ehughes

Maximan190

iTrader: (8)

too bad you didnt have a 3rd gen

Maximan190

iTrader: (8)

dam straight

SuDZ

Same way I feel about my max. I definantly cannot complain about it at all. No problems, great car, fun to drive. Everythign I wanted and more.

SuDZ

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

Okay Eric wants a car that has the following:
1) Fast
2) High resale value
3) Good quality
4) Decent insurance
5) Decently cheap parts
5) Reliable

His choices are Impala, Z28 or BMW 3 series something.

Impala. Good resale (I think) but I seriously question the reliablity, paint, insurance.

Z28: Fast but I question relibilty, insurance and paint.

BMW. Decently fast(if it's a M3), Good resale, Ave quality(electronics and M3 upper drivetrains go bye-bye from what I read), insurance should be decent. But this not not a good 1/4'er either due to it's tendency to shred it's irs mounting points and irs suspension is not the best for the 1/4. Nor is modding cheap(or cheaper than the maxima) Also maintanence will be more expensive(no ifs about it)

All of his reasons for not liking the maxima are okay. His opinion I guess. But not one of his choices fufill all of his requirements. You can't just piece meal 3-4 different car's qualities and use them to bash the maxima's qualities. The reason you don't have a problem w/ your choices is because you haven't had the chance to own them yet. ie.. you didn't have ONE complaint about the maxima BEFORE you owned it right?

Just some thoughts

darksands

Ys.. I feel the same way. I bought my maxima myself. I got it last year used and I was 17. workin hard to pay it off. You know how hard it is to find such a good car used? It has dents in it and scratches but nothing a paint job and body work cant fix. I love this car, I love to drive. Where would I put my friends without all the room. As for the 240 stuff... After im done with my max, the 240 will be nothing. Ive already beaten Type R's, what else do I need. And for supra's, if you cant beat a maxima, your supra sucks ***. I didnt get the car to race every car I see. Its just fun, not about winning. I cant complain about my Max. Its done everyting Ive ever wanted. Take me from point A to point B as fast as I can go.
As for girls... its not about your car. And if you need to use a car to get any girls, well...

All you teenagers with cars given to them, your lucky. Lotsa people dont have cars. They take the bus. Busses have turbo... you could ride in one of those...

Anachronism

So, are you saying you don't like your Maxima then?




Seriously, it sounds like you got the wrong kind of car Eric. Of course, I am almost 30 and the 98 Maxima I just got is by far the nicest car I have ever owned. If I was given any car that ran good when I was a teenager I would have been thrilled.

In any case, I consider the Maxima a practical four door family car that also happens to be fun to drive and a little more performance orientated then the Camery and Accord, A 'poor mans BMW' as others have said. If you really want a true sports car then you will not be happy with the Maxima. While there is not a huge aftermarket for the Maxima there is enough available to make you Maxima stand out from those that are just 'family cars' for a reasonable amount of money.

I love my Max and will probably be keeping it a long time

mozy

I dont think you're talking to me cause I already explained my situation....but I know what you're talking about.

I know of at least one 17 year old in a high-school a couple of miles away from me who just traded in his 2000 Corvette for a 2001 Z06. He's a junior in high school.

Sure it would be great to have a car handed to you, if your parents can afford it, then they can probably afford to give you a car that YOU want. If they can afford to get you a car for nothing, do you have a choice? Not ususally. But what happens when you get that car without a choice and your other option is to not have a car? What do you do?

speedtrip

I guess you are just unlucky.

I have had my max over 4 years and is nearing 100,000 miles and aside from maintenance I have only spent $250 to replace a fuel sender unit. I have one rattle in the summertime when it gets hot around the sunroof. If you can find a car manufacturer that builds every single car perfect than please tell us all. Simple fact, Nissan quality control appears to be fine for my Max.

It seems every board I visit that the members are trying to compile lists for a defect they believe exists in the car.

As one motorcycle rider to another what do you care about crash test ratings? Any car offers more protection than a bike irregardless of how much safety equipment you wear when riding.

About the only time I hear about the non-independent rear suspension is from the honduh/Acura boys because they can't find anything else to pick on and they are jealous of the VQ. Look at honduh and what they did to the civic's front suspension. How many BMW owners truly test BMW's claim of the ultimate driving machine? As far as handling goes there's only a small percentage of drivers on the road that could exploit a fully independent rear supension.

