1995 Maxima Se (5 spd) vs. 1995 taurus SHO (5 spd)

so who'd take it?

Sho has 220 hp 200 lbs of torque and weighs 3120 lbs

Maxima has 190 hp 205 lbs torque and weighs 3001 lbs

too close...
go out and race...

both are "older" so you've got to take the current state of tune into account...
as well as gearing...
sho's are pretty quick, but i'm assuming your car is quick as well..

too close to call right now, go do it and tell us...

Well, I've driven a 95 Maxima and (briefly) followed a 95 SHO around the track (in a 91 Probe GT and in an 85 Porsche 944), and I have to go with the Maxima as the better car. The SHO does have more power, but IMHO the build quality is not as good, and the SHO has the typical Ford problem of not having any brakes. The handling of the Maxima is better as well.

your points are valid, however, the post seems to be aimed at the 1/4 mile, so the braking and handling aren't as important...

i'm still saying "just do it"

find out, don't let other people speculate

Originally posted by flylwsi
your points are valid, however, the post seems to be aimed at the 1/4 mile, so the braking and handling aren't as important...

i'm still saying "just do it"

find out, don't let other people speculate

Maxima did and will eat the SHO up, any year, any transmission. VQ power, baby!!!

well i don't have any knowledge on the two cars but paonessa's sig says

Motor Trend, Road Test, June 1994
"Our tester, a five-speed SE version of this fourth generation of Maxima, produced a blazing 6.6-second 0-60-mph time, and a 15.2-second, 92.4-mph quarter-mile run. Ask us,
and we'll tell you how the Maxima SE will whip the Integra GS-R, and Taurus SHO;
the new Maxima also shows no mercy on its Nissan stablemates: It'll stomp the normally aspirated 300ZX, and drivers of automatic-transmissioned 300ZX Turbos best not be snoozing when the light goes green.
This demure-looking family car is the quickest Japanese sedan available in the States."

I'm sorry but I've beaten a mid 90s Maxima in a mini-van. The build quality of Nissan’s cars were very poor in the mid 90s compared to how they are now because the company was in a financial crisis. I don't feel that the Maximas of the mid 90s were even mediocre performers. The SHO isn't "that" fast of a car either and isn't completely a Ford. The engine is built by Yamaha, which had no quality issues.

My pick for the 1/4 mile is the SHO.

Originally posted by Polygon
I'm sorry but I've beaten a mid 90s Maxima in a mini-van. The build quality of Nissan’s cars were very poor in the mid 90s compared to how they are now because the company was in a financial crisis. I don't feel that the Maximas of the mid 90s were even mediocre performers. The SHO isn't "that" fast of a car either and isn't completely a Ford. The engine is built by Yamaha, which had no quality issues.

My pick for the 1/4 mile is the SHO.

......And nothing you just said is true. The best Maxima's ever made were during the mid 90's. And they are more than mediocre. 0-60 in 6 nseconds in a 190 horse family sedan? That's incredible! And the Maxima has beat the SHO in the 1/4 every time it has been tested.;) And never have you beaten a Maxima in a minivan.:finger:

Originally posted by Polygon
I'm sorry but I've beaten a mid 90s Maxima in a mini-van.
Who the hell races minivans??? i'll bet as soon as you punched the gas he started laughing at the thought of embarassing a soccer-mom in her town & country

octagon you gotta remember that there is a hugh different in performance between a 5 speed max and a auto max. nissan auto's suck ass. and there are waaay more auto max's running around then a 5 speed one. so you probrably beat a auto max octagon. becasue trust me, 5 speed maxima's are quick.

1. Though Octagon and I like Chryslers, we are a different person. :D

2. Yes I did beat a Maxima in a Mini-van which for your information was a work delivery vehicle and was not mine.

3. Perhaps it was an auto, I didn't think of that at the time I made that post, also I am thinking the one I beat might have been an early 90s Maxima and not a mid. Could be a difference there as well, but he was trying his ass off and I still won.

BTW: Chrysler made a turbocharged mini-van, you would be surprised what they could run, I have seen one beat a Trans-Am in the 1/4 mile on a 12 second pass.

I'd take the Maxima over the Taurus anyday, anyhow...

Originally posted by Polygon
1. Though Octagon and I like Chryslers, we are a different person. :D

i just saw all the chryslers in your vehicles list and sig. coulda been a nissan quest.

