I got into a discussion with a friend of mine.. and we just can't figure out WHY they limited themselve to 280HP.... it's not a law or anything like.. it's only a "gentlemen's agreement"... so any input?
oh yeah.. to keep this maxima related.. in my search of the Reason.. I found out that Nissan does make a VQ30DET engine....

 

i think the explanation your looking for is i have a really small *****...

 

this is OT!

 

DUDE, please explain to me WHAT signifigance THAT HAS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ORIGINAL POST.

please, take your jacka$$ attitude and comments somewhere else

 

hey re-read his post really carefully.... it says
"i have a really small *****..." seriously...did he type that on purpose!

 

I had this explained to me a while back, but the HP was less than 280 back then. I know it fits into Jap marketing and how each model gets larger for every generation unlike most domestic. The 280 will become 300 then 320 and so on. They are brilliant.

 

It's Japanese not Jap. I take offense on that usage. And the reason why alot of the suercars were only rated at 280hp, is because there was a monetary penalty if JAPANESE automakers exceeded 280hp. Now most of the time, the engines usually put out MORE than 280hp but that's what it was published at. Of course everyone knew what the engine was doing the first time down the track or dyno session.

 

The same reason German manufacturers limit top speed to 155, save Porsche.

 

from what I read.. it is not menetary to limit it to 280... it's a silent agree among the automakers to limit themselve to 280... I think one reasonable reason I can think of is that they are doing it this to push themsleve on to develope better technology instead of just using bigger and bigger engines... ie. S2000...

 

It could have to do with taxes. For instance, Harley has complained for years about the difficulty of selling over there. I think there are quotas based on engine size and they are taxed accordingly, so smaller faster bikes proliferate, while the big ones are practically banned. Most big Japanese cruiser bikes are for export over here. Maybe there is something similar on cars, where they tax higher horsepower engines more, so the manufacturers stay right under a legal threshhold to attract buyers, who then go out and do what they want in the aftermarket, driving up profits there too. That way the industrialists double-dip. Maybe ...

 

the reason they do this is because they are so good at making high horsepower cars that if they didn't have a limit then they would have 900hp cars because of the competition of who can make it better/faster/stronger, and that would not be good for anyone, so having this kind of agreenment would keep them relatively safe

Vinipux

 

I thought it was more of an agreement between the insurance companies and the automakers. Since real estate is so expensive over there people tend to buy fast cars with their income instead. With the roads over there, too many people wad them up and cost the insurance companies money, hence the "280" limit. It's all bull**** anyway.

 

I think it's somewhere along those lines too. If you look at alot of Japanese cars in terms of engine sizes, most of them top out at the magic 3 liters, like the Maxima. Bigger Japanese engines more than 3 liters were rare, until relatively recently. I've read that the japanese govnmnt imposed that restriction on engine size. That's why, to make more power, the automakers usually took the biggest engine they could make, a 3liter, and turboed it, or twin turboed it.

I wonder if the acura RL, Lexus LX470 and LS430 sells in Japan. Or are they US only exports?

DW

 

280HP envy?

 

Did anyone read this??? He is right

 

What usage? As an abbreviation? Hell, you called me "Baddie" awhile ago, I didn't care. There was no racial discrimination in the context. Go whine in the OT forum, that's where this thread belongs anyway. All that's left is for Hogan to jump in on this too, then we can officially label nismomaxse97 a Maxima.org Racist.

 

That term was used as a racial slur in the past and now. "Baddie" has no racial intent or has it been used in that way by a large group of people in the past. I just asking you/or anyone to take 1 millisec longer to put TWO more letters to make it "Japan" in order to avoid conflict.

Thanks for your opinion on where this thread belongs. When you become a moderator, I'm sure this is the first post you will move to the OT forum. And speaking of OT, your reply is about OT as it gets and can be only interpretated and an invitation for a flame war. I don't even know why you are taking offense as you are not the one that made the "offending" post in the first place.

I feel the thread should stay where it is. Although not maxima related directly, it's a good topic and maximas are Japan made. It's also interesting reading as it seems there is a large group of maxima owners that don't understand where/why the "280hp" rule came from.

 

CUT IT OUT!!!!!! End the thread here!!!!!

 

What about a period at the end? Jap. = Japanese (ab.); Japan wouldn't have been grammatically correct.

Yeah, I did kinda fly off the handle a little there.

 

Please forward any more discussion regarding this through the PM feature.

