So, It's really gunna happen...
08-12-2012, 03:10 PM
#1
Taking my Maxima to the Max!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Alachua, FL 32615
Posts: 1,096
So, It's really gunna happen...
I'll finally actually have the money in hand by the end of this week to get another car.
Ever since that fiasco a couple years ago, when a lady friend's car I was working on caught on fire and she was going to sue me for damages, so instead I installed a couple JY injectors in my ol' '89 Max and gave it to her.... I have been missing my Maxima something awful. As mentioned elsewhere I kept the 17" Infiniti I35 Sport rims and put them on my '92 Toy Previa minivan, but they looked so good on the Max. It was my favorite color too, silver on Black cloth, with all the GXE goodies, and no other Maxima has quite caught my eye as much as that one.
So, What to do? The guy who ended up with the car hasn't even been driving it for the past year (it only has a bad starter, he says), and he is willing to sell it to me for $800. I think it still has only about 100k miles on it or less although I think the auto tranny was starting to slip when I got rid of it. The other drivers said that it wasn't a problem, but until I get a starter on it and do whatever else I have to do to make sure it starts with no problems from having been sitting for a few years, I won't know what condition the drive train is in.
The reason I am thinking to buy this car back, besides it looking good and being a good price, is that I put a number of mods on it that I don't want to loose. It has the Koni red struts and Eibach Pro Kit springs up front, as well as poly bushing LCAs, full aluminum 2-row radiator, WSP Y-Pipe, and other rare OEM features like the Silver on Blk color combo, sunroof, Digidash, ACC, HUD, Dual Power Seats, and most importantly - I know most of it's history since 2001/ 34k mi....
In addition, I am looking to get a full VE5 car in good condition except the engine. The car has only 109k on it but apparently the engine was "knocking" and shutting off... may just be the VTCs. I can get that one (Gold on Beige Cloth) for $600 or less. Then there is a built VE motor a guy still has that I can buy for around $500, and some other cool accessories I can get for $400 including an extra VE5 trans and Stillen Lip. So, I'm thinking to spend around $2500 and come out with 2 good working cars, one of which I may sell.
The kicker is there is also a very nice '96 Max with decent mods nearby (Auto, Blk Leather, Full Stillen Exhaust, Tokico Illumina struts with Drop Springs, Z32 rims, Sound System, Alarm w/remote start, Stillen Intake, '99 Front end conversion w/ new pearl white paint job, etc...) for only $1500. And the place that has the '92 VE5 also has a '96 BMW 318ti5 with a new motor swapped in (M44) which just needs a bit of wiring to get it running for $1000. I think I'll stick with the 3rd gens since I love them so much, but the 4th gen and Bimmer are also tempting.... newer, better performance....
Anyone with any final opinions/ advice before I take the plunge? ;-) Just wanting to get back into the Maxima community on a budget and finish the project(s) I started before moving on.
Ever since that fiasco a couple years ago, when a lady friend's car I was working on caught on fire and she was going to sue me for damages, so instead I installed a couple JY injectors in my ol' '89 Max and gave it to her.... I have been missing my Maxima something awful. As mentioned elsewhere I kept the 17" Infiniti I35 Sport rims and put them on my '92 Toy Previa minivan, but they looked so good on the Max. It was my favorite color too, silver on Black cloth, with all the GXE goodies, and no other Maxima has quite caught my eye as much as that one.
So, What to do? The guy who ended up with the car hasn't even been driving it for the past year (it only has a bad starter, he says), and he is willing to sell it to me for $800. I think it still has only about 100k miles on it or less although I think the auto tranny was starting to slip when I got rid of it. The other drivers said that it wasn't a problem, but until I get a starter on it and do whatever else I have to do to make sure it starts with no problems from having been sitting for a few years, I won't know what condition the drive train is in.
The reason I am thinking to buy this car back, besides it looking good and being a good price, is that I put a number of mods on it that I don't want to loose. It has the Koni red struts and Eibach Pro Kit springs up front, as well as poly bushing LCAs, full aluminum 2-row radiator, WSP Y-Pipe, and other rare OEM features like the Silver on Blk color combo, sunroof, Digidash, ACC, HUD, Dual Power Seats, and most importantly - I know most of it's history since 2001/ 34k mi....
