I am looking at buying an 03 SE. This will be my first stick maxima. I use to own a 96 GXE and loved it.

I have a couple questions.
My dad just looked it over today, he told me it will need a clutch soon as it is a little weak. What is a good replacement clutch. I doubt I will mod it more than maybe intake and exhaust. I would like a heavy duty clutch that can take some abuse from me and some from trying to teach my GF how to drive a stick.

Also, I am wondering about lighten flywheels, who has them. I understand it might make taking off a little hard at first, but that is fine for me. I am wondering what benefits did people see. It should rev faster. Did anyone see better mpg?

Thanks,

Nick

 

I would go with an Exedy clutch kit. They make different types from regular oem replacements to heavy duty racing applications.

 

you can also get a 350z clutch

 

A stage 1 clutch will be more than enough for your setup. Traction is our biggest enemy in these cars. You'll spin the tires before you overpower the clutch.

I like the light flywheel. I actually put it in, took it out then put it back in so I got to test it back to back to back. It definitely accelerates faster with the light flywheel. I missed it while it was out. It feels like a lighter car with the light flywheel. It feels like the difference between an empty car and one with a few passengers.
Taking off is different. Not worse, just different. It takes a little more gas/RPM to take off due to the reduced rotating mass. Actually, I think the 3.5 cars with the heavy flywheel take less gas/RPM than most other cars so it feels normal with the light flywheel. The heavy dual mass flywheel covers a lot of mistakes so technically it's harder to drive with the light flywheel. That's only because the stock one is overly easy though.
I didn't see any MPG change but I wasn't looking. In theory I suppose it would help but I doubt it would be measurable.

 

I wouldn't put a 350z clutch in it, how would that work? since doesn't it have a dual mass clutch on them since I have seen them and they are a whopper for what you pay for compare to a regular clutch kit.

 

It's similar to the aftermarket options but OEM

Part #: 30205-CD00B

 

I ran a stock 350Z HR (06 and up) clutch for years with a Fidanza lightweight flywheel. It worked really well. It's basically the same strength as most stage1 setups and bolts right up.

You used to be able to buy a 350Z clutch for a very reasonable price compared to an aftermarket stage1. A lot of us were using them and recommending them. Nissan jacked the price up so high that it doesn't make sense any more when compared to an Exedy stage1.

 

I actually didn't get the 03. Found an 04 and bought that instead.

 

edit: Didn't buy the 03?

WTF? 04s are fat, ugly and still chock full of issues (at least the 5.5 is just precats).

 

The 04's look like the previous gens chubby cousin lol. But congrats on the buy, hope she's good to you.

 

It's obese cousin

 

Lmao, precisely. But hey, it's all thr same, powerplant and that VQ35 is love, love, lovelyyyyy.

 

It's just a fancier Altima...

 

Basically. I feel like up until recently Nissan got lazy with their body designs. The newer maximas are still a little too fat for me but have some nice sharp looking edges.

 

This is what happens when you design **** in the US. It's crap. They had no choice but to make the 7th gen decent or else they would have to shut down production.

 

OFF TOPIC..

Anyhow Maxima = lost soul, the outlier, the loner

 

I use to have a 96 GXE. It was nice. I actually like the 04 body. Being a bigger guy, 6'4" and 270lbs, the car has some space for me. My last vehicle was a F250 crew cab.

I liked the 03 I looked at, and really wanted a stick, but the salvage title and needing a clutch kind of ruined it for me. Plus the guy wanted 3500 for it and it had like 150K. Got this 04 for 5100 and it only had 127K and a clean title. The 04 has some issues, like the rust on the floor board. And it came with some gangster 20s too (and stock 18s)

 

^
Maybe could've waited for a better deal?

The gen 6 reliability is even worse than the Gen 5.5 man

 

Not really. I been looking for a car for a couple weeks. Hard to always borrow a car to get to work and around. I been looking all around me and neighboring cities. Just wasn't much available as far as car in general. Everyone is asking way too much for vehicles. Seen a couple 03 autos but people were asking 4-4500 for them and they had 170k+ on them.

 

 

That sucks man. I got my auto 5.5 this past August with 145k for 2700 lol. Has a couple dings and a fair amount of scratches but the mechanics are astoundingly smooth for the mileage. I did buy it from the original owner though lol

 

Still astonishes me how ridiculous US prices for maxima's are

 

I know eh!

With the currency rate, we should just drive down there and sell it for US money

 

****, many cars, people are asking KBB for vehicles with a salvage/rebuilt title.
I finally drove the 04 today for a while, it needs an alignment badly, and I hope that takes care of the weird rear end sway that is happening.

 

you are right there are alot of people trying to get kbb value for cars with salvage/rebuilt titles, and high mileage, numerous things wrong with them smh.