I LOVE this car !
09-30-2010 | 10:31 AM
#81
09-30-2010 | 11:06 AM
#82
09-30-2010 | 12:57 PM
#90
09-30-2010 | 01:53 PM
#91
09-30-2010 | 08:45 PM
#92
You say that like I have the Stillen Touring lip. I will say that you've never dealt with a Stillen Classic though. It fits like a glove, and is the cleanest looking lip on a 5.5. (IBsooner posts his Home Depot lip)
10-01-2010 | 10:41 AM
#94
I really like the Classic lip from the front of the car. I will agree with Rochester that the bulbous sides don't really mesh but overall I like how it looks. I might even end up buying one and trying to cut apart the sides and do a little Re and Re to make it flow better with the factory lines.
10-01-2010 | 11:06 AM
#95
I really like the Classic lip from the front of the car. I will agree with Rochester that the bulbous sides don't really mesh but overall I like how it looks. I might even end up buying one and trying to cut apart the sides and do a little Re and Re to make it flow better with the factory lines.
Happy to do your sig photo. Glad we finally found the right inspiration.
10-01-2010 | 12:16 PM
#96
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS MEMBER - OWES PEOPLE MONEY
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,468
From: Greensboro, NC
I'm right with you OP.... except for that part where you say you love the way it shifts.
Every 5.5 gen 6-speed i've driven is clunky and difficult to shift fast, many get the 3rd gear lockout/grind. It also has a mile-long throw that is hard to fix... many people who install a short shifter (including myself) take it right back off after a track visit with it b/c it increases shift effort so much. Yeah it's a cable shifter and will never match a non cable shifter you find in most RWD vehicles, but it's one of the worst around.
Go test drive a mini cooper 6-speed (there are tons of others, but this is a good example) for a good shifting cable shifter, then say you still love how your maxima shifts!
Every 5.5 gen 6-speed i've driven is clunky and difficult to shift fast, many get the 3rd gear lockout/grind. It also has a mile-long throw that is hard to fix... many people who install a short shifter (including myself) take it right back off after a track visit with it b/c it increases shift effort so much. Yeah it's a cable shifter and will never match a non cable shifter you find in most RWD vehicles, but it's one of the worst around.
Go test drive a mini cooper 6-speed (there are tons of others, but this is a good example) for a good shifting cable shifter, then say you still love how your maxima shifts!
Last edited by sparks03max; 10-01-2010 at 12:19 PM.
10-01-2010 | 12:45 PM
#97
Don't you know who I am?
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 945
From: East Granby, Connecticut
I actually find it rather intimidating at first, but after taking a bit of time to look around... I find it a lot easier than the max was... in the very few things I've done with it anyway.
10-01-2010 | 12:50 PM
#98
Don't you know who I am?
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 945
From: East Granby, Connecticut
Its true. I Love my 5.5 6spd 03 TE SE.
I love the color, the way it shifts, the way I fit inside it, the way my *** stays warm in my heated seats. I love the climate control and how everything is easily within reach. (read ergonomic) I love the HIDs, the way the car moves effortlessly through traffic.
I Love my 6spd HLSD, with my bolt ons I get the hell out of dodge whenever I want and get 31 mpg on the highway when I want to be frugal.
Seems all too often people are *****ing about the Maxima on the Maxima forum. Personally, I think this car is effing awesome.
Anyone else enjoy their Maxima as much as I do?
I love the color, the way it shifts, the way I fit inside it, the way my *** stays warm in my heated seats. I love the climate control and how everything is easily within reach. (read ergonomic) I love the HIDs, the way the car moves effortlessly through traffic.
I Love my 6spd HLSD, with my bolt ons I get the hell out of dodge whenever I want and get 31 mpg on the highway when I want to be frugal.
Seems all too often people are *****ing about the Maxima on the Maxima forum. Personally, I think this car is effing awesome.
Anyone else enjoy their Maxima as much as I do?
I agree 100%. I didn't love adding a quart of oil every fill up. And I only wish I'm exaggerating. I didn't like how the windows wouldn't roll down when it was above 85 degrees outside. I didn't like only half the lights my console lit up. I didn't like how it insisted I was getting 34 mpg, but had to fill up 15 gallons every 325 miles. I didn't like how the stereo cut out depending on which bump you hit.
And somehow... I still feel some sadness when I think about her, and how awesome I remember feeling when I drove her
.
10-01-2010 | 12:54 PM
#99
Don't you know who I am?
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 945
From: East Granby, Connecticut
High end German cars have things go wrong too. Even MB and BMW. And ya know what? They generally cost more to fix. And mod.
10-01-2010 | 01:37 PM
#100
I'm right with you OP.... except for that part where you say you love the way it shifts.
Every 5.5 gen 6-speed i've driven is clunky and difficult to shift fast, many get the 3rd gear lockout/grind. It also has a mile-long throw that is hard to fix... many people who install a short shifter (including myself) take it right back off after a track visit with it b/c it increases shift effort so much. Yeah it's a cable shifter and will never match a non cable shifter you find in most RWD vehicles, but it's one of the worst around.
Go test drive a mini cooper 6-speed (there are tons of others, but this is a good example) for a good shifting cable shifter, then say you still love how your maxima shifts!
Every 5.5 gen 6-speed i've driven is clunky and difficult to shift fast, many get the 3rd gear lockout/grind. It also has a mile-long throw that is hard to fix... many people who install a short shifter (including myself) take it right back off after a track visit with it b/c it increases shift effort so much. Yeah it's a cable shifter and will never match a non cable shifter you find in most RWD vehicles, but it's one of the worst around.
