Just wondering. I think the 4th gens look way better but from what I've been reading. the VG is a pretty good engine. (vg right???). Also the 3rd gen has a real indy rear suspension unlike the 4th gen. So all in all I figure a 3rd gen will do better up against a 4th gen in autocross because, a modded VG will be pretty strong, it's lighter, and has a better rear suspension. I am presuming some things but I just wanted to get some stimulating conversations going.

 

VQ owns VG but independent suspension owns rear beam.

 

VG's are not as strong as VE's note even close, VE is comparible to a VQ. And please lock this thread now!

 

VE POWER!

 

Yes the VG is a great engine (lasts forever, potential for turboing since the 300ZX uses a VG), but is there a chance you were think of the VE engine? It puts out the same power as the 4th gen's VQ. And you are correct sir, it does have a four wheel independent suspension.

 

The VQ makes 15 more lb.-ft of torque, and I THINK the VQ makes both it's HP/TQ at lower RPMS. I do know that the VE makes 190HP/190TQ. The 3rd gen's are also heavier then the 4th gens.

 

They are? look at the weight on your door, then look at the weight on the 3rd gens door, we did...at Stillen and were shocked.

 

The 4th gen would win with no problem just like a 5th 2k2 would beat a 4th (i know this doesn't always work but it does in this case). So im not trying to start a flame war with all the 3rd gen vs the 4th but it's just a fact.
Thanks,
Paul

 

VE came in the SE at 190hp and VG at 160 hp right???? anyways the point was 3rd gen SE vs 4th gen SE all around which is better???? Well now i know what some of you guys think
Have fun debating this one out. I agree VQ rocks!!! but rear beam is no good.

 

Dude without flaming, I dont think you know your stuff. A VE 5 speed will run low 15's-high14's depending on driver. Maybe you need to run into a VE to learn. Ask thezcarguy and lots of other SoCal members whom have had a VE experience and they will tell you.

 

VE 5-spd owns...

3rd gens look better than 4th gens..build quality inside and out is much better and yes independant rear ownz joO

 

did you even read the above posts?? the VE motor is basically identical to the VQ....the VE auto is maybe .2-.3 slower(if that) and a 5spd VE with just an intake is capable of low 15's.....care to rephrase your statement....


and anyways this thread has been done to death...please not again, please, for the love of all that is holy on the great span of mother earth's green soil, please!

 

I couldnt agree with you more.

 

Wise *** moderator

 

The 4th gen is significantly lighter than the 3rd gen. IRS is desireable over broken/choppy pavement, but on smooth pavement such as an AutoX course usually is, the rear beam is more stable. Not to mention the 4th gen has more low end torque (another plus in AutoX).

I feel the 4th gen is the superior vehicle for autoX.

 

No the crappy quility first edition of the 4th gen are significantly lighter and I won't mention the performance of the 99 SE-L

 

buwhahahahaha, someone close this thing.

 

don't think the 4th gen looks bigger, the 4th gen is more aerodynamic than the 3rd.

 

4th gens look way better than 3rds. One can argue that they look better than 5ths. And leaving material quality aside, the interior aesthetics and ergonomics can't even be compared!

 

The 3rd gen showed that Nissan had great potential. VE was kinda hokey in that the 190 hp came at a tremendous price--reliability and $$$ in the form of VTC. In late 1994 Nissan scored a hit with the 4th gen Max. Car and Driver put it on the 10 Best list, at a price of over 27k. Heck, you can get a 2k2 SE stripped for what, 4-6 grand less than that? It's astounding that the car could have done what it did over what was to be the next 7 1/2 years. So there is something positive about the 3rd gen, it was a good car and implied that the best was yet to come. Park a new Hyundai Tiburon next to a 2k2 Max today and one has to wonder what happened to all that potential.....

 

The weight on the door is the MAX weight that the car can handle. This includes fuel, passengers and cargo.

 

One word: delusional











By all means, let's leave material quality, build quality, context of when car was made, etc., and sure, the 4th gen rules the 3rd gen.

 

When you say 3rd gen SE, it's a wee bit vague because;

'91 SE is a 3rd gen
'93 SE is also a 3rd gen

The '93 had the 190 hp VE and the '91 had the 160 hp VG.

To clarify, the '92-94 3rd gen SEs had the 190 VE engine.


