If the guy has an intake on his close to stock WRX, its raises a few eyebrows. I've never seen anyone, ever suggest an intake, untill you've switched to a nice big beefy turbo. Intakes typically cause CELs to go and odd timing. Also, the gains from the intake are next to nothing. Some people actually dynoed with less or the same HP/TQ numbers.
How far back did the WRX's exhaust go back? If he has a full turboback, hes probably at 190awhp. With an up-pipe, hes at 200awhp, with a much quicker spooling turbo. If it was just a cat-back, then he probably didn't gain anything.
Also, I just don't see how a 255hp, 3225lb Maxima would win against a WRX from light to light, unless the WRX isn't launching. I would guess the Maxima starts to pull as much as the WRX in 3rd, then 4th belongs to the Maxima, which explain a higher trap speed in the quarter mile. However these sites:
http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/roadtests/0212scc_roadtest/
http://www.car-videos.com/performance/view.asp?id1=283&id2=0
http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=218989&page=5
http://www.epinions.com/content_87174909572
All of 'em are saying quarter mile times of around 15s.
I was also going to bring up "bang-for-your-buck" on modibility, but that may go to the Maxima. I just looked at some of the turbocharged Maximas and they're definatly running some pretty good numbers. WRX engines typically can't hold much more than 300awhp, without a wildly aggressive tune, or the transmission breaking. I'm not sure how much that would cost though? Any ideas? I think if you bought some used parts (mainly the turboback exhaust and up pipe, could be had for $700), along with a new VF34 (typical JDM STi turbo uprgrade) turbo kit ($1200) and some engine management ($700) you'd be up around 300awhp. Not sure if the Maxima could beat that, it definatly seems pretty cheap for that kind of power. Along with ease of install. I knew a guy that installed it in a days time, but with the help of some friends and in his friend's shop. The engine would be just as reliable as ever (unless you went with a real aggressive tune), but the transmission may not last long.
I'm sorry, but I just don't see it happening unless someone wasn't giving it their all, or a good racer. I'm not trying to beat the car down, I like the Maximas, and Nissan in general (My first car was an Altima). I'm also not claiming I could beat a Maxima. Quite frankly, I suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck racing in a straight line. However, I believe if you put a non-factory-freak Nissan Maxima 6-Speed, and a Subaru Impreza WRX 5-Speed, with two drivers of similiar skill, the Suby will come out on top in a quarter mile, with the Maxima gaining on it.
This may be the most absurd post I've read! Not only do you advocate a Nissan forum as a legitimate source for quarter-mile times for Nissans, you then claim the 2004 Maxima automatic is doing the quarter in 14.4! The automatic has one less speed than the manual, meaning you're endorsing a 13.9-sec or less quarter mile for the manual - a 3432-pound car that has 265 horsepower. And you outright stated a manual Altima will do it in 14.1! I work for the company and I'm not even this biased. Get your facts straight and come back here.
