I also have this post in the 3rd generation forum. I'm in the market for a maxima. I've driven 95's,96's,98's, but I have never driven a 1994 se 5spd. I saw a great deal on one recently but before I even drive it I want to know you guys think. Can a 94 se 5spd keep up with say a 1996 as far as stock performance goes.

 

Ok, Both years have the same high performance, clutch and handling wise. They both have about the same comfort and luxury. But, noticeably, the 96 is newer, so you might/will have more horsepower since you loose horsepower as the car gets older. And I think, depending on the what engine is in the 94, there are like 2 or 3 different engines in the gxe, se, and gle models. The 94 could keep up with the 96, but at the end, the 96 would probably win....based on the fact that it is newer.

 

The 96 is faster. The engine has better technology, and revs like a ****. Test drive both, and you'll see what I'm talking about. The 3rd gen aint slow by no means, but the 96 is just a little quicker.

 

Get a 95 or a 96, same car...slightly faster than 94

 

its the fastest car for performance wise. Reasons ok a 95 versus a 96 95 is lighter than the 96's being that in 96 they added more safety stuff to the car making it way more . SO its lighter than the 96 also it takes well with mods better than anyother maxima built. My friend I know did research on the total car before buying it literally .Performance wise, wieght wise and modding wise the 95's are better, The 96's may look the same but weigh more. AND WEIGHT IS A factor when racing.

 

Sorry buddy, you and your friend are very wrong. It doesn't look likw your friend researched too well. The 97 Maxima is the Max that gained slightly more weight (15 lbs at most) due to heavier bumpers. The 96 is just like the 95. The 95 doesn't have OBD-I either (myth). Go to OBD-II and you will clearly see that the 95 Maxima was certified by CARB as OBD-II compliant. The 97s are slightly slower due to the fact they have slightly heavier 16" wheels and a slightly mroe restrictive B-pipe. The quickest Maxima's before 2000 were the 95/96s. Followed by the 97-98 and then the 92-94 SE. The 99s seem to be slightly slower than the 92-94 SE.


Dave

 

Just searching for facts!

Performance of the 96 is better than the 94. I have three friends with 3rd Gen Maxima SE 5spds and I have raced all three. My car is an auto, but I always pull on 92-94 Maximas off the line and top end. Don't get me wrong, a 94 SE 5spd is quick, but even an auto 96 will hang with it if not beat it slightly. I believe this has been discussed before, and some 3rd Gen owners might disagree with me, but this is my experience with my car. Also if any 3rd Gen owner has a faster STOCK 1/8 mile time than 10.087 @72.68mph then post and I wait to be informed.

JonnyMax: We have been through this before, and NO your time slip didn't beat mine. I think you had one that was 10.1 or 10.2 stock with your (slipping clutch). Nice time (given your clutch), but your aren't going to pull on me, because I also have pulled on stock 97-99 Maximas. Not by much but slightly.

SkyMax: If you look at other Stock autos times in the 1/8 that would also put me in mid 15s at the track with my 1/8 mile time. Also, your theory that my friends can't drive a 5spd would mean that I can't drive one either, since we have had different people drive their cars at the track to try and beat my time, but NO LUCK!!! However, the only thing I have to compare is my 1/8 mile. That is great that you have done what you have said, but road races don't mean much. If you have a faster time slip in the 1/8, then I will be impressed.

I am willing to accept FACTS, and this is not a 3rd Gen vs a 4th Gen war. IF IT IS A MAXIMA THEN IT IS A FAST 4 DOOR regardless of its Gen. You can't go wrong either way. However, if you do what JonnyMax told you to do, then you run the chance of getting a 5spd with a (slipping clutch) and you will have to fix that before you even get your first mod!!!!

As I have stated before, in this post and others, if their is a 3rd Gen owner that has gotten a faster 1/8 mile time with there car when stock, then please tell us about it.


[Edited by Victim64 on 01-12-2001 at 07:32 PM]

 

Victim64-

You must have forgotten about BryanH and his 92 SE 5 speed. He ran 14.5s@94mph with a intake, port matched intake manifold and TB, advanced timing, straight thru catback, gutted trunk, 95 octane, and some seriously good driving. I've seen his timeslips and I rode in his 92 SE shortly before he sold it. His car was quick. He also ran a 50 shot of NOS which put him in the higher 13s.

Dave

 

I think we all overlooked a very important fact. The 3rd Gen and 4th Gen Maxima have different engines. 3rd Gen has the iron block while 4th gen has the aluminum block engine. In addition, the internal parts (pistons, cylinder walls, etc.) are more refined on 4th gen as well. 3rd Gen SE although has the same max horsepower rating, it just doesn't rev like 4th gen does.

 

So, yes a 3rd gen is quick, and can be made quikcer, but I still haven't seen a faster stock 1/8 mile by a 3rd gen than my 1/8 mile time.

 

Because one of the main diffrences is that from 96-99 the emission got stricter. The 95 se 5-spd is the fastest 4th gen maxima beacuse the year it was built the emissions wasn't as strict as the following years.

 

"Sorry buddy, you and your friend are very wrong. It doesn't look likw your friend researched too well. The 97 Maxima is the Max that gained slightly more weight (15 lbs at most) due to heavier bumpers. The 96 is just like the 95. The 95 doesn't have OBD-I either (myth). Go to OBD-II and you will clearly see that the 95 Maxima was certified by CARB as OBD-II compliant. The 97s are slightly slower due to the fact they have slightly heavier 16" wheels and a slightly mroe restrictive B-pipe. The quickest Maxima's before 2000 were the 95/96s. Followed by the 97-98 and then the 92-94 SE. The 99s seem to be slightly slower than the 92-94 SE."

 

Let me chime in here. I have a 95 SE 5speed, with 17 in rims and a K&N panel filter. I raced Jeff92se, he has a yep, 92 SE 5speed(same as 94), he had a Y pipe and that's all. We were pretty much even through out the runs, I pulled just a tad, he also had a slipping clutch. All in all I'd say they were equals.

The plus's for the 3rd gens are, style, independent rear suspension, build quality.

The plus's for the 4th gens are, engine, engine, engine, plus age, Ie.. its newer.

The minus for the 3rd gens, 92-94 SE's are the vtc problems and age.

The minus for the 4th gens, dashs are know to rattle, weak bumpers (95-96), o2 sensor recall (95-96), weak starters.

It really depends on how much your willing to spend, If you want a good cheap realiable car, I have no problems with the 3rd gens. In fact stick a VQ into one and I'll take one in a heart beat. The 95-96's have the weak bumpers I'd take that into account. Personally if I were to buy again, I'd take the increased saftey of a 97 any day of the week. .5 sec's extra on the quarter mile? I think my legs are worth it.