The maxima is by no means the greatest car around but it is a far cry from the POS you make it out to be.

Badaxxima

Not have a car. At least that way you'll quit bi*ching about a great car. I'd kill for a VQ30DE/manual. God what a spoiled little baby.

mozy

Thats not an option. Im not *****ing about a great car, I know this car is great. Oh by the way, I have an AUTO. I'd also kill for a 5spd. But more realisticly I'd rather get a VB and TC.

SuDZ

Thats cause 5 speed is the only way to go (like me )

SuDZ

JBWhitley

Let's think about this...Nice Car, Nice Girl...Little baby. Then you got 2 or 3 kids that you have to cram in the back seat b/c you decided to buy an overpriced sports car that you can't even drive fast anymore b/c you have kids to take care of. Just a thought.

Let me add a side note: Pick just about any of the following and I will personally buy it for you myself:

1) 1975 Plymoth Duster (my first car.) $972, Blue (well, in some spots, others were primer, rust, and even a hole), cracked vinyl (not leather), no dashboard, no radio (had to use speakers and a port. cd player) Do I need to continue?

2) 1989 Mazda 626 (Hatchback...nuff said)

3) 1988 Ford Escort. I could go on and on.

Oh yeah. I had to buy all of them myself (including car, insurance, gas and any repairs). So next time someone comes to you and says "Hey man, nice car." simply say "Thanks."

Maximan190

iTrader: (8)

enough with the "Family sedan" comments....what kinda max do u have, a BASE AUTOMATIC GXE?....a 4th gen? If you were to ever drive a 5spd 92-94 SE or 2002 6 spd, they aint so much a family sedan then...they dont call the 3rd gen SEs 4DSCs for nothin




this is true but every car has its own characteristics....and youre one of those "american muscleheads"? or....

...are you a rice boy? make up your mind

ok so u have your own opinions, but it doesnt need to be augmented to a point where the rest of us take offense.

Anachronism

Mozy - I feel for you, it sucks to be pressured into buying something you don't want by family. Still you coud do a lot worse than a Maxima, my parents pressured me into buying my grandmothers old Renault Alliance when I was a teenager and needed a car. That car was a huge POS and slower than just about anything on the road.


I still don't see how you consider the Maxima a step down from a Corolla....

nc00max

My Max turned 1 a couple days ago, and I haven't been happier with it. I wasn't looking for a high-performance rocketship or I would have bought myself a V8 sports car for a few grand more. I started modding it because putting a new toy on/in it is fun for me, and while tons of people have the same car, at least mine is a little different. The Maxima is also a nice departure for those of us who like sedans, but are tired of the Accord/Camry group and don't feel like or can't cough up enough for a GS430 or BMW 5-series. While it fits in the same category as the Accord & Camry, it's far different in looks and performance. And like someone else said, I would much rather beat a Mustang GT or riced Civic in my bone-stock looking, 4-door, V6, FWD, Japanese family sedan than in any Z28 or SS, because winning is a hell of a lot more fun when the other guy is expecting to kick your a$$. I will say that Nissan service sucks complete and total ***, but I don't take my car to dealerships anymore anyways, because it's more expensive, and I have yet to find a halfway decent dealer around here. As far as the T&A comment, if you need to rely on the car to do your "bidding" for you, then it would seem that you have other problems. My girlfriend loves my Maxima and enjoys driving on the rare occasions she's out east. *Please note-this DOES scare the living **** out of me* But I began with her long before the Max, when I was driving around my 96 Camry that was eventually replaced by an Accord V6, which was later stolen, and then an old POS 1982 BMW 320. She didn't give a **** then what I drive then, and if I traded in the Max on a Ferrari, she still wouldn't give a ****. And Eric, it's not like you paid one red cent on the purchase of your Max, so how the hell would you take a hit on trading it in? Even if you got $20 for it, remember $0 + $20 = $20 you would have never had in the first place. I can't believe someone would complain about an $18,000 gift...

Maximan190

iTrader: (8)

amen to that



YES YES!

[QUOTE] Originally posted by ericdwong Simple fact, nissan quality control sucks as well as the engineering. [QUOTE]

mozy

Thanks for your support...I think.
Basically, I wasnt pressured into BUYING it, I was pushed into PAYING for it. It was in our family for 2 years, and was a hand-me-down-and-keep-paying-for-it. It didnt matter if I wanted to drive it or not, I have to pay for it. We cant just throw out a lease.

