Nissan made the Altima to perform........ but the quality of the interior is GM-like... I went in looking to buy an Altima. I test drove both. The max felt stronger on pull... Being 32 and looking for luxury I went with the Max... What seems to be happening with Nissan Corp is this... The Altima will focaus with Accords and Camry's The Maxima will go away.......The Infinity buyers will eat up this market.....I know for a fact the Max is quicker but not by much...When I got in to a Max it was a whole new world! so there

 

"I know for a fact the Max is quicker but not by much..."

Same engine,same weight,same power,same speed.

Altima better exterior styling,Maxima nicer interior. Both are great.

 

I just bought a 2002 Maxima Se with Navigation . This is the best car I have ever had. I have owned a 1999 Grand Cherokee LIMITED, a 1996 Trans Am Ram Air WS6 . I also had a 1993 Cobra with a Blower that ran 12's ... My 2002 SE is the best all around car I have ever had . I still hate rice rockets .... But this car kicks *** !

 

"some explanation" Yep, same one that explains why early non-HLSD Maximas have gone 14.3 and the only HLSD that's been to the track so far was well into the 15's over a second slower - I guess the HLSD must be causing more drag than even I expected - NOT.

For your theory to be remotely possible Nissan would have had to some how make the rest of the transmission increase in efficiency to overcome the inefficiencies inherent in the HLSD. Since both non-HLSD and HLSD transmissions have the same ratio 6 forward gears this is not possible, but like I said previously you can always dream.

 

honestly, i blame the 15.3 on me being a terrible driver. the car is very capable of low 14s just like any other 2k2. the car barely had 1000 miles on it, i kept launching too high, and i ****ing missed 3rd gear 2 out of the 3 runs. let me get used to driving a manual and the times will improved significantly.

 

"times will improve significantly" I have no doubt of that, it's just that I was responding to the statement "why SSC measured so much more HP on a HLSD Max". I should have just answered the "why" with different tests, conditions, cars and operators, but thought it kinda ironic that the only HLSD "with so much more HP" that had been to the track went so much slower than all those non-HLSD cars with the great HP difficiency. I meant no disrespect and commend to you for actually running it at the track.

Prior to your track experience some people might have thought the HLSD would solve such traction problems. I've always figured good tires would make far more difference and apply the same theory when considering winter conditions too, others seem to believe HLSD will save you from all your sins and provide a better sex life too.

 

WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this has come up a million and one times.....if you post this in a altima forum, it will come up as altima is faster...if you post it in a maxima forum, it will say the maxima is faster......personally, i believe the maxima is faster, but WHO CARES!! the difference is so little that it matters between the driver

 

One thing that no one has mentioned is the gearing, and I'm not talking about the 6 gears being better than the 5. Ideally, yes, but in the Max and Altima, 1st gear develops alot more power than they can put to the road. Wheelspin is just a mild pedal push away.

Given that, wouldn't it make sense to dilute or spread the car's power further out in the rev range?? To do that you would make the gears taller, not shorter. Yes, with taller gears the peak output becomes smaller. But, with taller gearing, the car can stay in the lower gear, 1st or 2nd, for much longer, therefore taking advantage of torque multiplication even more. Comparing the Altima 5 speed to the Maxima 6 speed, the Altima's gears are a bit taller, so that may be why the Altima may go faster.


My several 2 cents

DW

 

i dont think anyone has brought up the issue of drag coefficient. maybe on of them has a higher drag, making it slower. a possibility...

 

I don't think Nissan has brought up that issue by releasing any specs of drag coefficient.

BUT...

I think most would would side with me that cd. of drag doesn't have a big effect on 1/4 times, especially since stock won't top pass 100mph in that space.

The Maxima is very aerodynamic BTW, .31cd of drag (with spoiler). I seriously doubt the Altima is ALOT better or WORST regardless of how swoopy the shape is. Heck I can name a couple cars that have better or the same cd. than the Maxima that are more square.

 

I agree. Maxima against a Hummer, then maybe CD will play a factor j/k

DW