my labor costs were included w/ the 3.5 swap

 

I'd probably spend 8k on a turbo set up, body work, and a few spare motors lol.

 

Invest that 8k into my Corvette summer run-around car.

 

Shee~it...if I had an extra 8k for the car...I could buy 3 more of mine! Lol... or...

*VQ35 swap
*Tint
*New Y pipe, headers and catback
*Nice set of SE-Rs or other OEM 18" rims w/new tires
*Brake upgrade
*Suspension setup illuminas/H&Rs (still don't think I would do coilovers)
*New seals/gaskets/bushings etc...

Remainder would be for gas

 

Sell and buy another car. Hands down, the only worthwhile thing to do.

 

we are not talking logical right now lol

 

Fix all the DANG RUST! and get 35% tint.

 

Says the guy with one of the best-looking cars on the org.

 

Full 3.5 swap
09 motor
haltech
6mt
real long tube headers
and R32 GTR wheels if there's money leftover

 

I think this is the best. After thinking about it. I love a project, but a 2002 maxima is not a worthwhile project...for me.

May do minimal stuff to it and keep it as a winter driver...idk

Thanks all for some great ideas

 

-Suspension
-Paint job
-Rims
-Exhaust

And what ever money is left i'd do a tune up, CAI, spacers kit, BOP and some HID's if the car doesn't come with it

 

Buy a project car and dd the max. Or buy a dd and project car the max!

 

coilovers
bolts on/tune
fresh paint job

 

-S/C
-Full paint job (not sure on color)
-Have custom carbon fiber engine accents made (radiator shroud and the like; money permitting)
-Donate cash to NWP to have small batch production of short shifters created
-3in exhaust
-Greddy emanage

 

Just a quick update...As some suggested I decided to add some $$$ to the 8k and get this. Thanks for all the input guys..

 

Geez that SFR turbo Maxima video. The car formerly known as Maxima with that hood scoop.

Take the Maxima to an auto rebuild and get back a mostly new car!

 

I 'could easily spent 8k on the Max. New trans, motor and suspension, no labor costs so with what's left I'd dumpinto here and theres.

 

Hmmm.

New front and rear bumper
New Paint to The same factory grey.
Coilivers
Bushings for a arms well for everything
Calipers
Find me some nismo rims
Tint
Exhaust
Cams pistons Itb fuel Upgrades
New windshield
Take the big *** door ding in my driver side
Idk. Thats still not 8k

 

Precisely my thoughts when I saw this thread.

I was about to spit water when I read this. Then I remembered labour costs. 8k for the minimal mods you did to that car is astonishing to me personally, but when you really start adding all the little items up, it doesn't take long to get there does it?
-------------

Anyways I missed this thread, but I'll play in. The real question being whether you're starting from stock or each of us where we are now?

Assuming I had to keep my 2001 and continue modding from where it already WAS:

Supercharger kit with T-Trim Modification, Intercooler, Injectors and FP - $4000
Haltech - $1000
BBK with custom Rear Brake setup - $2500


Next would be:
Lightweight rims and good tires - $3000
Smaller steering wheel - $300
RSB - $200
FSB - $250

 

Honestly If i had 8k to spend on a max, it Wouldnt be this max. Is probably get a 6- spd 6 gen.

 

new leather, rebuild trans, refinish oem rims, tint, a nice double din, new oem headlights and fogs, and coilovers.

 

8K?
Ok is it just me or does it sound completely absurd to put more into a car than the car is actually worth? I don't know, just something to think about.

 

hey comon! were not talkin about any 10 13 year old POS here... these are MAXIMAS!!!
you should be ashamed of yourself... i feel bad for your max...

jus kiddin lol

 

btw i dont know if anyone realized.. the OP backed out on his word and of this thread.. and bought a tl. a few posts up. looks nice OP if i had the money id one too, love them! beautiful cars


i wouldnt get rid of my max though

 

Id definately dump 8k into my max. Idc what its worth. Its what i like and what i want. Thats like dem honda boys spendin 5k on parts for a car they grabbed up for 500

 

Got alot on the Max already, so SFR Turbo Kit will do....

