G35 or Maxima

[Dynasty47x1]

Im currently looking for a new car. My choices I have narrowed down to are of course a 2002-2003 maxima or a 2004 G35 Sedan. I currently have a 2000 maxima and would like to get some opinions from the G35 crowd on what you guys think about both cars. I had my mod list for the maxima pretty much down pack. Out of the car I get it will be modded and im looking to compete with a 2002 bmw 540 i and a 2001 Lincoln Ls but most specifically the 540 I can i generate enough power from bolt-ons on the g35 to compete with the 540I as I can on the maxima?

[Sentientbydesign]

Hi.

I can't say much for either car. I was thoroughly unimpressed with the I35 that I drove. I think it was the early drive by wire. It could have been that the I35 also had the same throttle response learning that the Gs do. Not sure.

The 04 G35 sedans aren't bad. There are a few minor issues like head units and A/Cs going out.

IIRC, the G35 sedan has a more agressive tune and produces more peak HP than the Maxima, so I'm not sure why you would think it couldn't compare.

We actually have G owners who can put M3s to shame, so...

[kmckis1029]

if you want a maxima sized car why not the M35 or M45?

the maxima wasnt even an option for me because it wasn't RWD or AWD.

I would get a g35 over a maxima. like nate said, a better tuned engine and rwd.

[Beancooker]

My buddy has a 540i Dinan-5. He has everything that Dinan makes for the car, aside of the supercharger. When my G35 (non rev-up) was bone stock, I beat him by 1/2 a car length on a race to 100. Now I will PWN him if we were to race.

All I have to say, coming from owning both a Maxima and a G35... Why in God's Name would you want a front wheel drive?

[Jacko3]

My good friend, front wheel drive feels different form a rear-wheel drive---I have both and i prefer the aggressive rear-wheel drive.

[Dynasty47x1]

That's cool and which g35 do you have? I drove the lincoln Ls for a good amount of time and i like the way you can throw rwd around a turn. What do you prefer about the rwd versus fwd?

Iv'e owned 3 maximas and the ls was the longest ive ever driven a rwd car so I guess im trying to find out the pro's and cons of 2003 -2004 g35's and the rwd platform other than what iv'e read on the internet.

So I should be able to keep up with the 540i with an automatic 2004 g35?

[tollboothwilley]

with the right mods you shouldn't have any problems taking that. I bet you'll like the manual transmission better than the 5 speed auto, but the auto can be put to good use.

The maxima is a good car, it is the car i was originally looking for. But RWD is so much better. I think you'll find that a lot of the mods you were going to throw on the max have comparable counterparts for the G.

Between an 02/03 Max and a 04 G35 auto, I'd go with the G. Newer, faster, more things to do. It just might cost more is the only thing.

[DevonD]

Having owned a few maxima's and only ever driven a few G's on occasion I can say the G is a completly different animal! The maxima' are nice and an 02 6spd would also be pretty quick but the G35' just feels so much better.

From what I have heard a typical front wheel drive car you loose about 25% of the engines power through the driveline. as compared to a rear wheel drive is only about 15%? so not only are you getting more power to the ground but the front wheels are not trying to move the car and send it in the right direction. RWD just handles better.

and a 2001 540 is supposed to do 0-60 in about 5.7. and both cars being at least 5 years old. I dont know. it would be close. Go with the G35

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

The G35 is a win and I would get the 6speed.

Trust me you will love it!

Also don't buy a car so you can beat another. Trust me it is an endless game unless you have a Bugatti Vayron

DJ

[Dynasty47x1]

No thats not the reason G35's and maximas are really the only cars I like besides maybe an audi but im not messing the maintenance for the bi-turbo and bmw's don't really do anything for me you cant really make it yours completely. I really want a coupe as a second car but they're pretty expensive so I have to compromise since I would sell the maxima a g35 sedan or 03 maxima would be the next best thing.

http://forums.maxima.org/maxim....html

THis is my car for sale if anyone is intrested.
Modified by Dynasty47x1 at 10:54 AM 10/31/2008

[Beancooker]

So I should be able to keep up with the 540i with an automatic 2004 g35?

As I stated in my first post, you should be able to keep up or beat the 540i when your G35 is bone stock.

Add a few mods, and you should kill it.

Mind you, I was racing a 540i thathas had a lot of work/money invested in it, and I still beat it in a bone stock automatic G35.

Downsides to the 2003/2004 is the stereo/ac can crap out. Brakes are dusty. Other than that, you're all good.

The other upside to the G35, is that there are way more aftermarket parts available. Buying parts for a Maxima, can sometimes be a PITA.

Drive a FWD with torque steer, and a RWD. FWD=wrong wheel drive. You lose too much power, and you lose some of the sportiness.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

correction... FWD you loose all the Sportiness

[Jacko3]

Handling with a rear wheel drive around curves is amazingly predictable and solid. The torque in a rear wheel drive is nothing like you have ever experienced--I love it. I have a 2007 G-35 Coupe 6 MT---moded out to a reasonable limit. The car behaves like a V-8 more than a V-6.

If you search this forum, you will find a write-up I did on a 2009 Nissan Maxima which i recently test drove--I would say the 2009 Nissan Maxima---front wheel drive, is the best Maxima out there and yet, I still preferred a G-35.

[Sentientbydesign]

I'm lost. How can a FWD car lose more power in driveline than a RWD car?

