The final straw in the 2002 WRX VS 2002 Maxima SE debate
05-20-2002 | 05:38 PM
#41
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,151
I dont understand how you can compare a WRX and Maxima. The WRXs competition is the upcoming Lancer EVO, not the Maxima. A Impreza is a economy car and the maxima is a sporty family sedan. The WRX looks like junk compared to a Maxima.
05-20-2002 | 05:54 PM
#42
Re: The final straw in the 2002 WRX VS 2002 Maxima SE debate
Originally posted by Gandalf
I have followed this argument for a while, baffled to a large degree. The stock WRX will destroy the stock SE from a stand still, and the Maxima will eventually win from a roll when you get to high speeds. (That six speed is soo sweet, wonder why they did not put it into the Altima - wait because no one would buy the Maxima.) If you want to aruge that then put on your retarded person helmet real tight, because you are going to hurt yourself.
Now when it comes to modding the SE vs the WRX there is no debate. Especially since Turboxs.com just made a bolt on kit to bring the wrx to 365 hp at the crank ~270 at the wheels. (Stock is 227/~170). Granted that is going to cost 3-4 grand, but what can you do to the Maxima to make it compete for a similar amount of money? Even with $1000, you can get make the WRX have more crank HP than a Maxima.
Sure the cost of the two cars is now the same, so maybe the stock Maxima might be a better deal depending on what you want. I guess based on that you could make an argument that it is till the better car to mod (just be sure to reach for that helmet
) But it was not always like that.
When I bought my wrx last year (when this debate started) a SE cost 3-4k more. So it was a choice between the WRX and money to mod it or a SE. Sure the turboxs kit I mentioned and others like it did not exist yet, but there was enough stuff around to make a WRX faster than a SE. Nissan really settled this debate for us I think by lowering the cost of SE.
But still there are those of you that can't accept the existence of a faster car, and will blindly defend what you have. I probably would to if my car depreciated 3 grand in purchase price within half a year of my purchase.
Guys I am not a Maxima basher, I have friends on this board (some of whom I told to get the Maxima). Nevermind that, but my cousin had modded 3rd gen that was sweet. The SE is still a really sweet car combining luxory and speed. But the **** just ain't a sweet sports car, or a platform to build one on. The reason I posted is there are some people who hopefully care about the truth, are uninformed, and just want to know - well now you do!
I have followed this argument for a while, baffled to a large degree. The stock WRX will destroy the stock SE from a stand still, and the Maxima will eventually win from a roll when you get to high speeds. (That six speed is soo sweet, wonder why they did not put it into the Altima - wait because no one would buy the Maxima.) If you want to aruge that then put on your retarded person helmet real tight, because you are going to hurt yourself.
Now when it comes to modding the SE vs the WRX there is no debate. Especially since Turboxs.com just made a bolt on kit to bring the wrx to 365 hp at the crank ~270 at the wheels. (Stock is 227/~170). Granted that is going to cost 3-4 grand, but what can you do to the Maxima to make it compete for a similar amount of money? Even with $1000, you can get make the WRX have more crank HP than a Maxima.
Sure the cost of the two cars is now the same, so maybe the stock Maxima might be a better deal depending on what you want. I guess based on that you could make an argument that it is till the better car to mod (just be sure to reach for that helmet
) But it was not always like that. When I bought my wrx last year (when this debate started) a SE cost 3-4k more. So it was a choice between the WRX and money to mod it or a SE. Sure the turboxs kit I mentioned and others like it did not exist yet, but there was enough stuff around to make a WRX faster than a SE. Nissan really settled this debate for us I think by lowering the cost of SE.
But still there are those of you that can't accept the existence of a faster car, and will blindly defend what you have. I probably would to if my car depreciated 3 grand in purchase price within half a year of my purchase.
Guys I am not a Maxima basher, I have friends on this board (some of whom I told to get the Maxima). Nevermind that, but my cousin had modded 3rd gen that was sweet. The SE is still a really sweet car combining luxory and speed. But the **** just ain't a sweet sports car, or a platform to build one on. The reason I posted is there are some people who hopefully care about the truth, are uninformed, and just want to know - well now you do!
