Ok heres the situation,
I just bought a 2002 Max SE back in january. I love the horsepower that it has and its the fastest car I have ever driven. I was wondering what I could do to it besides a supercharger (too much money and voids warranty) to make it faster and more effecient.

And if I do add something like a CAI would this add performance but at the same time injure the engine somehow, I mean I'm sure Nissan has the loot to do the proper testing and research to make sure the engine, powertrain and everything else about the car is in tune with each other. I guess heres the question: Does adding modifications to a car injure it somehow just like a cocaine amps up a person but is really killing them.

Just a question and I'm hoping to get some feedback, I just wanna make the car more powerful and faster but I don't wanna kill it

 

Oh, sorry its a automatic

 

answer to your question:

Basically, with correct installation, not all the extreme performance parts will destroy ur engine or tranny. And with a bad or no maintanance towards your vehicle, it will shorten its life even you keep it pure stock.

I would do a search on the performance parts that u r interested. and if u love the power of 2k2 max, I woudlnt bother to increase it....but the suspension of maxima definitly needs some upgrade.

 

i'm with max-od, the Maxima is already a pretty nifty performer in terms of speed. However, the suspension would definitely benefit from an upgrade.

 

To add to that...suspension upgrades can actually extend the life of your car. For example, strut-tower braces and sway bars serve to further strengthen the frame of your car. sub-frame bars/connectors/braces/welded on type items can take that strength even further. Upgrading brake calipers, rotors, pads, and brake lines will further improve your car. A Kevlar clutch can well outlast your stock one and, particularly in the Maxima's case, a tire replacement is seriously in order.

Having said that, there are definite drawbacks to forced induction systems like a supercharger and NO2. Without proper modification, those systems can put an enormous amount of stress on your engine and surrounding parts.

I think it comes down to how you treat your car. If you educate yourself, or are already educated, on your car's maintenance and take care of it for what it is--a well-oiled piece of precision machinery--it will last you a very long time despite any modification you make. Don't "just tighten" the strut tower bolts after an FSTB install--tighten them to 35 ft/lbs. because that's the appropriate torque specification. Don't manhandle your MAF sensor--because it is delicate and shouldn't be manhandled. Treat it well and it will treat you well.

My apologies for carrying on so long.

 

also one thing that i have realized, aftermarket intakes due slightly increase fuel mileage. but thats only if u drive like a normal sane person, and the roar of an intake sure doesnt help me drive like a sane person, the louder it get the harder i push it just so i can hear that thing. so mods in a way can help ur engine in terms or life but they also in a way make u drive faster then u normally would (well it make me drive that way). so if u can resist small things like that, a normal upgrade like the Frankencar intake wont hurt at all. N20 and ForcedInduction on the other hand come with some consiquences if u mess up. good luck.

 

I would pick the line of argument where mods take the life out of the car. Although you may argue that aftermarket manufacturers test their parts and some of you have put on quite a few miles on your modded cars, still, there's nothing like genuine Nissan parts. C'mon, you can't compare anything against multi-million dollar Nissan's Research and Development. Plus, Nissan is backing the whole car up by extensive warranty. Making the whole car, Nissan faces much greater liability, than, for example, manufacturer of Superchargers. That way, there is a proof that Nissan parts are the "safest" way to go.