Just wondering why each and everyone of you mods your cars. I'm not really speaking of rims, I'm talking about performance and suspension. Also, after all that you've done, if you could go back to the beginning, would you mod your car again? I personally have mixed feelings on me and modding. I started because it had been something I wanted to do for a long time, but never really had the money to do. The performance mods I've done, honestly have not seemed to really make much of a difference, although that maybe do to the fact that I have Stillen's headers which suck ***. The suspension mods have been nice and defiently have improved the handling big time, but the ride has suffered a lot. I absolutely hate the ride quality now. All this has honestly has brought me to a cross roads with modding. For the past year, I've been in Iraq, slowly paying bills down, credit cards that got way up because of modding and other stuff and the car payment itself. Finally after a year, I'm coming home and this time I'll be debt free. The year away made me realize just how much money I was spending and has now got me reconsidering modding again and any of the mods I've done. One one hand, I want to continue with for the sake of trying to make my car faster and possibly find a cure all for the ride quality. On another hand, I keep thinking to myself that if most of the mods I've done, I've been unsatisfied with then why continue. Also, how are these mods affecting the overall life span of the car? Are the perfromance mods really allowing the car to breath better and allowing the engine to run smoother or is that b.s.? What kind affects are the suspension mods having? Are they tearing the tie rods up, the cv boots, etc.? I begin to think, why not take all the mods off and bring the car back to stock. Anyway, give me your reasons of modding and how satisfied you are. Also give some helpful hints on what I can do to make the ride better and better mods that work better than Stillen's. Anyway, thanks for listening. Chris.

 

self gratification + show off.

now let's face it, performance? come on, it's a heavy FWD car, wake up and buy a RWD next time if u want to race.

to take it to the track.......again, get urself a sports car, not a family sedan.

i could understand suspension mods, since the stock suspension is crap, also tires.

just my .02

as for me, i'm all show-off and a bit of self gratification.

 

First, let me thank you for what you did overthere in Irak. Second is true what you say about the fact that you could save a lot of money by leaving your car stock, but on a personal note the reasond what i do mod my car is b/c i don`t wanna be like everybody else, sure you could get almost the same things, but remember your car will always have that personal touch, and to me that`s what counts!

 

i am pretty happy i modded. i think the best mods have been the rear sway bar and front strut brace. i dont have much done for performance but the intake is something i would do again. nest time i would rethink the short shifter just cause in cold weather sometimes i have to basically force it into gear, but other than that it is pretty nice. all in all i am happy with everything i have done.

 

The showoff factor is probably one of the biggest reasons why I started and self gratification. I think I just really didn't know what to expect with the mods and was honestly expecting too much.

 

I spend alot of time commuting in the car, so most of my mods are focused around handling (DC-area traffic requires a car that can, um, "manuever around obstacles") and other little things that make riding in the car more enjoyable (audio stuff, small interior touches, etc)...

also, I enjoy auto-x, so the handling stuff comes in handy there....

"power" mods are not high on my priority list as they are for many here, since I have no interest in drag racing or street racing...

my modding is mostly as a hobby, not to put together a "show" car or anything. It's so I can take a break from working on my house, which is not very exciting....

that said, I have been happy with every significant mod I've done. There are a few little ones that I've been unhappy with (which are now gone)...but for anything that costs more than $50 or so, I do extensive research on them and make sure I am SURE about them, and that they WILL make a difference before I buy/install them.

 

i keep modding for 3 reasons, little punk kids my age that think theyre car is the ****, just so i can shut them up infront of there gf's or friends, and the fact that when i see a maxima with clear corners ill flash the high beams or theyll do it, and i love turning heads especially when they r other maxima drivers, i guess u could call me a showoff, anyways man thanks for being over in iraq for us, get home safely

 

i've modified/customized every vehicle i've owned in one way or another. simple as this...you can have your ice cream plain but it's usually better with toppings.

 

i like spending time modding cars. Stress reliever for me.

 

For me, I modded my car to fullfill myself. I always wanted a coupe (350Z). But my parents wouldn't let me...even I'm paying for my car but they are paying insurance. So, got a maxima. I'm pretty happy with it just that it is kind of embarrassing for a 21 year old driving a 4-door boat with a lift....(I'm talking about bone-stock).

MOD/Reasons:
Intake...sound and something to talk about.
exhaust...sound, look and something to talk about.
leather...look, comfort, girls lol.
suspension...handling, look, stock form is embarassing w/ those huge gaps.
Lights...looks.

 

nicely put!

however sometimes ice cream is better without toppings, i mean when the toppings are $hitty or the one putting the toppings puts them half-A$$ed

 

first of all i got a max to be different. i wanted a WRX but it was a little pricey since its a turbo and dealers know kids my age are sweating for it. also a max alot better then a stock engine civic or an accord! second, evo's and STi's are way too expensive. and 3rd, i think it's pretty pimped for an 18 yr old to drive a fully loaded max.

i mod mah max because ... not much modded maximas around here, just for the pride and i just want a nice car

MAIN GOAL:
i wanna mod to the point that i can beat a 5.0 mustang. and thats gonna be some $$$$

 

having people look at your car when you drive by...priceless

 

gotta have some kind of hobby.