Also, it's interesting that there was an Nissan ad that touted the VE 3rd gen as the fastest 4 door sedan in the world. 4th gen never got that . . .even though it's faster

DW

 

MAX420 can haul some serious @$$ with his 94 VE 5spd

 

Let me say this. All you people posting except the certain ones that I know really know there **** are stupid. You are very biased. Let me tell you this, even though I know it wont stick into your thick heads. The 3rd gen build quality is 100x better, this argument has been made before, with no result. I have rode and driven many 4th gens, a 99 that rattles so bad I couldnt stand it. Sure the VQ looks nicer if you are an old person, the trunk looks like a fokin rainbow of some sort. If you think your 4th gen is so superior, race a VE 5 speed and it will bring you back to reality. Driving in the 3rd gen makes me feel like I am in a sports car, the 4th gen really makes me feel like I am in a 4 door, hmmmm...maybe that is why Nissan dumped the whole 4 Door Sports Car thing after the 3rd gen. hmmmm...

 

I would like to know if this is really true. I remember reading once about the measurement of aerodynamics on a 3rd gen and it was very impressive. Does anyone have the numbers for comparisson? Is it called the coefficent of friction or something like that...

 

I'm to a certain extent biased, and I think everyone is on this subject, but why do I always see this superiority complex with 4th gen drivers?

3rd gens are better looking, hands down.

On the subject of interiors, I realize that many 3rd gens now are ragged out, but have you 4th gen guys ever been in a nice black leather interior on a 3rd gen? C'mon, tell me that isnt one of the nicest interiors you've ever been in. You just flat out cant beat the fit, finish, and ergonomics of the 3rd gen interior, and it still looks excellent for being over 10 yrs old. Not to mention I pretty much gaurantee you it's gonna be rattle free.

3rd gens do excellent in the handling department, especially considering we dont have adjustable shocks and coilovers and whatnot.

VE power!

 

Did some quick searching and came up with the 3rd gen drag coefficient to be between .32 and .34

 

What is it for the 4G?

 

I think that, in its time, the 3rd gen was a more notable car than the 4th gen was. There wasn't anything that could touch the 3rd gen VE powered cars, they were in a class all their own. During the 4th gens time, other automakers started to step it up, and the utter dominance of the maxima as the premier FWD 4 door started to dwindle.

That said I still believe that the 4th gen is the better performance car when comparing the two. This says nothing of my opinion about the build quality etc, as I am less than thrilled with the interior build quality of my 4th gen but that's not what this thread is about.

 

4th gen drag coefficient is .32 as well.

 

Well this thread was based on all around performance. And since the VE is almost identical, BTW: I have been looking at the dynos and have yet to see this powerful low end torque and hp on the VQ. Back to the point, for all around, it has to be the 3rd gen. Since the beam handles so well on flat surfaces, what are you going to do, haul it on a trailor to the flat roads and perform. This is america and the roads suck so for all around day to day the IRS will dominate.

 

This is not directed to you nealoc I just had to reply to your post. But damn! Didnt someone else say that they drag coefficient was waaay better on a 4th gen???

 

 

And you're not!?!?! Get serious.

Until I hear of multiple 3rd gens running low 14s in NA form, I continue to believe the 4th gen is superior in acceleration. Who was the fastest NA 3rd gen? I'm assuming BryanH in his 92 SE that ran 14.3@96mph. Bryan's already admitted to me that my 4th gen makes more power than his 92 and he believes I could have a quicker car if I could ever hook up because I consistently get 96-97mph traps vs his consistent 94mphs. What's the ET second to Bryan? 14.8s? Matt93SE has the potential to run 14s seeing that he ran 15.0@93mph at my track.

In terms of handling, only in seriously bumpy turns will the 4th gen suffer to a 3rd gen. So pretty much in a offroad rally cross will the 3rd gen own the 4th gen. Of course that's assuming the 4th gen isn't running the stock 4X4 suspension.

Interior wise, I think the black leather 4th gen interior is probably the best ever designed interior for a Maxima. Take a close look and you'll many Mercedes styling cues inside. The 3rd gen interior wasn't bad at all, but it doesn't have the timeless and clean design of the 4th gen, IMO. The 3rd gens are probably put together better than the 4th gens, but I'm not complaining because my 4th gen has no rattles. Is my car rare? Maybe, but GuidoSST's 95 GLE doesn't rattle and neither does Danhryman's 97 SE. You 3rd gen guys make the 4th gen sound like it's a 92 Cavalier rattle box. That couldn't be further from the truth.


Dave

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by James12345
3rd gens are better looking, hands down.






Righhhhhhhhhhhtt..............

 

Oh shiet here comes Dave B The whole thing is that 4th gen guys try and make the 3rd gen seem like some old car that the 4th gen just straight up kills all around, and that is far from the truth.

I am also curious to know what the fastest N/A 4th gen is.

 

Because stupid bioch's like you will come in here and make me very mad. But I cannot do anything because you are probably in some little hick town far away from civilization, humping your mother.

 

If 3rdGens actually outperformed 4thGens, then why did Nissan stop making them?

 

sure Go hop in your grandma's car. So she can give you a HJ down that long country road you live on.