05-20-2002 | 06:32 PM
#43
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 476
I'm jumpin' in late here. I've done some research and if I were a ricer, I would buy a WRX hands down. There's no comparison when it comes to aftermarket parts for the WRX(WRX clearly has more). The aftermarket support for the Maxima(and don't even mention the 2k2 Maxima, rediculous) is horrible. Not to mention multi-link beam suspension??? What true sports car(or sports sedan for that matter) uses a beam??? Come on.
Now the other side:
I'm not a ricer and neither are most people on this forum. The Maxima is the better choice for a machine that can cruise without effort at 120mph(a 2.0 liter anything won't be able to do that). Bottom line is if I'm on 95(Maryland) doing 75-80 and I see a WRX wants some, I'm gonna blow the doors off his car!(In my automatic!)
Now, the 2K2 Max is the real anchor for this argument. It's true, when you step to a 2K2 Max SE your stopping with the big dogs.
Now the other side:
I'm not a ricer and neither are most people on this forum. The Maxima is the better choice for a machine that can cruise without effort at 120mph(a 2.0 liter anything won't be able to do that). Bottom line is if I'm on 95(Maryland) doing 75-80 and I see a WRX wants some, I'm gonna blow the doors off his car!(In my automatic!)
Now, the 2K2 Max is the real anchor for this argument. It's true, when you step to a 2K2 Max SE your stopping with the big dogs.
05-20-2002 | 09:30 PM
#47
Originally posted by emax95
So Gandalf what does your WRX run? BTW I had a nice run with a WRX about a week ago from a 40 MPH roll. I pulled about 5-6 cars on him from 40-100 and he could not hang with me in the corners.
So Gandalf what does your WRX run? BTW I had a nice run with a WRX about a week ago from a 40 MPH roll. I pulled about 5-6 cars on him from 40-100 and he could not hang with me in the corners.
let me ask you this question emax: lets say we cloned you and your clone had all the driving skills that you have. you two are essentially the same. equal in all aspects. if he drove the wrx and you drove the maxima u still think you could outhandle the wrx?
i thought the thread was THIS CAR vs THAT CAR...
not
GOOD DRIVER vs WORSE DRIVER...
a kill is a kill... but still man. u cant say you can own all wrx's?
05-20-2002 | 10:40 PM
#48
Originally posted by lcf
not flaming, but i thought the wrx had better handling than the maxima... even a maxima with an aftermarket suspension.
let me ask you this question emax: lets say we cloned you and your clone had all the driving skills that you have. you two are essentially the same. equal in all aspects. if he drove the wrx and you drove the maxima u still think you could outhandle the wrx?
i thought the thread was THIS CAR vs THAT CAR...
not
GOOD DRIVER vs WORSE DRIVER...
a kill is a kill... but still man. u cant say you can own all wrx's?
not flaming, but i thought the wrx had better handling than the maxima... even a maxima with an aftermarket suspension.
let me ask you this question emax: lets say we cloned you and your clone had all the driving skills that you have. you two are essentially the same. equal in all aspects. if he drove the wrx and you drove the maxima u still think you could outhandle the wrx?
i thought the thread was THIS CAR vs THAT CAR...
not
GOOD DRIVER vs WORSE DRIVER...
a kill is a kill... but still man. u cant say you can own all wrx's?
05-20-2002 | 10:51 PM
#49
Even a stock maxima will out handle a WRX in a slalom.According to MT the WRX did 61.4 MPH in the slalom and a 00 SE maxima did 62 MPH. Funny thing is both cars have the same crappy potenzas. The 00 I30T did 64.9 MPH in the slalom.
BTW I know there mag times and I hate to use them but they are a good comparison for Stock VS stock.