I never said the Max is a stepd down from a corolla, and I never said tha max was worse than the corolla. I just stated that my first car was a corolla and after it was crashed I got pushed into this car by my parents because they decided my stupid *** brother who is old enough to be married and out of the house deserves a brand new gold-packaged 4runner with chromes. The corolla was actually pretty small. I didnt like it too much, but it WAS my first car, and I basically bought it myself, jut had the parents sign the lease papers. I think the Max is a step up. But its a step towards HUGE. I like big cars, but I never use the rear seats...maybe I should rip them out...hmm...nah. I dont want a performance car, and I dont care what people think of my car. I just needed a car that suited my needs. Thats why I didnt ***** when I got my corolla..it was small (once again Im not saying it was a GOOD CAR), and easily manageable, and brand new. Once again, the max is great, but too big for me.
anyway,forget it, I LOVE MY MAXIMA.

Frank Fontaine

Whew, I thought I was a weirdo or something. My first car was a 12 year-old Volvo--with both rear 1/4's rusted through and a leaking rear axle. I drove it until I got my grad degree and did as much maint. myself, and 2 years into the first decent paying job I had I started looking at used Maximas, but was like WTF 6500 off list why not get new? I made a mistake and got a 5-spd with every option. Next time I'll go for the one without too many options, the Acura philosophy as seen with the RSX. Cloth seats too, leather is for the living room where you can relax and enjoy that Italian hide.

When I was in high school it was uncool to act spoiled. Nobody would ever admit that it was the case. Boy have times changed. You're spoiled and big daddy is loaded? Have them send you to a top school where it'll help you get ahead for a lifetime. Why the **** put that opportunity into a car?

NickStam

iTrader: (3)

it's a cycle, people buy maximas, and people sell them. It happens every day

ericdwong

That depends, a Corvette has none of the above qualities such that you describe (ok well maybe fuel econ, but my friends who have C5's get 20MPG in mixed driving). Neither do Mustang Cobra's. Infact didnt you start a recent thread about how you dont know if nissan is gonna get your $ anymore, one of the cars you named being the 03 Mustang Cobra.

So you "grew up"? Well I'm not about to grow up yet. Precisely my point here. I'm driving an old person's car. I could get a Buick Riviera that has a supercharger for the ultimate sleeper look as well, but would I? I can tolerate a harsh ride, lack of refinment when the trade off is for performance. NOT when a car is supposed to be a luxo ride like the maxima. If the Maxima had 320 HP and ft-lb torque and RWD, then we'll have some room to talk about lousy leather, squeaky body panels.

I also know many enthusiasts who are in there 50's yet still drive corvettes and mustangs as their daily driver. Infact many of them are my personal friends.
But its still a rear drive, performance car, that will out handle and out accelerate and out brake and the potential to be upgraded far more then a FWD japanese family sedan will be. The beam axle design in the maxima was a bad compromise. They decided to go cheap, to sacrafice ride quality and handling.

Dont take this as a flame, or personally but I thought you just said you never lost to a civic, yet you admit 4 cars that can beat you. So this says the civic has the potential to be modded to the point of beating a maxima, and even its got the performance parts available to make it happen.

Yea I've done plenty of that... last time I was at the drags I was running 14.6's beating 78 Trans Ams, and tubbed Chevy Nova's. Now something was probbly wrong with their car, but I still beat them none the less.

Yes but I am not you and you are not me. My insurance quote for a z28 LS1 98 is $200 more per year for me over the current maxima, and will be even less after I turn 21. My point is, the difference in the cost of insurance is completely ridiculous for the maxima doesnt have 1/2 the performance a z28 does. That was just an example too, I didnt check what a Mustang GT/Cobra would have been.

You should take away the plural "s" in a few of those. We have ONE ECU (that doesnt work past 96), ONE (actually zero) header (austrailian), ONE choice is supecharger, one UDP, one differential (quaife), one true coilover (cattman), one subframe connector (warpspeed), and only two choices of adjustable strut, and before that only one. Let's not forget about the astronomical price of most of these products only because there is only ONE available.