 

its a hobby and my C/F hood and trunk turn heads pretty nicely. I'm also a regular at the local dragstrip.

 

I feel each and everyone of you guys. I guess from time, to time I need a little reminder on why we guys and girls mod our rides. To me it's defiently for orginality, show-off factor (I love when people give me compliments), and to be different. I too hate the stock ride of the Maxima, it looks like a 4x4....haha. Anyway, I think what's making my ride so stiff is the fact that I didn't shave my bump stops; yeah, yeah I know....idiot. Also, supposedly because my Teins are such a soft spring, I'm supposed to put my Illuminas at 4f/4r, which is defiently not what there at right now. The performance to be honest is better than I lead people to believe, although the Stillen headers do suck. I'll rectify that when I return. My plan is to do a full Cattman header and exhaust. Other mods will include SFC 1+2, STS, lsd, lightned flywheel, TS Ecu and/or Safc 2, and a Stillen bodykit. There maybe more after that, but that at least should keep me busy for a month or two......haha. Anyway, again I appreciate all your responses. Keep the modding up and thanks for the support on modding and Iraq. Peace.

 

It's a hobby, no more no less. Just like any other hobby out there. You do it cause you enjoy it.

 

I'm not planning on doing much if anything performance-wise because of the questionable reliability and money factors. Most of all, I think it's just done to show off. I didn't even plan on modding my car at all until I joined this forum. While I'm doing a few cosmetic mods, I'm just thankful to own such a great car when most people my age around here don't even have their own ride. I don't feel that what my car looks like or how it performs defines who I am. Of course, I still wouldn't mind the added attention you get from a modded car, and while I love what I see people on the forum doing to their Maximas, I don't feel it's necessary for me to do to be satisfied.

 

i needed to take a break from my gun collection

 

I agree, modded cars always stand out ( in a good way, as long it doesn't look like it rolled out of a junkyard!), I haven't started moding mine yet cuz I'm jobless (no $$$) but once I do, I'ma do some really twisted sh*t to my MAX and heads will turn.

Modding a MAX requires alot of TIME, DEDICATION, & RESOURCES ($$$).

And besides...chicks dig a pimped out ride.

Tell a Chick you Mod your Own Car = She'll think you're hot/smart.
Tell a Chick you Mod you Own PC = She'll think you're a geek.

Any questions?

-Dexter.

 

^^^too true

 

 

I mod it mostly for performance. My car looks stock except for a lowering, chrome tip and clear bumper lights. I even kept the stock wheels. I am concerned about reliability, so my mods are all N/A, and even helped with fuel economy while making the car a whole lot faster. I could have bought a mustang but... nah, not a sleeper.

 

To go faster

 

my cars stock

 

Its more like a disease for me

 

So my car goes from this...



...to this. No 4x4 look for me.

 

For me, it's self gratification....I'm not about racing with mines....but I do like the fact that I have the extra power at my disposal....and I just like the speed and performance out it when I crusing the NJ Parkway. I'm not into looks like I use to be, so now I just focus on the performance.

 

....because I don't like my cars looking like a homosexual drives it.

 

Making myself happy. Also, its nice to make it stand out a bit, but not too much. Really, I mod the car to make it more to my likings. If I want something changed, I change it. I really don't care what others think.

 

.............

 

Mod casue it's a hobby, and you can relate to other people, alot of people, weather its import, muscle, kit, doesn't matter. Look what it created, the .ORG

Also, I probably speak for most of the board when I say we mod maximas casue you don't see many of them modded...we are an elite crowd in the 'Import' scene.

And, most ppl tell me 'sell it and buy a Z or a G'...that just makes me go farther with it.

 

Partially to be different, partially to be better, and paritally so I can sell everything a year later

 

Just so that i can get my groceries a lot quicker!

 

Becuase i like car shows.

 

i mod to have fun, to be different, to stand out, its a hobby, its what im in to, why not. i like to go to shows and hang out, see all the different things people can do to their cars. i love it cause my car is a 'part' of me, but all in all, its still a car.

 

i do feel proud when i look at my car.
all the sweat and hours i put in, it just makes me feel good inside.
handling is def better with suspension mods.
it gives me something to do, and something to show for.
i really dont go out to bars or party, cuz id be spending like 150 a nite in the city. so id rather save and put in towards my car, where i can see where my money goes to. i do like to have fun, but in a different way.

 

i like turning heads at school...nothing like some money hungry sluzbags turning their platnum blond locks, mouths agape when i drive by. its nice to hear my freinds say that my ride is F*cking phat, or them saying that they want me to drive everywhere. i think driving is more enjoyable with something alittle more powerfull than the POS bose and the computer to keep me entertained on those long cruises. my cars an auto so performance isnt high on my list but an intake may be my next mod...im also thinking of a brake upgrade. modding also gives me something to spend my money on that will produce in the long run.
btw-those i30t rims (i think thats what they are) look nice on that red max BlueC
http://www.clearcutaudio.com/car-audio-infinitimain.htm