0-60 in 7.0 and a 15.3@91.5mph. Not bad for a 3342lb car and 255hp/246tq. It pretty much ran away from the new Lexus ES 300 (16.2@86.8mph). It's pretty much what I expected out of the new motor. How much heavier is the I30 vs the new Maxima? Is it something like 50lbs? Don't forget that MT does correct all their times.

In the "First Drive" section, they note the new 6 speed Maxima doesn't have the "legs" of the TL-S, but it is stronger down low. Estimated 0-60 is 6.4....gulp.....slower than the Altima V6 5 speed (6.3 0-60).


Dave

wtf, i doubt it. its the same engine as the altima with more horses (or as nissan claims), lighter, and short gearing 6 speeds.... estimations can be wrong. we'll see when further testing comes out.

The 6 speeds is hardly any deeper than the 5 speed. Think of it as a much needed overdrive to keep you from revving at 3000rpms when you're at 70mph. Like most 6 speeds on the market, it's really not needed. Also, the 2002 Max is not lighter than the Altima V6. I'm pretty sure that the new 6 speed Maxima and the Altima are gonna be within .1 of each other in both 0-60 and 1/4 mile.


Dave

I would have expected the I35 to trap around 92-94mph stock with the automagic. Now if it was the 01 I30 with 227hp then that is an awesome 1/4 and 0-60.

did you get my email?

6.4 0-60 on the new max is B.S., sorry. If the car weighs 30lb's less, has 15 more HP and has some what closer gear ratios then the 6.28 Altima, it will be faster, plane and simple. I don't understand why there is any question involved in this. BTW the HLSD is a added bonus too. This is ****ing me off that no car magazine has track tested the new 6spd max yet . Ohh yeah another thing, the I35 picked up a full second from 0-60 when compared to last years I30. Whould'nt this translate to a much faster manual too? 6.4 pshhhh.
BTW Dave, nothing against you my friend I am just ****ed off at MT's comment nad lack of testing .

well the more hp you add, the ratio from amount of hp to the time decreases means you need more hp for the same amount of time decreased. did that make scense? probally not. is that your maxima that has 10 miles on it? did that baby slide into the river?

Thats my max. It does not look like that anymore but I still have it. BTW I wanted to see just how close I could it to the water with out actually going into the water, haha.

BTW what you said makes perfect sence to me but what I said still holds true except for the fact I do not expect the 6spd max to be a full second quicker like the auto version is, this is were your principle comes to play.

Heres a random rant for you ,
What whould not make sense to me is the fact that my 95 max {stock} does 0-60 in 6.6 sec. and MT say's the new max whould only shave .2 tenths off 0-60{compared to a 95}. The power to weight difference of the o2 max compared to my 95 is rather large. The weight of a loaded 95 SE max{like the one MT tested} weighs in at approx. 3100 Lb's, now a base model 02 6spd SE weighs 3224 lb's. The HP difference is huge compared to the weight difference, the 02 max offers a hefty 65 HP increase and 41 lbs of TQ. By doing the math a stock 95 max's power to weight ratio is: 1hp=16.3lb's. The 02 max is 1HP=12.6lb's. The point here is all that extra HP has to equate to more then a .2 0-60 difference.

BTW above I am only comparing peak HP but the 02 power band will be substantialy more powerfull threw out the whole power band.

what you just posted made me think exactly what you think. 6.6 and then add 70hp with a 6speed manual and HLSD, and WAALLAA shave .2?? boy would i be ****ed... than again, it could be from the 17s, and how the gearin goes up to around 70 in second. im thinkin from 70-100 the car will pull like none other. (front wheel drive cars...)

I guess all we can do know is weight and see . BTW 17's will not make that big of a difference because all though they are a little heavier they do provide better of the line traction, or atleast they should.

Antother thing I should mention is my 98 SC I30T did 0-60= 5.44, I did this same stretch after I removed my mods and I got 0-60=7.09{again and again}. That was the effect of approx. 100HP. Just something to think about. Ohh yeah my I30 weighs about the same as the new max too.

you have to remember they dont launch the car like you do. so im sayin around high 5s low 6s around there.

If you meen the 02 max I agree .

How many stock FWD cars have ever come out that do 0-60 under 6 seconds? 6.4 seems right! The 5th gen Max hops like a **** off the line! I drove the hell out of a new Altima 3.5 5spd and could not get that thing to hop at all! 6.4 seems right no question. Put some real rubber on there and few mods and you will get your 6 flat. It is a stock car it needs an intake and take all the restrictive crap off the exhaust system! I really don't get caught up into magazine crap too much since any car I've owned gets modded. Anyone serious about performance mods their car otherwise they live in Magazine world... As for not having the legs of a Acura that is a joke!