Originally posted by Polygon
BTW: Chrysler made a turbocharged mini-van, you would be surprised what they could run, I have seen one beat a Trans-Am in the 1/4 mile on a 12 second pass.
[/B]

my friend's mom had one, it was under the dodge name though i think, but was ultimately a chrysler. He crashed his car and was drivin that for a while. Anyway one day a pontiac grand prix gtp tried to pass us over the dotted yellow. He floored it in the van and the gtp had to back off and get back behind us, i was prety impressed. we went from like 40-75 mph pretty quickly. i know for damn sure it ain't runnin' no 12's though

Originally posted by Pick


Maxima did and will eat the SHO up, any year, any transmission. VQ power, baby!!!

Ok first of all I'd take a Maxima over a SHO just cause I hate Ford but SHO's are faster and you don't know what you're talking about if you say any Maxima can beat any SHO. A friend of mine used to have a 92 Maxima and got smoked every single time by my other friends 91 SHO. I've driven quite a few Maximas and about 3 different SHO's and accelerationwise the SHO is faster wheter you wanna admit it or not.

thats becuase your comparing auto maxima to a sho. plus the 92 maxima's ran on the VG30DE instead of the VQ30DE. there is a big power difference in those motors. a 5 speed VG30 max can only do the 1/4 mile in 16's and 0-60 in around 8 seconds. the fastest maxima's are the 5th gen from 95-98 they do 0-60 in 6.6 seconds and 1/4 mile in 15.2 to 15.1 and the fastest maxima's are the 2k2 and 2k3 with the VQ35DE those did 0-60 in 6.3 seconds and can run the 1/4 in 14.6-7 they all have to be 5 or 6 speed though becuase automatic maximas are slow. my friend's 5 speed accord LX is able to take them. however, if its a 5 speed, the max can hang with a 4th gen prelude v-tec and those were the fastest preludes ever made. now if you think a sho can beat the 4th and later 5th gens you gotta be kidding me. it will be a good race, but sayin that you've driven many maxima's and callin them slow is just wrong. how many 5 speed maxima's have you driven? i've drive 1 and the car was filled with big black guys ( my roomates friends) and it pulled almost as hard as my 240 even with all thsoe mods, and my car ran a 15.5 on the g-tec. trust me a 5 speed and a auto max is a world apart. non of my honda friends even with the dohc v-tec will not fuck with a 5 speed max becuase they know that they would look bad if they did.

Originally posted by 92teggsr


Ok first of all I'd take a Maxima over a SHO just cause I hate Ford but SHO's are faster and you don't know what you're talking about if you say any Maxima can beat any SHO. A friend of mine used to have a 92 Maxima and got smoked every single time by my other friends 91 SHO. I've driven quite a few Maximas and about 3 different SHO's and accelerationwise the SHO is faster wheter you wanna admit it or not.

The 91 and 92 Max's have a totally different engine than the 95's, plus they are heavier and less torque. If you'll notice Paonessa's sig, it tells the whole truth about this situation. The SHO is heavy and has a damn Yamaha engine in it.

ok a 91 Maxima has 160 HP a 92 has 190. So those are two different engines too. I've driven 95 Maximas and they're quick but not as quick as SHO's. The Yamaha engine is the only good thing in the SHO. That is what makes the thing so fast. I actually think that the Yamaha engine is better than the Maxima engine. Oh and by the way just a few days ago a friend of mine who has a 97 Maxima with CAI, Stillen exhaust,Performance chip and a few other minor mods got beat by my other friends 93 SHO which is all stock and has 155k on it.

Originally posted by Paonessa


my friend's mom had one, it was under the dodge name though i think, but was ultimately a chrysler. He crashed his car and was drivin that for a while. Anyway one day a pontiac grand prix gtp tried to pass us over the dotted yellow. He floored it in the van and the gtp had to back off and get back behind us, i was prety impressed. we went from like 40-75 mph pretty quickly. i know for damn sure it ain't runnin' no 12's though

You're right, they don't stock, but with less then $2,000 they can. That is pretty sweet, my dad bought one a long time ago, the only way he would own one was the fact that it was turbo. :D

chrysler likes to take things a little over the top i've noticed. you see the tomohawk roadbike with the viper engine on dualies? too bad that won't make production

Originally posted by Paonessa
chrysler likes to take things a little over the top i've noticed. you see the tomohawk roadbike with the viper engine on dualies? too bad that won't make production

Yeah, they do. If it does make it to production, they should just call it what it is. death on four wheels.

