the ride height to your likings...you dont have to go buying springs. Here is a pic

http://impressiveimportperformance10...per_Street.gif

 

According to Tein, cold weather has no affect on coilovers. Coilovers is something you dont want to cheap out on. The good ones are worth the hefty price tag (JICs, Tein SS) and the inferior ones...well they wont last as long as the ride quality probably wont be as good.

 

Sweet, Grey luster is one of my favorite colors for a Maxima. Looks really clean with tint, blacked out chrome and blacked out headlight housings.

 

Nice car! Good find. If you don't want to spend money modding right now may i recommend the free short throw shifter mod? It'll make you love the 6 speed all the more.

 

yeah i love that 6speed. i'd trade in my I35 and "downgrade" to that maxima you have anyday.

 

Back in the day when I was modding my 4th gen, I never really paid any attention to the coilover threads. I just went with my kyb agx and sprint springs combo and was happy. Now that I have a little $ and an open mind, it sounds like coilovers might be the way to go. But, basically, I can adjust ride heights from stock to slammed pretty easily? Thank you for the insight...