The FWD car's engine is turning in the same direction as the wheels, there should be no losses due to the perpendicular transition. On motorcycles driveshafts lose torque compaired to belts or chains. I can't see how that would be different with a FWD vs RWD.

As for the benefits of the Maxima and G35.

G35 Pros:More responsiveSportierSafer (if you drive safer)Much better aftermarket coverage

Cons:You can kill yourself if you swing the rear end forwardRide can be a little rough at times (depends on suspension, wheels, and tires)

Maxima Pros:

Boat-like ride (great for long family trips)Generous amount of interior roomEasy to pull yourself out of S**T if you take a turn to sharply

Cons:

Torque Steer (the tendency of a FWD car for one wheel to receive more power than the other due to poor design which makes the car veer in one direction or the other. Especially on take off).

Body roll/handling (this can be improved, but the platform wasn't meant to be a sports car no matter how much Nissan wants to lie to you)

Poor aftermarket support-enough said.

Less power

[zozoka1212]

Nah you right the RWD losing more power then the FWD. But it goes to the good cause call sportiness. You never going to take a corner with fwd then you can with RWD. Straight line ok for the Maxi. Cornering yak.

zozo

[Dynasty47x1]

I had my maxima mods planned out from the front all the way back for the 2002-2003 maximas I think there's a fair amount of parts. And for the radio a/c issue what happens if you put in an aftermarket stereo, and you use ceramic brakes with drilled rotors. I guess the only mod i cant make a decision on is what headers and y-pipe would be used.

[tollboothwilley]

oh we can help you out...if you are looking for info on the G35

borla headers. fujitsubo y-pipe (unless you get a true dual cat-back).

[Dynasty47x1]

Yes the borla true dual catback does that eliminate the need for a y-pipe?

[Sentientbydesign]

Yes the borla true dual catback does that eliminate the need for a y-pipe?

If I'm not mistaken, the most effective True-Duals have an X pipe (the exhaust coverges and diverges). I would assume this is to create optimum exhaust scavenging.

[BrandAidDesignG35]

Welcome to Nice fellow Nissan Infiniti enthusiast!

My advice:

Coming to the G forums and asking which car is better will give you biased results... although basically all that has been said is true, I think you should go and take both for long test drives to aid in your decision making...

I drove a 6mt Maxima which was really fun to drive, it would cook rubber in 2nd no problem.

However, RWD is ideal for tuning, drag racing, etc. I ended up with a 5AT G35 2004, so far, I've had my CD player mess up a few times, and I've upgraded my brakes to cross drilled rotors and performance pads... seems to be working really well!

All I can tell you for sure is I chose the G over the Maxima, but you have to drive them both to tell for sure Keep us posted on your searches

[telcoman]

That's cool and which g35 do you have? I drove the lincoln Ls for a good amount of time and i like the way you can throw rwd around a turn. What do you prefer about the rwd versus fwd?

Iv'e owned 3 maximas and the ls was the longest ive ever driven a rwd car so I guess im trying to find out the pro's and cons of 2003 -2004 g35's and the rwd platform other than what iv'e read on the internet.

So I should be able to keep up with the 540i with an automatic 2004 g35?

Dynasty47x1

Welcome to NICO

My previous vehicle was a 92 Lexus ES300 FWD. There is no comparison except the FWD is better in the snow.

Since snow is not an issue for you go for the G35 and a brand new 6 sp manual if you can afford it?Go to a few dealers and do a few test drives

Just my $.02

Telcoman

[tollboothwilley]

Yes the borla true dual catback does that eliminate the need for a y-pipe?

the y-pipe is behind the cats, so any cat-back exhaust would replace this

borla sounds good, and then get the borla headers to match it up

[BrandAidDesignG35]

the y-pipe is behind the cats, so any cat-back exhaust would replace this

borla sounds good, and then get the borla headers to match it up

My greddy evo2 starts after the Y pipe But I'm eyeing the fujitsubo y pipe and HFC, I've heard the headers can be a PITA to install, and I like to do things myself

[tollboothwilley]

note the BOLD

CAT-BACK vs Y-pipe back

cat-back replaces everything behind the cats

y-pipe back replaces everything behind the y-pipe

axle back replaces everything behind the midpipe

[Dynasty47x1]

oh ok i didnt realize that on the g35 is behind the cat. Thankyou everyone for your info and knowledge. Well im looking to spend at the most $12,000 with 6 or $7000 down nothing expensive. I see In that price range most of them have high mileage (120k) at least resale value isn't to bad. But I still have time to look around.
Modified by Dynasty47x1 at 12:33 PM 10/31/2008

[soul_hfk]

id go wit the G the resales better and just looks better then the max

[SVTCOBRA]

Another vote for the G35....and I've owned my share of FWD cars including an 02 MAX. Not knocking the Max either. Apples and oranges

[Beancooker]

The Greddy EVO2 as sold by Greddy is different for the sedan vs. coupe. The coupe's "cat back" is truly from the cats back. The sedan's "cat back" is actually a mid pipe back set up.

I have the EVO2, and I love it.

Nate, I can't explain the physics of why, but you have a much higher percentage of HP loss in a FWD as opposed to a RWD. On average, you lose 5%-10% more on a FWD.

[audtatious]

I have both (except my G is a '37) and I would suggest the G every time. The Maxima is a great car, no doubt about it but it is not in the same class as a G.

[TeflonG35]

My vote is G. Great machine.

You should be able to find a 03 sedan for about 15k. I see them around here alot. I have alot of fun with mine. Surprises the hell out of alot of people.