 

I used to hear all kinds of myths about the German cars and their speed limits. But the one that I had thought was true was the gentlemen's agreement so that users wouldn't race among makes, cause serious fatalaties which already occur nonetheless, and there would be uniformity. This agreement also said that in their top lines, such as M or S, they could go all out. Every BMW short of the M powered cars were limited to 128 mph, even the 740 Sport. Not true for 2003. The new 745il has a top speed of 149. Look at Audi, some of the nice A6's are speed limited. You need the 8-cyl or S to go b**** to the wall. Lexus did the reverse. The old LS400 could do 149. The new one is severely limited.

 

Those top speeds are set because of the tire. By limiting to <130, the manufacturer can OEM cheaper H rated tires. Limiting to <150 mph, you can OEM V rated tires. etc etc. The LS430 is limited so they can put on cheaper tires, that's all. Besides, how many LS430, 740il MB S600 drivers are going to exercise speeds up to or in excess of 130 mph?? They just want the bragging rights. "Oh, I drive an S class, please pass the gray poupon"

Probably won't ever see 120 mph even.


DW

 

ummm 300 TT had 300HP 3000GT and supra had 320
what has 280? besides new 350zx

 

Not in Japan they didn't. And if they did have more than that, it probably was published at more than 280hp. I do know for a fact that the JDM MKIVs had LESS power than the USA versions.

 

Did you totally disregard where I said they were brilliant.

Are you Japanese. I am guessing not. You have been the only one to say anything and I even had Badaximma stick up for me (Thanks by the way.) I have the utmost respect for Japanese Culture and the way they conduct business.

As a moderator you need to keep your emotions out of your posts.

Instead you should use your moderator power to avoid conflict and edit my post and not to call me a racist. If you have a problem with me you can PM me when I am online, and not attempt to scold on a public message board. Thanks

FWIW

 

I've discussed w/ Bad in PM already. Your the only one left. Maybe you didn't realize that some take offense. This way others will know too. And if I am Japanese? Does that make my statement have any less merit? I'm glad that you have respect for other cultures.

As a moderator, it's my job to moderate. If there were ****ed, I would have worded it differently. If I sincerly thought, your usage was was designed to be a racial slur intentionally, I would have deleted your post. If you will note, my direct reply to YOU, was ONE sentence. It was as unemotional as it gets. My reply to Badaxxima, was just that, to Badaxxima.

And the reason why I'm replying to you here is because you chose not to take your own advice.

 

What about the Skyline GTR? Do they only have a "published" 280HP? I thought I read that in the US, the Skylines that are imported (Motorex or something like that?) have much less than the JDM GTR's...

I guess what I'm asking here is: what are the HP specs for US vs. JDM GTR's?

just a thought.

 

The R34 Skyline GTR has 276 hp except for the 2002 Limited Edition Skyline GTR-Nur which has 280 hp. There is only a JDM version. Motorex just modifies the Skyline to meet DOT standards. I think stuff like bumpers and probably some emissions control parts. The emmision control might rob a little power, but I doubt anything significant. Motorex, the importer of JDM Skyline GTR's lists the same HP. The Syline GTR is also limited to a top speed of 112 mph. from the factory.

 

I wish my 96 has 280 hp =\

 

112 mph?*#&$%>?> WTF!

The importer must be really cutting his costs by putting S rated tires on their cars. Oh well, cost of doing business.

DW

 

I thought S was 99mph and T was 115mph? H was 130, etc. etc.

 

Well wasnt the late 300ZX TT rated at 300H.P, and a little less for the auto version?

 

S and T are nearly the same. Both cheesy. Should come standard on Yugos.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...eral/speed.htm


Minimum of H for me, and happy with V,Z or Ws


DW

 

ls400, 430 have over 280, how do u explain this?

 

In Japan they were rated over 280hp? In some cases, the "280hp" thing doesn't apply anymore. It's been in effect for probably 10 years and it's not that realistic.

 

The reasons for the "gentleman's agreement" was to avoid the horsepower race and resulting fuel crisis that happened in the US during the muscle car era.

Japanese people are taxed on their cars by weight I believe, so this encourages smaller cars and smaller engine designs. Ever wonder why Japan makes the best damned small cars on the planet? This is why

Horsepower limits and weight taxes encourages one to develop the most power out of the smallest engine possible. It also encourages automakers to develop lightweight cars as a whole as well. Ever wonder why Japanese import sedans like the Maxima typically weight several hundred pounds less than their domestic counterparts?

BTW, the agreement only applies to the Japanese market, not the US. This is why some of their cars have 300 HP or more in the US.