05-20-2002 | 11:06 PM
#50
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,816
Originally posted by emax95
When I beat him by 5-6 cars it was in a straight line. At speeds of around 100 MPH my car will definatly out handle a stock WRX, my supension is a lot better then a stock max's and I have real wide tires to back it up. In a rally race or in a race I have to floor it out of corners the WRX would take me but at a 100 mph jaunt my car is superior. Adding my supension work and tires will allow me to pull more G's and a higher slolem speed then just about any sports car(in stock trim). Read the November 96 Motor trend issue with the stillen SMX review if you don't beleive me
When I beat him by 5-6 cars it was in a straight line. At speeds of around 100 MPH my car will definatly out handle a stock WRX, my supension is a lot better then a stock max's and I have real wide tires to back it up. In a rally race or in a race I have to floor it out of corners the WRX would take me but at a 100 mph jaunt my car is superior. Adding my supension work and tires will allow me to pull more G's and a higher slolem speed then just about any sports car(in stock trim). Read the November 96 Motor trend issue with the stillen SMX review if you don't beleive me
05-20-2002 | 11:59 PM
#52
Originally posted by Chinkzilla
Just out of pure interest.. where could I find this article?
Just out of pure interest.. where could I find this article?
05-21-2002 | 04:12 AM
#53
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,816
Originally posted by emax95
The library or in my basement. I will try to dig it up tomarrow and post the #'s. The slalom speed was about 71 MPH and it pulled about .91 G's. Thats off the top of my head, the #'s may be a little conservative
The library or in my basement. I will try to dig it up tomarrow and post the #'s. The slalom speed was about 71 MPH and it pulled about .91 G's. Thats off the top of my head, the #'s may be a little conservative
craaaaaazy
05-21-2002 | 05:09 AM
#54
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 476
In terms of looks the Maxima wins by far in certain areas, and just barely in others. When it comes to "aggressive styling"(eg. BMW 5 series headlights) the Maxima still wins but the WRX is not far behind.
Give Subaru credit, the WRX looks very similar to the actual rally car.
Give Subaru credit, the WRX looks very similar to the actual rally car.
05-21-2002 | 06:16 AM
#55
Dyno plot says I have the most area under the Administrator curve
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,060
Just like all other mag-tested AWD sports cars these days, they get these ultra low 1/4 mile times via extremely abusive drop-clutch launches. Low-14's on a stock WRX is very nice.
However
From what I've seen on the streets, WRX owners don't seem very willing to risk blowing up their tranny's by launching like that. And those that do seem to have success in blowing them up (small input spline as Jeff stated). Without an abusive launch, the 90-ish trap speed of WRX's doesn't make them any faster from a roll than my 4th Gen 5spd or a 5th Gen 5spd.
I stayed dead even with a stock WRX from 30-80 in my lowly 190 HP Maxima
And from anything above a ZERO mph launch, a 2k2 Max 6spd would positively rip a WRX (emax95's story)
I almost bought a WRX after my Accord V6 was totalled on Jan 2nd but it was just too small for me. I wanted something that was more luxurious, while also being about as fast as a WRX from a roll since I didn't care about drop-clutch launch potential (which would just result in a smokey burn-out and maybe some broken motor mounts in my Max). So did I get what I paid for?
Hell Yeah!!
Both the Maxima and the WRX are GREAT cars in their respective market segments. But it's really silly to compare them because the two cars market segments are almost 180 degrees apart.
Peace.
However
From what I've seen on the streets, WRX owners don't seem very willing to risk blowing up their tranny's by launching like that. And those that do seem to have success in blowing them up (small input spline as Jeff stated). Without an abusive launch, the 90-ish trap speed of WRX's doesn't make them any faster from a roll than my 4th Gen 5spd or a 5th Gen 5spd.
I stayed dead even with a stock WRX from 30-80 in my lowly 190 HP Maxima
And from anything above a ZERO mph launch, a 2k2 Max 6spd would positively rip a WRX (emax95's story)
I almost bought a WRX after my Accord V6 was totalled on Jan 2nd but it was just too small for me. I wanted something that was more luxurious, while also being about as fast as a WRX from a roll since I didn't care about drop-clutch launch potential (which would just result in a smokey burn-out and maybe some broken motor mounts in my Max). So did I get what I paid for?