In addition, I am looking to get a full VE5 car in good condition except the engine. The car has only 109k on it but apparently the engine was "knocking" and shutting off... may just be the VTCs. I can get that one (Gold on Beige Cloth) for $600 or less. Then there is a built VE motor a guy still has that I can buy for around $500, and some other cool accessories I can get for $400 including an extra VE5 trans and Stillen Lip. So, I'm thinking to spend around $2500 and come out with 2 good working cars, one of which I may sell.
The kicker is there is also a very nice '96 Max with decent mods nearby (Auto, Blk Leather, Full Stillen Exhaust, Tokico Illumina struts with Drop Springs, Z32 rims, Sound System, Alarm w/remote start, Stillen Intake, '99 Front end conversion w/ new pearl white paint job, etc...) for only $1500. And the place that has the '92 VE5 also has a '96 BMW 318ti5 with a new motor swapped in (M44) which just needs a bit of wiring to get it running for $1000. I think I'll stick with the 3rd gens since I love them so much, but the 4th gen and Bimmer are also tempting.... newer, better performance....
Anyone with any final opinions/ advice before I take the plunge? ;-) Just wanting to get back into the Maxima community on a budget and finish the project(s) I started before moving on.
get your digidash max back. Buy the VE too if you have the money. Bladoaw! you have the two coolest 3rd gens they ever made. /end thread
08-12-2012, 09:58 PM
#5
Taking my Maxima to the Max!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Alachua, FL 32615
Posts: 1,096
Those of you with both 3rd and 4th gens, what are the real pros and cons of each compared to each other? I like the styling of both, in their own way, but the more angled lines of the 3rd gen just seem more muscular to me, plus the IRS is nice. I'll probably end up with only one car, even if I get 2 to begin with. I just want to have the choice to try out a couple at least. Built N/A VE5, Turbo VG w/LSD 5spd, or modded Auto VQ?
08-13-2012, 07:57 AM
#7
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NY (somewhere between Queens & BK)
Posts: 2,122
I would say Kanda that your GXE was very rare (digidash & koni's to name a few). It's one that you should get back.
Speaking from experience as being a 3rd & 4th gen owner, I love them both. Making plans for VG now & have modded 4th gen auto vq (only thing not done yet is 3.5 swap which is in my garage now).
Agree with the fact that you're familiar with your car & know exactly what it needs but can't go wrong either way.
Speaking from experience as being a 3rd & 4th gen owner, I love them both. Making plans for VG now & have modded 4th gen auto vq (only thing not done yet is 3.5 swap which is in my garage now).
Agree with the fact that you're familiar with your car & know exactly what it needs but can't go wrong either way.
08-16-2012, 09:14 AM
#9
Having owned a 3rd gen (94 VG) and a 4th gen (97) at the same time, and now the 97 and a 5th gen (00), I have to say this - I miss my 3rd gen.
My cars were/are all stock, no mods. Here's how I rate them.
Comfort: 1- 3rd gen, 2- 5th gen, 3- 4th gen.
Preformance: 1- 4th gen, 2- 5th gen, 3- 3rd gen.
Styling/character: 1- 3rd gen, 6- 4th & 5th gens.
I had the 97 for a few years before the wife's car died and thats when I got the 94. I loved driving the 94 so much that I gave the 97 to my wife. Unfortunately some guy plowed into the 94 and it was gone.
My cars were/are all stock, no mods. Here's how I rate them.
Comfort: 1- 3rd gen, 2- 5th gen, 3- 4th gen.
Preformance: 1- 4th gen, 2- 5th gen, 3- 3rd gen.
Styling/character: 1- 3rd gen, 6- 4th & 5th gens.
I had the 97 for a few years before the wife's car died and thats when I got the 94. I loved driving the 94 so much that I gave the 97 to my wife. Unfortunately some guy plowed into the 94 and it was gone.
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