This weekend my aunt came over from Cali, and she has an 02 325i. It's fully loaded and it's an auto. I drove the car around town, and man is that car slow! I thought for a BMW that it would have more kick. It's slow from a stop and also a roll. Me and my brother both tested the car, he was driving the stock 02 Maxima GLE and I drove the BMW. The Max took the 325i by one and half car length from 0-50mph. Also the Max took the 325i by almost 3 car lengths from 60-115mph. My bro would keep pulling each and every second.I just wanted to let you guys know incase you ever came across one on the street. I'd definitly put $$$$ on the maxima, there's no way that the 325i could keep up unless it was supercharged or had NOS.

If anyone is even considering buying that car, they should take a look at the g35 instead. The g35 & Max beat it's performance, looks, and luxury I think. There isn't that much space in the back and it's handling is good but it's not that much better.

 

they are a little bit more competition to the 00/01 auto guys then the 02/03 auto

 

What do you expect form a car that is 1000 cc's less powered?? To its credit, it car out handle you ANY day of the week on anything but the straightest of roads.

 

really? My friend w/a Bimmer didn't think so when he drove my car. Perhaps he was surprise by the handling of the max. Or maybe because I've modded the heck out of the suspension? I've driven his car (BMW 325i) and I am confident that I can "FOLLOW" him on the twistie road.

 

its not really that bad, IMO i think that bimmer engine is a bit under-rated

 

this seems to be the #1 response, yeah we MAY get out-handled on one of those CART-inspired-road race-highways

Unless you weave in & out of traffic like a manic...get the 325...

personally I opt for the G35 coupe....handling and power!!!....

 

Bimmers are still tight as hell.... IMO!

 

I don't think they're that tight. They're slow, not that good looking, and not that luxurious. My stock stereo sounds better than the sound system in that car. I don't know if xenon headlights are an option, but her headlights weren't even xenon. They might have been high definition, but sure didn't seem like it. BMW is a decent car but its not all that it's ought to be, or sure I say just the 3series anyway.

 

When I drove it, it didn't seem to good. It wasn't as smooth as I thought it would be. The handling is ok, but I bet if you put some good springs on the Max, it would be just as good as the 235 if not better.

 

In all fairness, the BMW 325i has a 184 HP engine. I don't think anyone in their right mind would think that it could beat a Maxima. They do handle very well though.

The 330Ci I think is a better match with a 225 HP engine (which is claimed to be slightly underratted). I was really looking into this car when I was shopping for the Maxima but the power really isn't there. There are several things I like more about the 330 than the Maxima including looks, handling, status, and service. However, at the time I couldn't justify spending an extra $10K on a car that is ultimatly slower.

The car I really want is the M3...I think for me to buy any other BMW just to have one is dumb. I'll have to hold out untill I've got $55K burning a hole in my pocket until then I'll act like a 16 year old and keep on doing suspension / rims / tires / neon / on my Max

 

My buddy has a 325 auto..I drove it a month ago and could not believe what a pig it was. Beautiful car..great handling....No thrills for WAAAYYYY TOO MUCH MONEY!!!!!!!!!

I would not want it.....

 

Since when were we talking about modded cars? Stock for stock the 3 WILL outhandle a Max.

 

twisties-schmwifties, If I'm gonna pay $32k and upwards for a car (with no leather, xenons, no good stereo), I personally don't want a fellow .orger burnig me!!!....But if you want to spend that much on a OEM-riced civic for kicks, then take solice in knowing that as soon as the straight-away makes a S-turn or a hairpin left, you'll probably catch up to the .orger....

just my 2 bits....

 

I think you also need to remember the 3-series is their base model.

 

not everyone buys their car to race it. only maxima owners do that. quality of even the base model (one of my best friends has 323i) is vastly superior to the max. he bought his for its stable ride, no windnoise on the highway, and that feeling that you're actually in solidly built car everytime you close your door. i have yet to see a car that costs anything more than half the maxima's price with flimsier doors.

 

I guess your right, but the max's handling isn't that bad. There isn't any windnoise in my max, and I sure as heck feel that I'm in a solidly built car everytime that I close the door in my max. The tires and suspension might be cheap, but for a little money you can buy better tires and better springs and still save tons of $$ compared to the 325i. But whatever, I guess if that's what people want then good for them, whatever floats there boat.

Not all max owners bought the max to race it, I sure didn't. I'm only 16 and I bought it because it looks good, has good power, and was the best car in it's class. Even the max's leather seats felt better than the BMW. I was surprised, I don't know if that's just me or what. You get more bang for your buck with the maxima. I never race in the max, there's no way I'd take that chance.

 

Some solutions to fix the Maxima lack of built quality:

1) Install SFC's and your car will be extremely stable and solid at hwy speed (trust me on this)...better steering feel/response too.
2) Apply 3M tape to the door's frame to eliminate/reduce windnoise.
3) Apply some dynamat sheets to the doors/floor/trunk and the whole car will feel more solid, which also improve your stereo image and reduce interior noise.

These mods won't cost you much.

 

not as good looking? bmw aren't as good looking as maximas??? are you crazy? My boxy e34 was far better looking. Granted my BMW was a 92 525i, i loved driving that car far more than my max (granted its a 2k auto). I love my maxima, but i will never forget my first love...BMW

sorry this post was so gay it just turned out that way.

 

 

don't read it then, ofcourse that would be the smart thing to do.