Yeah, I want a brand new shift ****, too. Maybe this winter. It's only $60.

Anyway, the engine brace somehow makes it far easier to rev-match. I can't explain it, but I'm sure the OP will back me up.

 

I love my Max as well, but mostly because it's been so reliable. In the 55k miles I've driven it, I've only had to replace a power window motor and a high pressure ps hose. Although I do think my tie rod ends are shot now. Actually, the 3 Maximas I've owned have all been just as reliable which is why I keep coming back to them. There are a few things I'd really have liked on this car such as IRS, a better turning radius, HLSD which is not on mine, etc.

A few weeks ago I had the chance to drive my sister's new '08 Bmw M3 6 speed sedan. It was a very nice car but honestly after my admittedly short test drive I came away with an indifferent opinion on it. It has a 414hp V8, but it doesn't hit that number until 100 rpms before it's way high 8400 rpm redline so that would be useless to anyone not racing it on the track or driving the **** out of it. In the city it felt only a little quicker than my 100k mile Maxima, which is surprising. It felt like a V6 to me. The 335i I had driven before felt much quicker, and with a lot more low end torque. The brakes and handling of course blew those of my old Maxima away.

I almost didn't want to drive the M3, as I was sure it would thoroughly depress me about my old car. I figured after driving a car with over 400hp mine would feel like a Corolla next to it. The funny thing is I came away with a new appreciation of just how nice of a car a 5.5 gen. Maxima is for the money. Even at over 100k miles the power is as good as ever, and honestly didn't feel much slower than the M3 in the city. On the highway the M would kill the Maxima but that doesn't concern me as all my driving is in town. Honestly my Maxima felt like a more torquey engine in town.

In the end I thought about the $45k+ she had to spend on the M3, and the resulting $600-700 a month car payments and I was quite happy to get back to my nice old fast, reliable Maxima that is now setting me back a cool $0 each month on payments.

 

this.

It takes the right kind of person to appreciate a Maxima. I really like mine because it's an already sharp looking car stock and has respectable power from a 255 hp engine, enough comfort and usability to make it a manageable daily driver and enough room for light and tasteful modification to make it a fun car to work on. I think it's great that you rarely see a gross, riced-out Maxima. It makes it a respectable car to own. Can't say that about a Civic.

 

Then don't go to Maxus.

But I hear you... the Maxima is one car where bling belongs under the hood. Period.

 

thats why im pulling my engine and chromin' it out!!

BLING BLING!!



B

 

No you're not. In fact, I think you're just teasing me for all the titanium nuts & bolts I've been buying...

...and rightly so. I'm a little embarrassed.

 

lol...

1st: that would crazy stupid and if even possible crazy expensive
2nd: a PITA to clean
3rd: isnt chrome heavy?

B

 

Haha, thanks. I usually get these thoughts then take it on back roads running through gears, and all is well.

+1 on the OEM shift ****. Ever googled what the OEM R34 shift **** looks like?

ES bushings, STS mod, and Amsoil in the transmission, and I love shifting.




Titanium nuts > Chrome anything.

 

Agreed. I can't really afford any big performance mods as of yet so lately I've just been focusing on VERY light visual modifications for some subtle enhancements on the car. Red out on the tail light turn signals, interior LEDs, etc. I'm going to be blacking out the chrome window trim today with Trimbrite tape. I feel that small mods like this are the best way to make a Maxima look better. The kind of stuff that people besides myself won't be able to pick out individually, but rather just look at the car as a whole and say, "wow, that looks clean."

End opinion rambling/modding life story.

 

@ titanium nuts......

Some people say I have titanium nuts, and we arent talking about under the hood

 

So they wont rust for a while ...

 

...and they feel really nice & light in your hand.

...and you can hit them with a hammer all day long without any ill effects.

What are we talking about again?

 

B

 

I think how to improve the performance of teabagging... not sure.

 

Yeah.....I just busted out laughing out loud at work.....

 

I love my big Titanium Nuts.

 

:spint:

B

 

id have to say that your nuts do look good...




















B

 

 

Sig quote of the week, right there.

 

 

lol

B

 

Just wait til he gets his new shiny shift ****......it will go great with his titanium nuts....

 

I just knew that good things would come out of this thread.

 

did you see my comment in the original hustle thread about GT5?

B

 

Nope. I stopped reading that thread weeks ago.

It's... exhausting.

 

i posted mine in response to someone asking why we want to play a video game with maximas when we all drive them

B

 

This ..

 

I never bothered opening it.

 

I purchased mine with 135,000 miles on the odometer and love when new problems come up, because it keeps me busy and gives me a reason to replace an old part with a new, upgraded part. Nothing is more beautiful than a Nissan getting upgrades.

 

Nicely stated.

An inability to think like this is the reason why all the people in Lower Darby drive Chevys.

(OK, I don't know what that means...)

 

Still love mine after 7.5 yrs of ownership, it has been a very reliable car with no major issues. Than again none of my previous Maximas did except for the 89 which had tranny issues....3rd gens are known for that. Yeah you cannot beat a 5.5 gen as a used car, its still looks modern, reliable and has alot of features for its price found in higher end cars today...ex. avail memory seats, heated sterring wheel, Hid's standard etc etc. I ahav elso noticed alot of the complainers are those that have tons of mod's and beat the sh*t out of it more often than not!

 

It's funny. Some days I LOVE my car..others days I am meh about it.

I get caught in that rut b/c even fast maxima's arent that fast. Ya know? But then again that's not really the point, is it? It's the process not the product. It's the research and pride that goes into well executed modification that actually improves the car. Even though, I am rather impulsive at times which explains, the G35 Ray's 19's and purdy headers that are sitting in boxes in my basement.

I am most likely going to get a new car fairly soon. Something impractical. The way I look at it, my Maxima will just be a kick-a$$ daily driver.

 

Not my first manual car. Every car I have owned has been a manual. This is my 3rd Maxima (3rd Gen SE, 5th Gen SE previously) and with my current mods I feel that it does shift very well...Comparing it to an S2000 or other cars, maybe not quite as snick snick but, I don't care because this is the car I own.

The NWP piece does somehow make the car easier to rev match...It holds any given rpm for just a little bit longer so you can make the shift. Look into it, its a great little upgrade.

I'll agree that even a fast Maxima isn't THAT fast...But, lets be honest here...for what it costs, what it delivers across the board in terms of reliability, comfort, luxury and speed its pretty hard to beat.

If I can hit anything less than a 13.5 @ 101 when I am done modding I'll be very happy. Just look at what it would cost to buy anything new that performs like that in a straight line.

 

I have to say I have had more fun with my maxima than any other car I have driven. But then again I have only owned about 4 cars in my life. LOL

 

on the maxima.

ive owned 5 cars. 2 fords probes and 3 nissans (93 altima, 97 & 02 maxima)

the altima was my favorite just because of the peppy motor, cheap mods and a surprisingly short shifting 5spd.

the maximas are want made me fall in love with nissans. power, great options coupled with a decent ride and plenty of room.

B

 

does I35 count? i love my I35. it needs some work but hey, it's 8 years old and it's normal wear and tear

 

Still love my max after 5 years and 100,000 miles added to the clock... was bone stock for 5 years until last week..... stillen lip, k-sport coilovers, new paint job, hid's, 5.5 conversion, rays 19's.... well, you get the idea

 

I like my car too, I always wanted a 5.5/6MT ever since they were born.

I don't like certain things about it.. But it works well and is a nice, comfy, fairly affordable ride with some performance to boot. The reason I liked Maximas in the first place (Starting in '97 for me)

 

OK, so can I just have dibs on the subject of your avatar?