Why not cams? Some of us here payed over $1000 for differentials, coilovers, or rims (in some cases tires) alone. The Quaife differential install wasnt exactly bolt on either, but a few of us here have it done. Turbo is possible (buick grand national is turbo v6), but if we want to do S/C, theres only stillen's unit, which people say that pulley's melt. Infact, how many people here have REMOVED their s/c because of problems? If Jackson Racing, paxton etc also made blowers, then stillen wouldnt have the reign over the S/C's. How about injectors, or engine parts like rods, pistons, valves? All has to be custom done. How about traction bars? What about heavy duty transmission parts, or to change gear ratios? Even VW's have all that stuff available. Sometimes having just one thing available doesnt mean its the ideal. In many of the maxima's cases, they're overpriced and of questionable quality. If there were more choices, then the prices will come down, and the quality will go up.

Maybe, but there are far more honda's in the 12's, 11s, 10's even 7's then there are nissan's and they can do it relatively cheaply. Infact almost no maxima's running these kinds of numbers.

Exactly, the realistic goals of the maxima is 14's all motor. These goals arent good enough for a performance oriented driver. And most the people here who dream to have the first 10 second maxima have their dreams usually shattered by the lack of parts, support, funds or the realization its silly to spend the time and money in trying to do so.

BioMaxDDS

iTrader: (1)

hum...who said maxima is slow?
you want a piece of my VQ35??
if you don't like maxima than go get yourself something else

ericdwong

I started out in my very first post saying I have a 97 SE 5 speed, and yes it is fully loaded. Down to the home link transmitter, leather seats, sunroof, automatic climate, ABS, alarm, did i miss something? And guess what, it ain't no 4 door sports car! The only cars in my book worthy to be a 4 door sports car is the BMW (with a few exceptions- 318i), mercedes, impala SS, Audi S4 and a few others, but definately not the maxima. Other then that, most cars that are 4 doors are meant to be reliable, practical every day family sedans. Even the 2002 maxima which is now over $30K, with its 255 HP is hindered by its FWD. FWD and high torque = mad torque steer.

I am a performance oriented driver not caring which continent a performance vehicle comes from. The maxima, which many of us here are trying to turn into race cars is not one of them. Riding a honda sport bike by no means makes me a rice boy. I also like Japanese sports cars (supra, rx-7 etc) but they are very expensive to modify and repair relative to an american car.

How so? Most of the posts in this forum are performance oriented. Maintenence is second to that. You only take offense because you can't stand to see someone ragging on the car, especially after I've owned one and have more experience working on it then alot of the people here who have a dedicated mechanic to do all their work.

190hpKiLLA

iTrader: (11)

I worked over two years to buy my maxima. I love it now. You allways take things for granted when they are given to you.

There is no way in H*ll I could give up my car for a civic. I get roomy car, reliable(I dont 5K drop clutch it, burnouts etc on it). Its fast with out mods so why have many of them, to be like the rice boys? I feel great that people ask me what car I have cause my trunk is shaved.I have friends who have 2k1 TLs and are bored of them cause mommy bough it and they want something else. (spoiled brats)

There isnt a perfect car in this world. ALL CARS BREAK DOWN. Some more then others.

Iilac

iTrader: (65)

Hey Mozy

Be happy that you can smoke your bro's 4 runner. ...

BriGuyMax

iTrader: (1)

he DID say that he has never lost to a civic...but he knows of some that can beat him with NOS...I bet if he had NOS too he would take them. What's your point....with enough time and money you can make pretty much any car faster than any other car....

a civic has the potential to beat an LS-1 too....

Frank Fontaine

Yep, I do think everyone should own a musclecar once in their lives. They are a fast and fun to drive, but you
have to accept the poor ride, gas mileage, poor fit/finish, poor resale, etc when owning one these cars.


Why should everyone own a musclecar? Not everyone is rich on this forum, at least I don't think everyone is.

There are 2 cars that I've had that cost crazy $$$ to keep on the road--one was a 1970 Pontiac GTO.

Way too judgemental much of the time if you ask me. I saw this Finance dude leaving work yesterday who makes serious mad cash--his car was a 5-6 year-old BMW 328is. If he had the mentality as some on this forum do, he'd be driving something much newer. But you'll find as you enter real society that this finance dude is more typical than 15 year-olds buying new Maximas and then complaining about them.

JJW95SC

This happens like clockwork here on the Org...probably about twice a year. I love it when this happens since you can get mods for a fraction of their cost new.

