Well we took off around 25mph. I had 4 guys in the car and so did the lumina. He won me by 2 car length. I couldn't feel any power and my car shift so late. I thought I hit third but I was still on second. I missed shifting right there.He didn't pull fast. I could have won but my car feels like it struggling. My car feels like ****. I totally hated my max after i lost. Well this friday I going to have a rematch. What should i do. should i have only two people in the car. ideas please.

 

well, that sucks to hear that you got beat. next time you race him, don't have anyone else in your car. nothing sucks like losing a race you know you should win.

 

How do you guys race. Only the driver in the car. what's the best way to launch. well anyways wish me luck. This is one embassing moment for me.

 

What year/model Lumina was it?

I agree with Matt...less wieght, the better

Why were you guys racing with so many people in the car anyways?

 

I guess it would be expected, z34 is a task for any auto Maxima--->

1991 Chevrolet Lumina Z34 7.5 15.8

are you manually shifting the auto? you say you missed a shift, well maybe that was what did it!? when racing from a dead stop I get best results off "flash stall" launching.

 

hey Da max, where do you get all these times? you're like a freakin dictionary of 1/4 mile times!!!

 

no, I found this page a while back, it has helped start many flame wars over Maixma 0-60 and 1/4th times, time and time again -->

Jack's 0-60's and 1/4th mile times

 

you rule!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

well I was just rolling to see the drag race right. Every friday, and saturday they always have one. Out of nowhere and he just come reving at us. I have no choice but to race his stinky butt. It wasn't a Z26. the year was around 95-96.

 

Was it a 3.1L or 3.8L? If it was a 3.1L, you should have walked away from him easily. Those motors have such nonexistent low end grunt it is ridiculous. Couple that with the fact that the Lumina is heavier, then you also have a weight advantage toward the Maxima.

Now with the 3.8, it has enough low end grunt, but what you can do is get a slight jump on him (ensuring that you are at around 2500 RPM) then punch it. 3800s run out of steam in the middle and higher end of the power band. By the time he even gets to recoup his loss, you have just blown him into the weeds. This is the exact same trick I used to whip on a newer Monte Carlo with an Auto VG.

 

my dads Regal has a 3.8, torquey as a an SOB, it spins the tires on the slightest patch of water, but like you said it chickens out at higher up RPMS! I wish he had gotten the GS model with the SC instead though...

 

Luminas never came with 3800s. Those 3100 were rating at about 160hp and 180ish torque.

I used to have a Beretta Z26 (same engine). That thing wasnt great on the low end, but it was a highway cruiser. The tope end was great on those. The Luminas might of had different gearing, but you get the picture.

I dont think those 3800s are as weak as you think. A manager at my work has an Intrigue with the 3800. We had an informal race after work. I got the jump on him because he didnt think I was going to race off the light. I had about a car length on him when he punched it. He pulled pretty hard and then let off. Theyre beastly engines. They would be a good race for a VE 5spd.

 

Hey DA-MAX thanks for posting that site.I am going to put it in my bookmark.It will help alot of us out that have any questions.

 

I've raced 1 of them a little while ago and lost to him with my 93 SE auto.
He has a 95 Lumina with a 3.4 engine, dual exaust, I see very little of those on the road, but they come with 215 hp stock, as opposed to 160 in the regulat 3.1 Lumina's. I've seen a few undercover cop Lumina's like that. The car definately has *****, He was taking me up to 65 or so, but I think I would have caught up if we continued.

Check if he has dual exausts and a 3.4 under the hood. His car is very quick, but it's heavy and handles kind of ****ty.

 

Actually, they did come with them after the redesign in '95.
Technically, the Lumina is considered a W body which is the same platform as the Regal, Intrigue, Monte Carlo, and Grand Prix. As I said before, I find it easy to walk away from a stock 3800.

Now if that Intrigue had the "Shortstar" (24v 3.5 L V6 derived from the Cadillac Northstar) then you would have a fight on your hands.

 

yeah some lumina's are kinda fast, but i'm not sure i've ever raced the 3.4. who know's. most of them that i see these days are really really ragged out. lol.

oh, and btw. i've been seeing this alot lately. i dont mean to be picky, wait, yeah i do...lol....but its RPM not RPM's. Revolutions Per Minute, not Revolutions Per Minutes.

 

1 Basic rule I always use is.If the Lumina has dual exhaust mess with it.If it has 1 exhaust tip it is not worth racing him.I like competetion.Last night I race 2 chumps in a old *** BMW convertible they pulled up next to me and turned the system up and procedeed to take off.Until I zipped on bye.I dont know crap about BMW's but it was an old boxy 325e.What do these things have HP wise.Cant be too much.

 

well it has two dual tip. looks like the police lumina. he going to race me this weekend. He's not quick but i think he got the top end power. I think all i need is a good lanch and before he catch up it's all over. do this sound good.

 

for all of you experince with auto transmission. Manually shifting or ON D". which way is better time.

 

put it in "P" mode, leave it in "D" and stomp it, it also helps to have a DECENT set of tires too. according to Level 10, manual shifting can hurt the trans, I just recently read this in a interveiw they did in Turbo mag...

 

ok thanks, I always forgot to put it in "P" when I'm racing. When I not then i remember but when i racing it always fly out of my mind. Thank Da Max. I knew that manully shifting it can hurt your tranny but i didn't care. I was going to trade my max for a 92 SE but my parents said that it a manul and I can't get it. I wish i have the money and buy that car so I can become a VE owner

 

I hope you can take him that would be sweet.But I have a hard time with those things in my VE.They have so much on the take off.

 

thank you for all of your supports. It will be a big day for me. A new begening with my max. I'll take it to the Max.

 

newer LTZ's are like 200 hp i think. . ..