So your saying the Altima is faster then the max? Please explain your reasoning behind this one. It does not add up..

they could have changed the engine mounts because of the added HP and the 6 speed manual. You dont know about wheel hop, you havent driven a 6 speed yet.

It will hop like those damn bunnies!

Umm, doesn't the 2001 I30 have 227hp and 217lb/ft?

2001 or 2002??? Which year are you talking about??

I'm talking about the 2002. Sorry.

While magizine times aren't always accurate, MT usually gves a good idea to what most people will run in their car stock or with a few mods. MT got 15.1-15.2s out of the 4th/5th gens which is right on with what the majority of stock and modded Maximas get at the strip. It's important to realize that MT corrects their times. According to them, I run upper 14.4s@97mph.

I really don't think the new 6 speed is going to be as fast as everyone believes. Most 6 speed SEs will be loaded to the hilt with full power seats, leather, body kit, heavy 17s, a slightly power sapping HLSD, Navi, sunroof, elaborate stereo, etc. I also have doubts about the power ratings of these new motors seeing that the the 00-01 222-227hp Maxima was not any quicker than the 190hp 4th gen. Seeing that the new motor makes peak power at 5800rpms (like the 4th gen) and the gearing is nearly identical, I doubt the new Max will not be a lot quicker than a 4th an early 5th gen.

Power to weight ratios for the 2002 6 speed: ~13:1
Power to weight ratio for a 95-99 5 speed: ~15:1
Power to weight ratio for a 00-01 5 speed: ~14:1

As you can see, a older Max with a couple mods (y-pipe, intake) is going to be right with the 6 speed, possibly outgunning it. As much as I hoped the new Max was going to be a muscle sedan, it looks it won't have much more grunt than the older models with some mods.



Dave

We'll see...

So far every Max generation has been faster from what I've seen at the track(on the exact same day).

As you know, the reason the 5th gen {00-01} is not any quicker then the 4th gen is because the power band is almost identical all the way up to 5800 RPM, then for a split second it makes some decent HP. Then add in the the extra weight and the car is not any quicker. Now for the 02 max it's power band behaves much like a 95 maxima, but the 02 is a lot more powerfull. BTW adding a few parts to a 4th gen {Y-Pipe. Intake etc.} may make the power to weight ratio look the same but it's not really. A modded 4th gen has way less HP down low and in the middle when compared to a 02 max {up top too}.

7.0 seconds from 0-60mph and 15.3 in the 1/4 mi sound completely resonable to me.

Thats what I would think also, a 7 sec 0-60 in an automagic luxury sedan IMO is more than respectable, how fast will a potential I30 owner really need to be able to travel 1/4 mile? A lot of people get upset when the numbers don't come out like they think they should. But the I30 is prolly geared for good off the line acceleration and good passing power, very few of these cars will ever see the dragstrip. Add to that the fact that w/just about every bolt on part availabe barring forced induction, conditions would have to be optimal for my 4th gen auto to ever see such times.........

just my .02

Ya that is just as fast as a 260HP Acura TL-S. Based on some of the encounters some modded 5spd 5th .org members have had with the new Auto Max those numbers seem right.

Maybe you to misunderstood my arguement. I think the times are great for the new auto I35. Infact I knew about those times well over a month ago so they come as no suprise. The only gripe I have is that "some" people think the 6spd max is not going to be much quicker . It better be! Because I am betting one.

Just remember MT said the new 6 speed Maxima doesn't have the "legs" of the TL-S .

What's funny is that the commercial says the 255hp I35 is the most powerful in its class. I goes head-to-head with the TL-S.

That is nonesense talk that has no meaning or nothing to back it up. A 5spd 5th gen with y/intake would rock a TL-S especially in the high end. A stock Altima 3.5L 5spd is damn quick (probably as fast as a modded 5th gen 5spd)...take one out if you already haven't. That thing pulls like crazy through all the gears and would smoke a TL-S. The Max isn't that great off the line but damn it will be rocking on the highway which is where I do most of my driving. I'm keep my eye on that G35 next year which hopefully will be my next car in manual form.

The TL is in the I35's class. The Tl-S is a special addition vehicle so I guess it does not count. Atleast that's what the reasoning is behind the AD campaign from what I have heard. BTW Atleast the I35 has more TQ, so in a sense it is more powerfull .