Also now that I have read the new posts, I'll bet that was an early 90s auto Max that I beat. That would make more sense, weren't the early 90s Maxs the boxy looking ones?

Originally posted by 92teggsr
ok a 91 Maxima has 160 HP a 92 has 190. So those are two different engines too. I've driven 95 Maximas and they're quick but not as quick as SHO's. The Yamaha engine is the only good thing in the SHO. That is what makes the thing so fast. I actually think that the Yamaha engine is better than the Maxima engine. Oh and by the way just a few days ago a friend of mine who has a 97 Maxima with CAI, Stillen exhaust,Performance chip and a few other minor mods got beat by my other friends 93 SHO which is all stock and has 155k on it.

you're right the yamaha engine is what makes the car. the thing about nissan in those years was that certain models had different engines. i think you can get a maxima with the 160hp engine or the 190 dohc engine from the same year. but don't forget, the vg engines with the 190 hp still only have 176 lbs/ft torque. the vq30 makes 30 more lbs/ft@205. i'd say the yamaha engine is better than the 94-vg series but i think the VQ-95's+ are better than the yamaha
Originally posted by 92teggsr
Oh and by the way just a few days ago a friend of mine who has a 97 Maxima with CAI, Stillen exhaust,Performance chip and a few other minor mods got beat by my other friends 93 SHO which is all stock and has 155k on it. [/B]
i'm gonna have to call bull shit on that one. what kind of chip does your friend have. as far as i know no one will fuck the the obdII(96+) maxima ecu's. and if they do decide to do so, you'll have to remove your ecu from the car and send it out to be tuned. they don't just make modified generic chips like in a civic. it's an 8 week process between delivery there, modifying the chip, and the return. i don't know anyone willing to lave their car sittin in the driveway for 2 months. that's why i didn't do it. i'm not trying to say you're lying. i just think you're mistaken

and i'd put my pink slip vs your friends stock SHO. even though it is the fastest generation sho they made. i can't see it beating a modified max.

i got a stillen cat-back, budget y pipe, weapon-r carbon fiber intake and yes, i use the tornado fuel saver and i like it and the only ford i've ever lost to was a 5.0 stang

I was told it has a chip I haven't actually seen it. The only things I've seen that the car has was a CAI, Stillen Catback and some plugwires. So i'm not positive on the chip that's just what the guy told me.

I'd be willing to bet a WHOLE lot that I could beat a stock SHO and I'm stock(my '96).

you know how fast a basic performance upgrade maxima is? thats with chip, intake headers, and exahust, the car will run a 14.5 i doubt a stock SHO can run a 14.5

edit: he probrably beat the driver, not the car. that happens alot. and polygon, both the 3rd and 4th gen maxma's are boxy. the difference is that the 3rd gen's are boxier and smaller, plus in the back side, it has a red plastic inbetween the taillights that says maxima.

SHO's have yamaha engines ? I thought they had Ford 302's like the stang , ok more like the LTD

Originally posted by BigJustinZ28
SHO's have yamaha engines ? I thought they had Ford 302's like the stang , ok more like the LTD
i think the 98's and up are v8's but the generation before that is a yamaha 3.2 6 cylinder tuned down by ford. they're meant to make around 300 hp from yamaha but ford wouldn't let them be that powerful. probably didn't want to kill the mustang sales. not to mention the fact that it took a 3rd party to make a ford with a decent 6 cylinder.

SHO's from 89-95 had 3.0L Yamaha Engines manuals and the autos had 3.2L Yamaha both rated at 220hp. From 96-98(last year of SHO) they had 3.4L V-8's made by Ford auto's only.

1/4 time for a 91-95 SHO by Motor Trend is 14.7

From 89-95 The SHO was faster in the 1/4mile and better on a road courses than any Maxima. From 96-on the Maxima is better in both regards.

i've heard of the maximas 5-spds being ROUGH as hell... also the grade of thier controction materials being VERY brittle, and there isn't all that much available for that engine, or factory preformance parts. the SHO i think is the way to go for 1/4 tuning, and if anything, theres more SHO parts like pistons and rods and super or turbo chargers to make... mostly for a rear wheel format, cause i know i dude who swapped out an old v-8 for a SHO v-6 and LOVES it, for the weight balance and gets more power out of it.