I have several theories about why this happens. One is that people get a Maxima with false expectations about it's performance, mod-ability, etc. These probably stem from it's 4DSC image...if that even still exists. They mod the hell out of the car expecting to turn it into a McLaren and spend all their money on it.

The truth is that the Maxima is a compromise of utility (cargo & passenger), performance, reliability and affordability. It does alot of things well but it doesn't do any one of them EXTREMELY well. So when guys get some more money (new job, etc.) and want a faster car or more aftermarket support or a bigger, more luxurious, more utilitarian, etc. car, they **** all over the Maxima and get something else. Often times these same guys come back here and brag about how much faster their Supra, Corvette, etc. is than the Maxima. Duh.

For me the Maxima still fits the bill perfectly. It's fast enough, looks good, gets decent gas mileage, can haul people and stuff around and has enough space to use as a vacation/trip car. It is reliable and has decent longevity with some cars going over 200k miles. If I could find a better car for the money, I would own it.

Jim

Dave B

Eric-

I can understand you frustration, but you're displacing your anger on Nissan when the real problem is that you just have the wrong car to be building into a drag car. A 10-second Maxima is pretty much a "pipe" dream and a pretty rediculous expectation if you ask me. To run 10-seconds takes some serious power and drivetrain work. It's just not "bolt-on" stuff.

Aftermarket parts like "valves, rod, and pistons", aren't really needed with the VQ. All these parts are engineered very well. I think you are confusing the Maxima with the Civic line. With the Hondas, "hybrid" is the name of the game. Swapping out heads, pistons, rods, intake manifolds, cams, etc is the norm because they are plentiful and the motors are modular. Companies like JUN and such make some really nice stuff for these cars, but how many people can really afford this stuff? I personally know a guy with a ITR that has lots of JUN equipment in his motor. The ITR is very quick (mid 13s), but he spent $4000 on NA mods and install. Simply throw NOS Traction bars on the Maxima would be a hilarious joke. Why traction/wheelie bars a sedan? That would be a "rice" first. Heavy duty trannies are available, but that's only in auto form. I know of no companies making "heavy duty" late model manual trannies. To run quick, you need an automatic. PURE AND SIMPLE and this is something I doubt you would want. Autos are much more consistent and can take LOTS more abuse once the internals are beefed up. Autos are also better on the car as a whole.

You are mistaken about no 12 second Maximas. Don is running 12.2s in his GXE auto with NOS only and a couple guys are running 12s with SCs. Don's next setup will be deep into the 11s. I'm guessing low 11s around 120mph. I suggest you take some pointers from Don if you really wanted to be quick. It takes LOTS of money to be quick and Don has gone about it the right way. He's beefed up his tranny with better internals, higher stall converter, and his VB upgrade. I believe he is also running a I30 LSD and hardened axles. His nitrous setup is just not you typical bolt up piece. It's a staged system. He uses small slicks at the track to improve gearing. He doesn't need "traction bars" to pull 1.8 60's. He's got all the bolt-on mods and his car looks nearly stock. Low 12s without a SC is incredible regardless if it's a Maxima or not. Recently he bought a used VQ30DE and has cleaned up the heads and lowered the compression. He'll be running NOS and something else that's gonna be pushing some serious air. He has literally made this motor dummy proof. It's gonna be a wicked Maxima. The great thing about Don's Maxima is that it's gonna be completely streetable. All those 11-second and below Civics you see in SCC aren't exactly streets cars. They're loud, high strung, rough idles, no torque, peaky power, and usually gutted interiors. What's the fun in that?

Yes, I doubt Nissan will get my money when it's time to buy another car. I'm not upset with Nissan or the Maxima, I would just like something a little different. I'm probably gonna go with a turbo/AWD setup next.


Dave

dblrr900

Well Said Dave...

50% of all Civics are trying to break into the 14'2
40% of them are trying to break into the 13's
the last 10% are not street-able (legally) and look like pooo.

One of my best friends, Mark Brauning (brauningmotorsports.com) has a full race civic, NA, almost in the 10's. Sweet car to look at and watch at the track, but he has poured $$$ into that car to get it there.

Racing at the track is a hobby.
Driving your car on the street is transportation.

