I posted a message on here about a year or so ago before I came over here to Italy. Well I have been here for a while (a year) and must admit that the driving is awesome. The only downside is that my Maxima has a speed limiter at 135. I live in Naples which is in southern Italy and the driving is pretty much unregulated by the police. I brought a brand new 5-speed GXE over with me and kind of wish I would have listened to the advice of some of the people on this forum. You can get some real quick cars on the cheap over here. My Max sits in the garage for weeks on end. I usually on take it on long trips like to Rome or Florence. Other than that if I want to play I take my CBR600 out and let her rip. On the other hand when I leave here in two more years I will have a mint condition, stock, low milage maxima to play with. I guess it could be worse.

 

How does your car fit in some of these streets? I go over to Italy often now for work related reasons (Mantova, Verzeulo, Verona,Torino) and I know my Max would never fit down some of those streets! In fact I will be over there again in 1st week of Feb. Do you speak fluent Italian? The best/worst car I have driven is an Alfa. Never get anything good, although I did get to drive and beat a Nissan Micra...he he he...First car I saw with adjustable (from the interior with a 3-position switch) fog light in front...kinda neat!

 

Ummmmmmm...can i ask what u do for a living?

 

oops..nevermind, i checked your profile...that's pretty cool taking a max over there...what are the local peoples' reaction...do they like it?

 

There are a few thousand Americans running around here in Naples so they see American cars here and there. There is a black GLE Maxima over here but mine is the only 5-speed. I have suprised more than one BMW coming off a toll plaza. Most of them over here are 320's and 520's not much competition.

 

You are right. The Maximas are kind of big for these streets. My second car is an Alpha 164 with a 2.0 twin spark engine. Its a fun car but not something I would drive back in the states. No I speak very little Italian. I have tried but it just won't stick. If I was a young single guy I would be fluent in a matter of weeks.

 

That's great. I always have wished I had my car with me in Europe (the Maxima and those that came before it). There are many rockets available in central Europe, but you don't see many of them. A lot of tiny, diesel econo-boxes. I saw the below Maxima when I was last in Amsterdam, in November, and was jealous of the driver without even knowing him...just thinking about him roaming the countryside of Holland with his VQ.

 

I have seen a couple of European Maximas running around here but I believe that they have a smaller engine than ours. Everything over here is based on engine size. My car insurance when from $700 to $2400 when I came over here. But going out and blasting around in the mountains is much more fun in the Maxima then it is in the Alpha or would have been in my Isuzu Trooper had I brought it over.

 

The MaximaQX is the VQ30 engine from the 5th gen (00-01). If you look really hard you'll see the logo on the top right of the trunk...

"3.0 V6"

 

I was in Rome last winter. How do you ever fit in those streets??? I loved watching them parallel park because the spots were soo small. I wouldn't want my max there, someone would probably hit it

 

why would you bring a car overseas? Does it cost you anything? One hand if you got reimbursed for expenses...if you're not, it is a complete waist of resources. I know that you are more likely surprise europeans with true american cars, they love 'em there. Chevy, Buick, Pontiac, Ford, Chrysler...they have greater variety of cars then in the US due to the relaxed restrictions.

 

I was in Rome a couple of years ago and I hated dodging the damn motorcycles ... and that was me walking! Those idiots would drive those damn mopeds on the sidewalks when the lights would turn red. I was told it was all kids since their lisence program is less strict on kids driving ... but I would hate to have my max over there! I would run over one of those kids ... on second thought ... I think I figured out why you WOULD take the max over there

 

The A'pexi Rev/Speed Meter can take care of your speed limiter problem.

 

Actually if I was to go to Italy & live I would take out a car or two on loans & ship them over there & never pay them back....

 

I am in the military so I can have one car shipped over free of charge. THe Europeans do like certain American cars (ie Corvette, Camero, Mustang) but the are very rare. When I leave here in a copple of years I would like to either take back a new 325 or find a nice old Austin Mini to bring home as a play toy.

 

Where can I get one, how much do they cost and how hard to install? It really gets on my nerves when I can not keep up with a car that I know the Max will outrun.

 

http://www.rev-industries.com/apexih...speedmeter.htm

Installation isn't hard at all if you know how to splice wires. Let me know if you order it and get it. I'll give you a diagram of which wires on the ECU harness you should splice into.

 

Hey Chief,

I was stationed in Sardinia, Italy for 2 years and visited Napoli, Gaeta (Belknap) and Roma frequently. My driving in Italy was not as pleasent, imagine going up a hill (2 lane) and someone decides to pass a vehicle (but they are headed towards you) the car changed back to their lane only about 50 feet in front of me Italy is a lovely place not sure if you have been to Sardenga but it is a great place in the summer. Had I stayed in I would be in Khakis as well.

Good Luck,

Ci vediamo ciao

 

I have not been over to Sardinia (La Madalenna ?) yet but I may if work takes me there. My shop provides the weather for the sub tender over there. I can relate to your driving experience and that is exactly why I have the Alpha as a daily driver. I have only been here for one year and you are right about how nice it is over here in the summer. I just rode my CBR600 back from school and it is freaken cold right now. I would have taken the car but I was late and you can really make up some time on a motorcycle over here.

ciao

BTW: What do you do now that you are out of the NAV?

 

Well I was a electronic tech in the Navy and got out and did that for my first year as a civilian that I realized the lucrative $$$ in the IT Consulting arena. I am now working for one of the larger consulting IT companies in the country. I sometimes wish I would have stayed in, I would have 13 years in now, I got out in 96. I served on the previous Tender in La Madd (USS Orion) I would like to visit Italy as a tourist in the near future. When I was there the lire rate was 1200 Lire to $1. How is the Euro thing going?


Piacere conoscere

 

 

Lira 2.1K to $1 WOW that almost twice what it was in the early 90s Enjoy ! I will keep in touch GO NAVY


Ciao apresto!

 

spero che abbiate divertimento strappare intorno alle vie con i vostri massimi il mio amico