Well I just took my sister for a ride in my car. This is the second ride i've given her with the different transmission. This time I chirped second. I was trying too hard so if I would have relaxed I could have squeeled into second like I do when i'm alone. So anyways we got back into the neighborhood and she starts telling me about her friend with a camaro who can shift like a pro. She says she has driven his car (2000 V6 5-speed Camaro) and it's really fast. She said it felt as fast as my car but then again it's really hard for her to tell the difference. Back when I was automatic she said the camaro was faster. Here are the stats for both cars:

Camaro: Stock
Maxima(me): Downpipe, CAI, catback dual exhaust

Now I know Chevy improved the camaro's for 2k and I know they come with 200HP/220TQ, but it is my understanding they weigh a few hundred pounds more then us. Now, with my mods I should be getting as much or more torque to the wheels than the camaro and more HP AND I am a few hundred pounds lighter. And I didn't even floor the car until about 15mph in 1st gear which was around 4,000 RPMS so the exhaust and intake mods should be adding their power by then.

So, tell me, what makes people think the slower cars are faster? I'm sure alot of you people get the same thing. What really bugged me is she said it was REALLY fast. But she is a girl so I forgive her, but I should be noticably quicker then a V6 camaro EVEN in the butt dyno, don't you guys think?

NVH - Noise, Vibration, Harshness.

its the image the camaro gave your sister I guess, I rode in a 2k2 auto max today, it felt faster than my car but not like ~60hp more(intake)... I bet if you give me earplugs & put me in a bone stock 4th gen auto then put me in a ypipe intake exhaust 4th gen auto i'll tell u they're the same speed.

I think its because they have a softer suspension, my friends V-6 mustang "feels fast" but I know with itds 140 hp its hella slow... I made the mistake of saying "man this car FEELS fast even though I know it isn't...whoops

Are you serious or just poking fun at GM? Becuase he is stock so his car would is really quite, mine is really loud.

Geez Been a while since you've posted!


I am looking for a factual answer. I was thinking it was the torque but then I realized it makes only 15lb.-ft more then me STOCK and it is significantly heavier (I think) so my car should actually feel faster.

The suspension/noise should do nothing to make it feel faster! If anything a lower car feels faster becuase it picks up better off the line.

rwd, easier to do high rpm launch & not spin.

My guesses would be sound, ride quality, and image.
-Cyrus

Well, I really didn't read your post thoroughly - I just threw it out there as possibility.

Here's another one: Nissan's VQ is DOHC and we know its ranges. GM's V6 is OHV. I believe those cars are pretty strong at low speeds and have plenty more tq. Of course I could be speaking nonsense.

Then again I could also poking fun at GM.

This is only becuase your driving minima but if she rode in a real Maxima than she would be VEry supprised

Come on I did not want to see your picture

MAXIMANESS!!!

you worry too much dude

I feel the same thing about my 240sx (no mod). it feel faster than maxima (no mod except filter). the reason I guess are:
- rusted exhaust and thus sound faster
- RWD?
- stiffer suspension (feel the bump more frequent so feel faster)
- stiffer seat (same reason as above)
- much lower Center of gravity (more feel of force? less visibility from lower view and thus feel faster? kind of like driving at night feel faster)
- lower seat (same reason as above)
- 5 speed (but you got 5 speed)
- handle better thus corner faster

Look at those timeslips and tell me if the V6 camaros are really that much slower than maximas.

http://timeslips.firebirdv6.com/

I can tell you that the camaro will feel fast because it has more torque at the same rpm. Think about it, the camaro has around 7-10lb-fts at 4000rpm than a VQ. The 5spd camaro has simular gear ratios but more weight. However when I drove a stock 00 V6 camaro and a 97 gxe (both 5spds). The camaro had more initial thrust below 4k, however I know the maxima has more pull in 2nd-3rd gear than the camaro did. I would argue that a simularly modded V6 camaro would run mid-high 14s just as well as a maxima.

Is there anything you don't have a answere too

Shorter gear ratios make all the difference in the world.....

You have to remember that most of those F-Bodies are running highstall torque converters, gears, and slicks. Look at the ETs vs MPHs. They've got no legs. 91-92mph is the norm. They ET well through superior 60 foots.

An F-Body with the 3800 V6 feels very torquey due to it's lower range power output. From 0-50 the V6 F-Body feels "punchy", but get it on the highway and it doesn't have the lungs or legs like the VQ. I've ran many V6 F-Bodies at the track and had them close to me within the first 330'. Slowly I would start to walk them and then at the 1/8 mile I'm running away. I'm usually .6-.8 second quicker and 5-7mph faster.


Dave

I agree with others in this thread. Shorter gear ratios, louder, rougher/more raw ride, etc.

Heh...my old stock 91 integra felt fast. Especially to goils In comparison, my max doesn't feel fast. But it's at least a full second in the 1/4 faster.

My roomie with a stock 97 240 after driving the max around a bit and riding in it here and there still thinks its faster than the max

I agree

alotta people think civics are fast - guess its the look of the car........also the maxima is prolly smoother than a camaro......the harshness of the camaro might contribute to the fact that people think its faster?

they make 220ftlbs of torque, only 15ftlbs more than a stock 4th gen, and if im not mistaken, it makes that 220ftlbs at a much lower rpm than where the maxima makes it, around 3200 or something like that, while the maxima makes 205 @ 4000. I have an auto at the moment, and that torque really shows through when u cant dump it like a 5spd. My friend had a GrandPrixGT bone stock, and all i had was a short ram intake, and when we would launch off the lights, no matter how well i braketorqued and launched he would almost always pull 1-1.5 cars on me within the first 50ft, but by 50-60mph i would be jogging by. Torque feels fast, HP IS fast.

does the intake add a lot of HP? ran my friend's buick regal gs (205hp older one) I had no problem keeping up with him off the line

i had lack of tread and im 5th gen, SE with all options, my car probably tips the scale between 3300-3400

Craig and Jdwyer:

You guys are nuts.

rear wheel drive is a whole different feeling. our cars pull us w/ the front wheels while a rear wheel drive such as the stangs and camaros push u. my buddy's 240 feels faster even w/ the lower hp & tq...but it's not.

i deno about the pull/push thing, im sure it has something to do with why some slower cars feel faster, but then again my friends turbo integra felt faster than my friends mustang gt, and the turbo integra was automatic, and was only pushing 8psi, and the integra felt WAY faster than the mustang, even tho i know that they are pretty close.

well, the torque issue u brought up also has a lot to do w/ it...probably the most. higher torque down load will make any car feel faster.

Ha funny you should say. The other day I have 3 firends in the car and we pull up to a camero on a red light. It's some chick and she has a standard (this is not a z28 BTW). My friend are all telling me how not to waste my time as that car is super fast, it must be it's a camaro. So I just smile and hit the brake hard, rev up to 1K and just let it go, the chick also peels out. I was even up until 30, I could hear my friends laughing "Oh she will get you know" but somehow I just pull away. By 60 I could see her in my rear view mirror. And may I reming you Im had 3 others in my car (heavy *** bastards too) and I have an auto and she had a 5spd. When comes to people who know nothing about cars they think that just because a car looks fast it makes it fast. If only the maxima came in a GT version and could do 0-60 in 5 seconds we would have everyone saying how freaken fast this car is.
Paul