Has anyone with a 95 or 96 stock SE raced a stock 2K SE? These two supposedly have the same 0-60 times and I have a 96 SE 5speed while my bro-in-law has a 2k 5speed. He doesn't race but I want a piece of mind when I do approach a 2k at a light.

 

I've driven a few 4th gen. 5-speeds, although not back to back with my 2k 5-speed.

Here are my impressions:

4th gen's power feels more "immediate", because the car is so light. But in a 2k, the power is not as immediate as a 4th gen, it seems to "build up" as the revs go up, probably because the car is heavier, and they retuned the engine.

Once the power builds up in a 2k, it is faster than any stock 4th gen. Once the rpm goes above 4500, boy!, it can pull! I can tell it's faster than a 4th gen, but only when I'm above 4500 rpm.

2k has a sensational surge from 5000 to 6700, although very brief in 1st gear. As the dynos prove it, you can actually feel those extra 32 horses between 5000 and redline.

It's that extra juice in the upper end of the rpm spectrum that makes the 5th gen a little quicker.

 

Since you upgraded your wheels to 16s, expect your car to get the same performance numbers as the 97-99 Maximas. That's the main reason the 97-99s are half a sec slower than the 95-96 in 0 to 60. So if you want piece of mind, put your 15s back on.

DW

 

the 4th gen's all have peak torque at around 2500 rpm

the 5th gens seem to hit it at a much higher rpm

its really a matter of how you race to see who is the fastest...if you are talking about a short race, the 4th and 5th gens will be pretty close, i may even give the advantage to the 4th gen

but on a longer stretch, the 5th gen will win.

This is assuming two drivers with identical skills and tendencies

then again, i never race another Max, I figure there is no point in racing a fellow Max driver, we have nothing to prove, we both have good taste

 

I respectfully disagree. You may refer to Steve Cutchen's excellent MaxFAQ page
http://web2.airmail.net/scutchen/max_faq/
for information about Maxima engines. It says the 4Gen VQ30DE engine is rated at 205 foot-pounds of torque at 4000 rpm, and the 5Gen VQ30DEK is rated at 217 at 4000. Can you point to an information source which supports your torque data?