I almost wish we had some sort of "agreement" in the US, along with vehicle weight taxes. If anything, it would help get these 3-ton, 300 HP SUV's off of the damned road. It still wouldn't solve the problem that the people driving them are idiots that can't drive worth a crap, but it would at least possibly get them in a less dangerous and lethal "weapon"

 

I'm a liberal so even though I don't prefer a 5700#+ SUV myself, I think people have the right to drive them, waste fuel, and take up 2 parking spaces. Just like if you go to a hockey game in Montreal you will find people smoking inside, as in the malls. Our company bought a bus shelter about a 5 min walk away and told smokers to go there on their breaks. I don't smoke so it doesn't affect me, but I have enough common sense to know that's not fair.

Anyway a coworker and I took her full sized Suburban yesterday to pick up some stuff. Being from Jersey she really didn't know how to pump gas so I did it for her in PA. The pump kept shutting off, it was ridiculous. So I had to stop after 20 gallons, we didn't have enough time to go the remaining 17.5 gal since I could only pump it with the trigger 1/2 way! That 6-liter bad-boy is very thirsty indeed.

 

Um... not fair? How 'bout second hand smoke? I don't smoke either, but it would affect me because I'm very allergic to second hand smoke. They chose to smoke, they chose to pollute my air, I have the right to breath clean air. I'm not saying they're bad people or anything along those lines, but it's in the best interest of everyone else's health. I'm a conservative, but I also believe people have the right to drive huge vehicles if that's what fits their lifestyle or their wishes. Call me hipocritical for that, but catalytic converters were invented for a reason. Plus, I'm not allergic to exhaust, at least not nearly as much as cigarette smoke. Ford's full size Econoline Van's are actually larger than Surburban's anyway, environmentalists just jumped on SUV's because they are so popular and profitable. Anyways, wouldn't it be nice if the govt. actually invested some funds into the freeway system and made 100+mph speed limits to actually create efficient road systems? The small increase in each vehicle's emissions would be vastly offset by the reduction in time each vehicle would spend on the road, assuming the system was designed correctly. My $.02

 

I thought tire ratings were based on the ability of the tire to sustain a certain top speed for a period of time (24 hrs?) without damage. In other words, just hitting 130mph with S rated tires won't automatically be fatal, but you wouldn't want to stay at that speed for long. Basically, higher rated tires are stiffer, and most cars will never utilize them fully anyway. It's just bragging rights, y'know, "My **** is bigger than yours" kinda stuff.

Here's a thought, got this today from a hardcore off-roader. They want to soften the sidewalls on their tires, so they drop the pressure down 10-15 lbs below normal and drive on them for a little while, softens the tires. Now, take your hardcore Maxima drag racer, goes to the track and drops his tire pressure for some hot runs ... probably doing the same thing, and affecting that Z rating on his tire too.

 

Good heavens. A right to breathe clean air? Read the Constitution and tell me where it states that. This is a big country. Go to a spot where the air is breathable, but don't get up in my face when I'm puffing a stoagie and tell me what to do. You don't have the right to do that.

Common sense dictates that dirty air and dirty water will kill citizens in a short amount of time. Do you think a free society would intentionally kill its own citizens? Of course not. The premise of your contention is on shaky ground.

This is America, not Europe. Go over there if you want every single damn thing in your world regulated. If you don't like the current air you're breathing, move a few feet and you will be fine. Life will continue. Ordering what everyone should and should not do is the fast track to no freedoms for anyone......



That is your opinion, and no reliable studies have been founded to consistently say every single person will suffer adverse affects from second hand smoke or from smoking in general. If it was so, smoking products and tobacco in general would be banned. Even if it were so, it's too big of a tax revenue cash cow for the government to toss anyway.

I've had many family members who have lived into their 90s puffing away daily. It's a legal product. It is their right. I don't like those who light up, but if that's what they want to do, then I better not hear a peep from them when I have firearms in my house, go to McDonald's for a fatty Big Mac, or state that I'm racist against stupid people.



So those allergic to auto exhaust fumes the way you are to second hand smoke should just be screwed?



Not exactly. They are jumping on SUV owners because they are enjoying the inherent advantages of owning such a vehicle, such as:

• Freedom to explore the open road, whether asphalt or dirt
• Having a physics advantage in car wrecks
• The very distinct possibility that they are enjoying life more with their choices than environmentalists are riding bikes or driving Yugos

So, their solution is to bring everyone DOWN to a common denominator such as driving a Geo Metro rather than aspiring to get everyone in a Lexus. Or better yet, God's chariot - The Maxima

Yes it would be. It is long overdue.