 

...........
Ok i have a 5.5 with 151k miles on it. I maintain the hell out of it and I am positive it will last at least another 100,000.
Dropping 8k on it though? Not too sure about that.
To each his own...

 

My post is if somebody gave me 8 grand and said I have to spend it on my Max me with that Cash....saving it....

 

Sound investment
What year? First project should be to restore the headlights.

 

On a car that has a strong platform that you already like, it's worth it and more to spend 8k on.

Say your car is worth $7,000, and is in good condition all around, no rust, lower miles, etc.
Putting in $8,000 brings that investment to $15,000.

What can you buy for $15,000 after taxes that would even remotely compare to a nicely modified/improved xxx Car?

Normally the answer here is nothing. Hence why it's worth it to spend this kind of money on a car that isn't worth a lot in purchase price.

Or you can spend a crapload more in purchase price and end up with a much much nicer car, and still have an itch to modify it in some manner.

Personally, not unlike many others, I accepted that the Maxima just isn't a good platform for that large of an investment in modifications. Realizing this before it's too late was a wise choice, IMO. I was able to re-coupe a lot of my funds, though I'll still be losing a pile of money on this car if it ever sells.

 

I think people should avoid looking at modding a car as a financial investment, because lets face it, unless you have the right car, in the right conditions, with the right mods, all you will see is depreciation and it will never be worth it. If you look at it as an investment of time, that's a different story. Spend time working on the car with your kids, or just doing it because you enjoy it, then that pays back in buckets.

S

 

Yeah I completely understand where you are coming from. Honestly, I don't really think spending money on a car (from a modding perspective) is really an investment. It really is more of a personal satisfaction. Now if after all of the modifications that were done to the car added that much more to the car value or even more, THEN it would really be an investment (everyone knows that is never the case)

 

LOL you beat me to it by a minute...

 

Agreed. A car is a depreciating asset, there's pretty much no exception to this other than very rare collector cars kept immaculate and never driven.

I'm speaking to the simple fact that we all want a sick azz car. We can't afford some of the ***** crazy cars in the high price range, nor could we afford the insurance and maintenance on them.
But we CAN afford to pay less than half the cost and mod a good platform car to similar levels.

This is the perspective I looked at the purchase of my 2003 G35 sedan 6MT. It has higher miles on it, but is in great shape. I paid only $7k for it.

When looking for a car, I knew what I wanted, power, luxury, reliability, looks, etc. The full package. Cars that had less power than the G and were less reliable costed around $13,000+ more.

So I have a car for $7000 that is an incredible platform, already comes with a superb level of luxury and reliability, and decent (well, o.k.) looks to start.

Think about how far I can surpass the rivals that would have cost me $13,000 more by spending a fraction of that $13,000 in upgrades/mods.

Sure, the price of the car won't appreciate from it, but the quality of the car, and what the car IS TO ME will increase far beyond those other cars.

not to mention it will be way, way faster, handle equal or better, and have luxury options that those cars don't.

 

Built 3.5 motor
Built tranny with stronger gears
Tune

 

I've put probably close to $7K in mine. In rationalizing it, I probably could have bought a similar age 3-series or 5-series BMW with that money (maybe a year or two newer if I factor in the purchase price of my Maxima). And I'd be driving a bone-stock beemer (been there, done that - no thrill in it).

For the money I have put in my Max though, I have a car just the way I want it, and I love it. Not one ounce of regret.

 

Sell the max and get another car or spend 2-3k in mods and save the rest for something else in life

 

Me personally, sell maxima and use total funds to buy an 06 M45

 

replace lm7/4l60e combo with ls2/t56 and throw a 9" in as well. As far as investments go, 3k i put in to the body work on the Camaro is well worth it even at the investment point