I'm in Colorado on business and I chose to rent a Maxima (tough choice eh? ) and BOY OH BOY do I LOVE that engine...makes my car
feel like a 4cyl honduh...but, I must say that I HATE the look of the back end, and the interior is not my style (personally, my black 4th gen interior is much nicer looking)...

anyway, the engine in the 2003 is absolutely F'ing amazing!!! I want one.

anyway...just wanted to share

FLO_BOY

 

Dont mean to diss' any 5th-geners, but when i rented the 5th gen 02 max, it seemed like the engine was not as silky smooth as my 4th gen's..esp on heavy acceleration; and esp since the rental was a mere 7000 miles and my max is 85000 miles. Is it my imagination? I dont know, makes me wonder.. if the engine was meant for original 3.0L displacement, might boreing to 3.5L make the engine have different characteristics unaccounted for in the design of the original vq30? Still, i would love to have a 3.5 in my 4th gen!

 

the vq30 can only be bored out to 3.2 and even that's a stretch. the vq35 is a similar engine with a different configuration. you can find more info by searching for Daniel B. Martin's post from about a year ago.

 

I disliked the way the new engine felt. I test drove a 2k2 altima 3.5, and that engine felt no way as nice as mine on my 96 gle does. At the time I had automatic, and so was the altime I drove, but it was like comparing silk (my max) to wool (altima).

 

my engine must be running like crap!!!

I loved the 3.5 -- but, everyone else says the 3.0 is smoother...hmmm...I'd better look into that!!!!

FLO_BOY

 

How much does it cost to rent? & who did you rent from?

 

Interesting.. I went test drive the 2003 Maxima with 6-speed shift.. The engine felt a lot like my 96SE, but much STRONGER. It is just as smooth.. and much quiter than my 96SE.

 

how's the 2k3 max look like?

 

I rented from Hertz...don't remember how much (I don't have the receipt with me) BUT, corporate is paying for it

ttyl,
FLO_BOY

 

You guys need to consider than when you RENT a car to test drive it, and that particular car just happens to require PREMIUM fuel to run like it should, I can almost GUARANTEE you that it does NOT have the proper fuel in it. People that rent cars don't give a crap what gas they put in them, nor do the rental places. Whatever's cheapest.

VQ engines do not run properly on anything less than 91.

When I was test driving another 99 5spd the car had ZERO gas, and I watched the salesman put a couple gallons of 87 in it. No wonder when I punched it up an on-ramp the engine felt like shia, had no power, and it felt rough

So just keep that in mind

 

I drove a 3.5 SE Altima and the engine was silky smooth. Maybe the fact that your driving a rental is the problem...

 

I started this post -- I LOVE the 3.5 -- and, I'm driving
this rental...it's the only 3.5 I've driven...So, while I agree
that the gas in the car is prolly shi*, I STILL think the 3.5 is
a rockin' engine. Also, I didn't rent it to test drive it...I rented
it because I need it while I'm in Colorado on business.

anyway, I guess the moral of the story is -- READ the posts if you reply

take care all!
FLO_BOY

 

I was replying to $tillen$ux, not you...

 

HAHAHHA

I should listen to my own advice!!! Hahahahaha...

FLO_BOY