is this feasible?

[DTR Maxima]

I currently own a 2002 modded WRX. its a great car and the funnest thing you can buy for the money, but I will be moving into the city (Chicago) within the next year because I am transfering colleges. The WRX transmission is not something you want to be driving in daily traffic. I am considering an 02' Maxima as a replacement choice. I would be getting a 4AT though, and I am worried about the performance. From what I see on the timeslip forum most people are achieving 14.6-14.8 stock. I would like something a bit faster since I am so used to my wrx which runs low 13's with a few bolt on's.

I am a prevoius owner of 2 modded 4th gens and I am aware of the 4th gen potential but not really "up" on what the 5.5 gen is capable of. I would run basic bolt on's on the car (02' SE fully loaded). Mods would more than likely be just intake, ypipe, exhaust, and a set of decent tires. With these mods Can I reasonably expect to have a low 14sec car, or maybe even VERY high 13's? Also, what trap speeds are expected? they seem to trap about 93/94mph stock, so with a low 14sec pass and the above mods I could hope for something around 98mph or so right?

thanks, any input would be well appreciated

[JClaw]

First off, you should really consider the 6MT. They have been known to run 14.3-14.1 bone stock with good drivers.

As for the Automatic, you're about right. High, sometimes mid 14's stock. Trap speeds seem to be ~94-95 MPH stock for an Automatic, and ~97 MPH for stock 6-speeds.

For the VQ35DE cars (02+), ypipes are useless. While they are the best bang for the buck on 4th gens, Headers are really the only way to go with a VQ35, the reason being that Nissan didn't make the exhaust system bigger for the bigger motor, so it's much more restrictive on the 3.5. Headers alone (good ones), should give you 25WHP on a VQ35.

As for automatics. There is a 2002 Auto that runs 13.81@100.5MPH with headers, a few bolt ons and a Valve Body mod.

One thing you have to keep in mind though is that 1/4 mile times are not very representative of everyday driving, because of AWD. So, a stock WRX runs 14.3-14.4 at about 94 mph and my car (stock 95 5-speed) runs 15.0, at 91 mph, yet on the highway I am dead even with a WRX. This is due to FWD, since I couldn't manage anything better than a 2.26 60' in my stock car, while a WRX probably wouldn't have a problem with sub 2-second 60's.

Even trap speeds are not representative of that. On the highway, I would rather drive a VQ35-powered maxima trapping 100-101 mph, than a STI trapping 104.

I will even speculate that a low 14/high 13 VQ35 maxima will be just as fun to drive in everyday traffic as a low 13-second WRX.

[TheMax95]

Originally Posted by JClaw

I will even speculate that a low 14/high 13 VQ35 maxima will be just as fun to drive in everyday traffic as a low 13-second WRX.

....that is untill you see turns ahead in the road.

True, a maxima's interior is of much much higher quality than a subbie no doubt about that. The vq35 is also probably more reliable. Like the above person said, go with a 6spd! Imo, the autotragic takes away all of the fun factor in driving hard. Why are you set on the auto?

-Paul

[JClaw]

Originally Posted by TheMax95

....that is untill you see turns ahead in the road.

Yeah we aint got nothing on the WRX's handling, but a few suspension mods and the max can be made to handle well. I heard frame connectors and/or RSB do a night and day difference on 4th gens. I have a RSB, but haven't installed it yet, since the car isn't running.