Huh? Check my dyno - the motor makes the power Nissan claims. Don't know where you are getting that from.

You are correct that the early 4th gens are about as quick as the 5th (I'm talking about 5spds) but clearly the 97-99s are not. Even the early 4th vs. the 5th, I believe that the trap speeds of the 5ths are a couple mph higher. Main problem with the 5th engine is that we can't use all of the hp b/c it is at peak.

Quote:
Power to weight ratios for the 2002 6 speed: ~13:1
Power to weight ratio for a 95-99 5 speed: ~15:1
Power to weight ratio for a 00-01 5 speed: ~14:1

On Nissan's site, 2k2 is same weight as 2k1 - 3200lbs. 3200/222= 14.1; 3200/255 = 12.5. That's a pretty substantial difference.

Quote:
As you can see, a older Max with a couple mods (y-pipe, intake) is going to be right with the 6 speed, possibly outgunning it.

As much as I hoped the new Max was going to be a muscle sedan, it looks it won't have much more grunt than the older models with some mods.

Uh, in a word, NO. A current 4th gen, given the same mods just flat out is not faster than a 2k/2k1.

Add 32hp, 56ft lbs of torque AND a completely useable HP curve and the 2k2 is flat out going to eat both a stock 4th and 5th. Give it the mods and it will be a seriously fast car. Stop for a second and think - do you realize that with a y/intake/exhaust/udp, a 2k2 could be putting out around 280 at the crank? (255 + 20{y/intake} + 10{exhaust/udp} = 285).

A fully modified max (no forced induction/nos) is probably going to tie/lose to a stock 6spd 2k2 on the street with comparable drivers. To paraphrase a famous movie quote: "I don't like it any more than you men." But it is a fact.

ya ethan when we get out cars. even though i will get mine before you. hehe. we will go lay the smack down on those nay sayers. if the 2k2 altima with Slightly longer gears and 15less hp ran a 6.28 the max is gonna run a 6.1 at least. 6.4 is ridiculous given the hp curve the peak hp. the new engine technologies AND the lower HP peak. way more useable hp and shorter gears. even a GLE which comes with most options is still light. 3275lbs with an auto that adds over 30. so i'd guess my 6-spd with everything but nav with be around the same cus of the sunroof. with everything the new max has going for her she's gonna fly.

We will see about that! Once October 15th hit's I will be on full alert . BTW I fully agree with all the other stuff you just said.


BTW I just got the new Road and track and there was no max test. There was however a Altima in the test, it got 0-60= 6.3 and the 1/4=14.8 @ 96.5! The funny thing is they also tested a 02 Mustang GT 5spd {not a convertible} and got 0-60=6.1 and the 1/4=14.7 @ 94.7 . The Altima is just as quick as the thing now.

i won't have to be on full alert. i'm getting one off the first truck to roll around the east coast, and in New York Invoice price is cheaper than up here. don't ask why. so even though i'm 500 over invoice it's like getting it at cost up here. I'm guessing 6.1 and 14.5 for the max. maybe 14.4 if we are lucky and it's broken in.

Damn - that is a fishy Mustang GT time - probably the slowest I've seen my a mile. C&D tested a 2001 GT Convertible automatic and got a 6.0/14.7. The GT Coupe 5-speeds tested many places at 5.4 - 5.6 at 14.0-14.2. Someone either can't drive a stick or MT got a really weak example.

Just checked:
Autoweek - 2000 5-speed GT convertible: 5.4/13.8!
Motor Trend - '99 Gt coupe 5-speed: 5.4/14.0

Something is damn wrong with that #.

anyone have any times for the Max auto or Altima 3.5 SE Auto?

15.3 is pretty good. But I think CLS did better(or am I wrong?), The CL 6spd might beat the new 6spd max stock vs stock.

doubt it. still a few hundred lbs lighter and HSLD. close race though.

since when did cl-s have 6spd? thought they only come in 5spd auto?

they'll be out soon.(rumor holds it)

they will soon grasshoppa.

Remember in 95, Motor Trend tested a 5speed SE Maxima with 15" rim and it ran 6.7sec. After that, every single Maxima brochure had the "6.7" number popping out.

However, they did not properly tested the 2000 or 2001 Maxima to run close to that time! Everyone knows its possible to do 6.7sec again with the new Maxima, but they might not want to or they might not be able to with the different climates and condition of the car.


Maybe if Motor Trend could do some magic again, like they did with the Maxima back in 1995, a 2002 Max with 6.7sec would be damn impressive!