Go test drive a mini cooper 6-speed (there are tons of others, but this is a good example) for a good shifting cable shifter, then say you still love how your maxima shifts!
But I will have to disagree with you on the 5.5 shifting. Maybe our trannies are polar opposites, but once I started modding, it only got better. The STS by nature has to require more effort in order to make the same distance. The ES bushings, at least on the base help a lot, but I didn't do the ones on the cable as they can exaggerate the minimal notchiness.
And German cars are a tiny bit overengineered at times, but all the same "modification" theories apply. Go on E46fanatics and you'll find DIYs and How-Tos like us, if not better.
10-01-2010 | 01:45 PM
#101
The difference between the Maxima 6MT with original 8-year-old setup, vs. a 6MT with ES banjo bushings, shifter assembly bushings, and a STS... it's just night and day.
I'll let the OP chime in on that one.
10-01-2010 | 01:56 PM
#102
Not that I have a 6MT but oddly enough I work with 2 other guy that 6mt 5.5 gen's. One of was borrowing his sons Mustang GT forgot what year..the one with the 265hp 4.6L and he said it felt like he was driving a truck. LOL. So I dont think it could be THAT bad.
On a side note: I had a random conversation with an older guy about Maximas when he saw me get out of mine. I say "older" b/c he had his 10 yr old(guessing here) daughter with him but he said he regrets selling it everyday her drives his 08 Sonata. He had an 03 no sunroof. Some girl knocked on his door and made him an offer on it and he accepted. lol.
I wouldnt go as far to say our cars have a cult following but they definatley have a following of a broad range.
On a side note: I had a random conversation with an older guy about Maximas when he saw me get out of mine. I say "older" b/c he had his 10 yr old(guessing here) daughter with him but he said he regrets selling it everyday her drives his 08 Sonata. He had an 03 no sunroof. Some girl knocked on his door and made him an offer on it and he accepted. lol.
I wouldnt go as far to say our cars have a cult following but they definatley have a following of a broad range.
10-01-2010 | 01:59 PM
#103
10-01-2010 | 02:04 PM
#105
Don't you know who I am?
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 945
From: East Granby, Connecticut
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.
For comparison, the 5.5 gen Maxima makes about 210-215 wtq at peak.
10-01-2010 | 02:06 PM
#106
You ought to try out the ES banjo bushings on both ends of the cable. Unless you've driven another Maxima set up like that, I don't think you know what you're missing.
The difference between the Maxima 6MT with original 8-year-old setup, vs. a 6MT with ES banjo bushings, shifter assembly bushings, and a STS... it's just night and day.
I'll let the OP chime in on that one.
The difference between the Maxima 6MT with original 8-year-old setup, vs. a 6MT with ES banjo bushings, shifter assembly bushings, and a STS... it's just night and day.
I'll let the OP chime in on that one.
10-01-2010 | 02:17 PM
#108
10-01-2010 | 02:18 PM
#109
Humm Motor trend once did an article on the Max a few yrs ago and also stated that the Max has a "cult" following......It along with the Z owners buy them over and over again and they are liked by there owners alot.
10-01-2010 | 04:17 PM
#110
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 686
From: Altamonte Springs, FL
I love my 4th Gen - it has it's issues (most are 'purely cosmetic, though it's time to do them brakes...) I plan to keep this car till the wheels fall off, which I will put back on and keep driving.
10-01-2010 | 04:22 PM
#111
I agree 100%. I didn't love adding a quart of oil every fill up. And I only wish I'm exaggerating. I didn't like how the windows wouldn't roll down when it was above 85 degrees outside. I didn't like only half the lights my console lit up. I didn't like how it insisted I was getting 34 mpg, but had to fill up 15 gallons every 325 miles. I didn't like how the stereo cut out depending on which bump you hit.
And somehow... I still feel some sadness when I think about her, and how awesome I remember feeling when I drove her.
And somehow... I still feel some sadness when I think about her, and how awesome I remember feeling when I drove her
.I never have had ANY of those problems and my mileage is 31 mpg highway...calculated by how much I put in the tank and how far I travel.
Honestly I do LOVE the way it shifts now. I know there are cars that could be subjectively considered "better" but with the STS, ES Bushings and new **** I'm hard pressed for any complaints.
10-02-2010 | 03:39 PM
#112
I test drove a bunch of cars today:
And in between each, I drove my 2003 Maxima SE 6MT, which is customized exactly to my liking. Since I'm not buying a car today, I have to agree with the OP's original premise:
...I love my car, too.
And I'm exhausted right now.
- 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 6MT. Two, actually... one with the 3.25 rear end, and one with the 3.73 rear end. (Why they aren't all configured with the 3.73 rear end is beyond me.)
- 2010 Infiniti G37S Coupe (manual transmission).
- 2010 Maxima SV Premium (CVT, obviously).
And in between each, I drove my 2003 Maxima SE 6MT, which is customized exactly to my liking. Since I'm not buying a car today, I have to agree with the OP's original premise:
...I love my car, too.
And I'm exhausted right now.
10-02-2010 | 10:23 PM
#114
The Mustang is a true throwback, including all the negative connotations that entails. Crazy sick fast in a straight line, but there's so much more I want out of a car. Speed isn't everything.
I had high expectations, which were met in some respects, but failed in the final analysis. I mean, that's why we test drive, right?
There's some yahoo in the Other Cars forum who seems to be taking it personally that I prefer the G37 over the Mustang.
10-02-2010 | 10:37 PM
#117
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 595
From: London, ON, Canada