There are not too many people who can have both and still produce numbers. I learned my lesson when I kept trying to get my Civic to the low 13's.... my only car. I got there, but ended up not having the car for 3 weeks because I floated the valves and cost me over $1000 in head-work. The price of victory is not cheap my friends.

BUT.... everyone has to learn for themselves. Good luck to the younger guys, hope you don't kill yourself in the process.

amb4081

You're an ungrateful, spoiled little B!tch. Have you ever paid for anything in your life? My first car was a 1989 Volvo 760 turbo. You're saying the Maxima is unreliable? You say the Euro's are reliable? Maybe you should have gotten that Volvo for your first car. It was in the shop more than it was on the road. And the cost??? Nissan parts are priced WAY BELOW the parts for that car. I don't know how you drive your car, but you must abuse it that thing. I have had NO, ZERO problems with my Maxima. I've had it for two years. As far as availability of performance, what the hell are you doing comparing a 4-door family car to a muscle/sports car like a LS1 camaro? Talk about unreliable and cheap... it has far more reliabiliy issues than the Maxima (check consumer reports)

You are right...you can't compare a Maxima to a BMW. Beamers cost as much and a little more for their 4-bangers. They handle a lot better than the Maxima's. But run a BMW 325 and Maxima (same year) both with similar mods against each other and the Beamer would be crying in pain because it's @ss would get beat so bad. Grow up a little and then make some halfway intelligent remarks. My B!tch session is over.

RapidMax

iTrader: (2)

I'm 17 and had $19,000 to spend on a car that I earned myself and chose the Maxima. Yeah I could have a got a really cool mustang or a camaro or another supposedly fast POS that would have died at 50k miles. Instead I got a very reliable sports sedan that can carry 5 people and still beat mustangs, civics, and almost any other cars on the road. Drive a couple of saturns, cavaliers, or even cars such as the altima and you will realize how amazing your maxima really is.

TintDaMax

Wait a minute, you earned 19,000 dollars by the time you were 17? Is your company hiring, I would like a job there.

DPW

Frank Fontaine

Frank Fontaine

Man this forum has design issues, thank you for logging in and back to the discussion w/o a dialog box to type the reply in?

Anyway, I hear you because my first car was a Volvo and a rusty one at that. It's a bit** hoping the car doesn't fail because once it does, you cannot take it to the dealer or any other shop such as Pep Boys etc. The LH Jetronic is impossible for anyone to work on except th eindependent Volvo nut. And unless you are willing to drive to upstate NY or VT, that nut is gonna bust yours with the pricing.

If this forum represented John Q, then the avg age of a Maxima owner would be around 14 and disgruntled. Who buys that **** I'm 14 and earned 20k on my own, c'mon now

I had to go to the alma mater tonight and thank goodness I saw out-of-state plates and beat up cars such as an 88 Acura, Ford Tempo, so on and so forth. At college age a car is not important. What should be priorities are grades and women. Dang the all-star game is here and our school thinks it's gonna beat Yale tonight....whatevuh

slick

drive a stock civic for a week and then drive your max, you will appreciate it then
seriously though, after i got my civic(almost 2 weeks now), i haven't touched the maxima, cause its now my dads daily driver. i got used to the civic a bit, the ride is more rough, and i have to give a lot more gas for some decent acceleration. but then, last night, i took the max out for a spin, and WOW! the difference was amazing. the ride was sooooo smooth and really quiet, and i accidentally WOT'd at a stoplight(got used to pressing accelerator hard from civic) and the tires spun and in no time i was 50mph. the maxima is a damn nice car, even with the psint chips, i like. i like the civic, the quality is nice, and i might want to get an acura next(or another honda), but i would never get rid of the max, i doubt my dad would either.

mozy

Before I get any flames..I love my AUTOMATIC MAXIMA.

Why does everyone talk about the maxima likes its the god of the automotive showroom? Oh, this is a MAXIMA FORUM! DUH!

Now, dont get me wrong I love my maxima.
But why does everyone keep saying, "why dont you go for a ride in a civic" or "why dont you go for a ride in <INSERT CAR THAT IS NOT IN MAXIMA CATEGORY OR IS NOT WORTH ANYTHING BY DEFAULT>"? Its like you guys think that we people who like cars other than the maxima would pick crappy cars? "Hmm, this Hyundai seems to be on the same level as a maxima, I think ill go take a ride in it to see if its better!!!" <-? am I right here?