first and foremost, I hope everyone had a great 4th of july. Me and my girlfriend of 1 year enjoyed our half sticks of dynamite :smile:
Wanna see a VERY interesting article about the SHO engine, take a look at this guys
http://www.fordfestiva.com/performance/shogun.html

A ford festiva with a sho engine, runnings 12s in the quarter mile in 1990!!!! Read about it

Originally posted by Turbo Thoughts
i've heard of the maximas 5-spds being ROUGH as hell... also the grade of thier controction materials being VERY brittle, and there isn't all that much available for that engine, or factory preformance parts. :bs:

Maxima's have very strong engines, but if you abuse the transmission, you will pay. As for performance parts, there is a surprisingly large aftermarket for these cars. There is a mod that is only 160 bucks that gives 20 horses.:eek:

Maxima's have very strong engines, but if you abuse the transmission, you will pay

Well, he's asking about what kind of car is better for 1/4 mile tuning. Otherwords, racing. What kind of racing isn't abusive to drivetrain components?

Btw, whats that myster nameless 60$ mod?

And also have you driven both? I've driven countless maximas, and a SHO pretty much every day... that RPM needle on the show wants to just jump up with the slightest tap of the gas... the feel of V blocks is just not the same as an inline.

BUT don't maximas and other nissans have thier own league or something where its pretty much drivers' races and one make meets?

Originally posted by Turbo Thoughts


Btw, whats that myster nameless 60$ mod?

it's $160 and it's a y pipe(downpipe) and it's good for 19 Front wheel hp and 18 lbs torque. so it's more like 30 something at the crank. and it makes up to 32 hp gains at 6000 rpm to redline

Originally posted by Turbo Thoughts


And also have you driven both? I've driven countless maximas, and a SHO pretty much every day... that RPM needle on the show wants to just jump up with the slightest tap of the gas... the feel of V blocks is just not the same as an inline.

i've driven both and the sho is by no means slow, i just think the max is quicker and it undoubtedly handles better. one thing i don't get is where the inline reference comes in :confused:

The Taurus will wipe that Maxipad all over the road!!

Originally posted by Ringo
The Taurus will wipe that Maxipad all over the road!!

:screwy: :lol: :lol: :lol: :loser:

Originally posted by Ringo
The Taurus will wipe that Maxipad all over the road!!

the poor-ass tore ass will get eaten alive.

Originally posted by TatII
you know how fast a basic performance upgrade maxima is? thats with chip, intake headers, and exahust, the car will run a 14.5 i doubt a stock SHO can run a 14.5

edit: he probrably beat the driver, not the car. that happens alot. and polygon, both the 3rd and 4th gen maxma's are boxy. the difference is that the 3rd gen's are boxier and smaller, plus in the back side, it has a red plastic inbetween the taillights that says maxima.

there's stock, well maintained mtx shos out there running mid 14s.

Originally posted by Paonessa

i think the 98's and up are v8's but the generation before that is a yamaha 3.2 6 cylinder tuned down by ford. they're meant to make around 300 hp from yamaha but ford wouldn't let them be that powerful. probably didn't want to kill the mustang sales. not to mention the fact that it took a 3rd party to make a ford with a decent 6 cylinder.

Gen 3, '96-'99, all V8s, atx, and rounder body.

1992 Nissan Maxima SE 7.3 15.7
1994 Nissan Maxima SE (auto) 8.8 16.7
1995 Nissan Maxima SE 7.4 15.7
1997 Nissan Maxima SE 7.1 15.5


I have a 95 Automatic SHO and i have beaten tons of cars, stock. I can race a new maxima and be within two carlengths to about 80. So i think the 95 maxima and sho would b a good race. My car should run about a mid 15 with an auto and low 15 with manual. I like maximas but they are kinda expensive for some reason, so i bought a sho and love it.

1992 Nissan Maxima SE 7.3 15.7
1994 Nissan Maxima SE (auto) 8.8 16.7
1995 Nissan Maxima SE 7.4 15.7
1997 Nissan Maxima SE 7.1 15.5


I have a 95 Automatic SHO and i have beaten tons of cars, stock. I can race a new maxima and be within two carlengths to about 80. So i think the 95 maxima and sho would b a good race. My car should run about a mid 15 with an auto and low 15 with manual. I like maximas but they are kinda expensive for some reason, so i bought a sho and love it.