Originally posted by SteVTEC
I stayed dead even with a stock WRX from 30-80 in my lowly 190 HP Maxima
I stayed dead even with a stock WRX from 30-80 in my lowly 190 HP Maxima
Both the Maxima and the WRX are GREAT cars in their respective market segments. But it's really silly to compare them because the two cars market segments are almost 180 degrees apart.
Peace.
05-21-2002 | 09:22 AM
#56
I drove a friedn's WRX. It didn't leave me wanting to go trade my car immediately. It was basically stock with upgraded wheels. My friend got ****ed when I did a power launch That was fun 
My Max could never do that, but i don't really care. That car, when it was off boost, was an absolute dog. And when it was on boost, it didn't feel much more powerful, if at all, than my car. This was a stick to stick comparison.
Later ,he takes his car back and i ride shotgun. HE starts gunning it ALL over the place! I'm like hey! why couldn't you let me do that. Anyways, it was nice the way he powered out of curves, but sevral times, he flew into curves and floored it to power out, but was off boost, it was as if that car stayed there then limped out
Anyways, it's a nice car, small on the inside, but the tranny will not hold up, especially if you build up the turbo. It's really a rally car dressed up to be sports sedan. I prefer my sports sedan that was built to be a sports sedan
DW
My Max could never do that, but i don't really care. That car, when it was off boost, was an absolute dog. And when it was on boost, it didn't feel much more powerful, if at all, than my car. This was a stick to stick comparison.Later ,he takes his car back and i ride shotgun. HE starts gunning it ALL over the place! I'm like hey! why couldn't you let me do that. Anyways, it was nice the way he powered out of curves, but sevral times, he flew into curves and floored it to power out, but was off boost, it was as if that car stayed there then limped out
Anyways, it's a nice car, small on the inside, but the tranny will not hold up, especially if you build up the turbo. It's really a rally car dressed up to be sports sedan. I prefer my sports sedan that was built to be a sports sedan
DW
05-21-2002 | 10:55 AM
#57
Originally posted by dwapenyi
I drove a friedn's WRX. It didn't leave me wanting to go trade my car immediately. It was basically stock with upgraded wheels. My friend got ****ed when I did a power launch That was fun My Max could never do that, but i don't really care. That car, when it was off boost, was an absolute dog. And when it was on boost, it didn't feel much more powerful, if at all, than my car. This was a stick to stick comparison.
Later ,he takes his car back and i ride shotgun. HE starts gunning it ALL over the place! I'm like hey! why couldn't you let me do that. Anyways, it was nice the way he powered out of curves, but sevral times, he flew into curves and floored it to power out, but was off boost, it was as if that car stayed there then limped out
Anyways, it's a nice car, small on the inside, but the tranny will not hold up, especially if you build up the turbo. It's really a rally car dressed up to be sports sedan. I prefer my sports sedan that was built to be a sports sedan
DW
I drove a friedn's WRX. It didn't leave me wanting to go trade my car immediately. It was basically stock with upgraded wheels. My friend got ****ed when I did a power launch That was fun
My Max could never do that, but i don't really care. That car, when it was off boost, was an absolute dog. And when it was on boost, it didn't feel much more powerful, if at all, than my car. This was a stick to stick comparison.Later ,he takes his car back and i ride shotgun. HE starts gunning it ALL over the place! I'm like hey! why couldn't you let me do that. Anyways, it was nice the way he powered out of curves, but sevral times, he flew into curves and floored it to power out, but was off boost, it was as if that car stayed there then limped out
Anyways, it's a nice car, small on the inside, but the tranny will not hold up, especially if you build up the turbo. It's really a rally car dressed up to be sports sedan. I prefer my sports sedan that was built to be a sports sedan
DW
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