Jeez. And ericdwong was right, since the maxima has SUCH LIMITED support in the aftermarket. The manufactureres can **** US OVER as they wish. Please refer to my post about the Addco RSB in the 4thgen forum. Im not saying other cars dont have this problem, but this car does and thats all im talking about.

Next.

Pmp-n8a

I don't think so...pics for everyone to see in mid-march 2K2's phEEr me

ericdwong

You're right this is the wrong car for me. That's why I'm upset about it, the kicker is that the insurance costs *almost* as much as a car that would have been much more ideal. And supposedly this car is supposed to be reliable and well engineered and I havent had either of that. Infact I dont' want to think about how much time/money I had to put into the transmission alone. And this is disregarding if I had to have somebody else fix it, which would probbly break again anyway.

Alot more affordable then maxima parts. Still can't ignore the fact we don't have much to choose from when it comes to differential, supercharger, coilovers etc.

When I say traction bars I do not mean wheelie bars, but rather things like this:

http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=460

You sure? I was just looking at a vw site (i dont have the link) and they have 6 speed gear boxes for GTI's Jettas etc that are beefed. They even have pure race transmissions that have straight cut gears. Noisy but probably alot stronger then angle cut gears.

[QUOTE]
To run quick, you need an automatic. PURE AND SIMPLE and this is something I doubt you would want. Autos are much more consistent and can take LOTS more abuse once the internals are beefed up. Autos are also better on the car as a whole.
[QUOTE]



I never said there were NO 12 second maxima's I said there are ALMOST NO 12 second maxima's. Having 2 or 3 or even 10 out of the few hundred thousand available doesnt count. Just as you don't count the people on this forum who have had bearing problems in the transmissions because we are of the small minority.

Lets also see how much time and money Don had to spend on making his car that fast. ALOT of money. This is where the cost effectiveness does NOT pay. It still wont change the fact its a FWD sedan either. Just like BriGuy said you can make any car fast with the right time and money. But it gets to a point. I've seen a supercharged Daewoo that had 300 HP. Is that worth it to do? Sure it might be fast, but it's no BMW.

Nissan should be faulted for 1) building a car that had its transmission bearings eaten because of putting the same shims in all the transmissions 2) building a car that depreciates like crazy 3) building a car that rattles and has a cheap rear and fake leather 4) building a car that is so structurally unsound high speed crash tests rate it at the bottom of the list, but it was my fault for buying a car that 1) has limited performance parts 2) is not a performance car 3) has the insurance cost of a performance car yet is not a performance car

ericdwong

#1, if you notice this board is to spread information. I also do help many members out with their problems of the car.

Number two, if you were following my posts at all, the part that broke the second time was unrelated to what was done the first time. The first problem was the diferential bearing, the second problem was blowing second gear. Not exactly the same problem. This still doesn't change the fact that the shims in BOTH my transmissions were the exact same combination, suggesting nissan or whoever made the trannys didnt shim anything and just used the law of averages to assemble the things. They goofed up and it shows.

Wanna be mechanic huh? Go ahead and pay somebody else to do the work, that way you can't do anything for yourself and no nothing about your car.

So you did own american iron before. Let me ask you this, did you have fun with them?

Yup now I'm shaking in my pants. You suggest I cannot drive. Ok believe what you wish, but you have not seen me drive, so put your mouth on something that you can prove. I'm also a motorcycle sport bike rider, and that takes more skill to operate then a car does, so you say I cannot drive, OK. It still won't change the fact the car plows like crazy when taking turns. Learning how to drive has nothing to do with that, its just a characteristic of the car. It also won't change the fact we've got a poorly designed rear, which was improved in the 5th gen but still isnt an independent. While this is fine on a smooth road, we all know that there is no such thing as all smooth roads around town, particularly where I live.

OK, look who's the tool who can't work on his own car. To take your argument, any monkey with practice can also race consistently in a road course so why are you bragging about all your "racing schools" you went to before? You may not be into the 1/4 mile, but there are alot of people who are. I'm one of them and a FWD car goes against the laws of physics.

So you got lucky. You say you had muscle cars in the past, yet I know many people who drive nothing BUT muscle cars and have had no problems. School or no school, I don't care if you're a NASCAR professional racer an astronaut or a doctor, it won't change the fact of what the maxima is. A FWD v6 family sedan that depreciates. Plain and simple.