Those are automatic times.....the 1995-1999 5-speed Maxima's ran 0-60 in 6.6 seconds and 15.1 in the 1/4.

BTW, this thread is 4 months old......I know you are a newb, but let's try to keep the old threads in dormancy.

wow, this thread is ancient but,

Motor Trend, Road Test, June 1994
"Our tester, a five-speed SE version of this fourth generation of Maxima, produced a blazing 6.6-second 0-60-mph time, and a 15.2-second, 92.4-mph quarter-mile run. Ask us,
and we'll tell you how the Maxima SE will whip the Integra GS-R, and Taurus SHO;
the new Maxima also shows no mercy on its Nissan stablemates: It'll stomp the normally aspirated 300ZX, and drivers of automatic-transmissioned 300ZX Turbos best not be snoozing when the light goes green.
This demure-looking family car is the quickest Japanese sedan available in the States."

[QUOTE=Paonessa]it's $160 and it's a y pipe(downpipe) and it's good for 19 Front wheel hp and 18 lbs torque. so it's more like 30 something at the crank. and it makes up to 32 hp gains at 6000 rpm to redline
QUOTE]


So SHO have a Y-pipe that's is a major improvement over 90 degree into cat stock y-pipe giving 15FWHP gain.

you're right the yamaha engine is what makes the car. the thing about nissan in those years was that certain models had different engines. i think you can get a maxima with the 160hp engine or the 190 dohc engine from the same year. but don't forget, the vg engines with the 190 hp still only have 176 lbs/ft torque. the vq30 makes 30 more lbs/ft@205. i'd say the yamaha engine is better than the 94-vg series but i think the VQ-95's+ are better than the yamaha

i'm gonna have to call bull shit on that one. what kind of chip does your friend have. as far as i know no one will fuck the the obdII(96+) maxima ecu's. and if they do decide to do so, you'll have to remove your ecu from the car and send it out to be tuned. they don't just make modified generic chips like in a civic. it's an 8 week process between delivery there, modifying the chip, and the return. i don't know anyone willing to lave their car sittin in the driveway for 2 months. that's why i didn't do it. i'm not trying to say you're lying. i just think you're mistaken

and i'd put my pink slip vs your friends stock SHO. even though it is the fastest generation sho they made. i can't see it beating a modified max.

i got a stillen cat-back, budget y pipe, weapon-r carbon fiber intake and yes, i use the tornado fuel saver and i like it and the only ford i've ever lost to was a 5.0 stang
Very interesting considering that the SHO pulls on every GT out there!!
Stock!!!WTF!!

you're right the yamaha engine is what makes the car. the thing about nissan in those years was that certain models had different engines. i think you can get a maxima with the 160hp engine or the 190 dohc engine from the same year. but don't forget, the vg engines with the 190 hp still only have 176 lbs/ft torque. the vq30 makes 30 more lbs/ft@205. i'd say the yamaha engine is better than the 94-vg series but i think the VQ-95's+ are better than the yamaha

i'm gonna have to call bull shit on that one. what kind of chip does your friend have. as far as i know no one will fuck the the obdII(96+) maxima ecu's. and if they do decide to do so, you'll have to remove your ecu from the car and send it out to be tuned. they don't just make modified generic chips like in a civic. it's an 8 week process between delivery there, modifying the chip, and the return. i don't know anyone willing to lave their car sittin in the driveway for 2 months. that's why i didn't do it. i'm not trying to say you're lying. i just think you're mistaken

and i'd put my pink slip vs your friends stock SHO. even though it is the fastest generation sho they made. i can't see it beating a modified max.

i got a stillen cat-back, budget y pipe, weapon-r carbon fiber intake and yes, i use the tornado fuel saver and i like it and the only ford i've ever lost to was a 5.0 stang
Very interesting considering that the SHO pulls on every GT out there!!
Stock!!!WTF!!

very interesting because this thread is almost 3 years old.

IMO, the Taurus is the way to go. But GTStang having 4,167 posts should know about the dead thread thing. This thread was quite dead as of yesterday. Now its back to life and terrorizing the villagers whilst having a fear of fire! GTStang = Dr. Frankenstein! This thread is a zombie. And I don't feel like having my brains eaten today. I out of here.

rick ng is the one who brought it back.

just let it die.


and the maxima's better

rick ng is the one who brought it back.

Ah yes I see it now. What a n00b. He should gtfo. O rly? Ya rly.