Four Wheel Drift-Internet Volume 2 Number 2 - Spring 2002
By Don Mallinson, President
So you want a new "sport" sedan?
SHO Club tests three top contenders to replace the SHOLast month (March, 2002) just before going in for my 2nd hip surgery (the one on the left leg, meaning no manual transmission car driving for a couple of months), I took the time to drive three of the top contenders to the SHO throne: The pair from Nissan called the Altima and the Maxima, and the new Cadillac CTS.WHAT? you say. Yes, the CTS is a real sport sedan, read on.Nissan AltimaThe 2002 Altima is a clean-sheet car that is actually bigger inside than the current Maxima. It also has the wonderful 3.5L V6 that was in the 2001 Maxima, rated at 240 hp. It also comes with a pretty nice 5-speed manual transmission. I drove this version. My impression? I think the Altima is a very good car. But like every Nissan product I have driven in the past decade, it has no soul. The motor is sewing machine smooth, but makes no noises that excite me. I think a good running stock '89-'95 MTX SHO would keep up with it. This Altima is not a SHO killer. My '89 with BOS and 245 dyno HP is faster for sure. Biggest disappointment was the shifter. Very rubbery and not precise. The ROD shifter 91-95 SHO's are much better. The Altima has lots of room inside, a nice stereo (my '96 SHO JBL setup is much better though) and some nice features. I loved the dual height arm rest. Style? This is a love it or hate it car, no in between. I think I could get used to it, but nothing about this car makes me want to take on a payment book, (pricing about 30k nicely equipped) and get rid of either my '96 V8 SHO or my '89NOTE: A former SHO owner that now owns this model Altima wishes to take exception (in a nice way) with my conclusions. Go HERE to read his comments and my replies (added 3-6-03)Nissan MaximaFor this year only (2002) the Maxima, although the top of the line car, is actually smaller and not as modern as the Altima. To make up for this, Nissan kicked up the HP of the excellent 3.5L V6 to 260 hp, and made available a 6-speed manual tranny. You can also get a posi-traction differential in the Maxima, but not in the Altima. Level of content is also higher on the Maxima. Pricing is just a bit higher than the Altima. I drove the hot rod 6-speed manual version, and you can tell these two cars come from the same company, and designers. The interiors of both the Maxima and Altima look very much alike. Same likes, and same dislikes basically. There is a bit less room in the Maxima, but it is still plenty roomy for my extra-wide body. The shifter also was VERY rubbery in the Maxima, worse than in the Altima. Getting the right gear in the narrow gates was very difficult. I pride myself on being a good driver. I had a lot of trouble getting the right gears, just in normal driving. If at a race, it would be very hard. I suppose you would eventually get used to it, but why spend this much time and money on a vehicle and make the shifter seem like it came from a 60's VW bus?Power? Oh yea, I could feel the 260 horses. There is no doubt this Maxima could probably take my BOS '89. IF you could get it through the gears. Again the driveline was sewing machine smooth, but even this much power refused to put a smile on my face.Trade the '96 in? Not yet amigo. Cadillac CTSHere is the surprise of the year so far. I had a problem finding a CTS to test drive in Central Illinois. These things are flying out of Caddy dealers lots in my area like popcorn at a drive-in theater.The dealer in Pekin, IL had set aside a basic CTS with sticker just over $30,000 for demo drives. It was an automatic, so an evaluation of the 5-speed manual version with sport suspension will have to wait. But you can tell a lot about the sport version of a vehicle from the base version if you have an open mind. The CTS has been praised by most of the automotive press. They are cool on the styling (But love anything similar from Japan...go figure) but like the handling. I agree about the handling, and I could learn to love the styling. If only they would do something about the huge back-up light/license plate frame/CHIMSL combo on the trunk lid. That is clumsy.In my test drive I was floored by the power. This car has a 220 hp rated 3.2L V6 with 218 lb ft of torque. Sound familiar? It should. Overall weight is a bit higher than the Nissan pair at just over 3500 pounds. Considering the high content, additional safety features and bigger wheelbase and interior of the CTS, it is something that the car is less than 100 pounds heavier than the average SHO.I didn't mention yet that this Caddy is rear-wheel-drive. That adds to the excitement a bit.What amazed me was the power. I think this motor is under-rated, or it has a super deep gearset in the 5 speed auto tranny. The CTS leapt away from stops like I remember the SHO doing, and it didn't hesitate to kick down and scoot right away from traffic when floored. Although I didn't get to take it on a test track, I did take some curves with alacrity and try out the brakes. This car handles very well.I can't wait to try the 5-speed version. I was impressed with the automatic tranny. There isn't any "automanual" option, but there is a sport setting, leading to higher rpm shifts, and fewer upshifts when you let off the gas, in a turn for instance.When sitting in the CTS you don't notice the rather wild styling, but the dash on the CTS is a wild departure from previous Cadillac format. The main console has dozens of unmarked buttons that are confusing as hell. The steering wheel has many buttons also, with cryptic symbols that are hard to read, and four buttons that I guess you can assign to various tasks, they are just marked one through four!So the CTS is the real happy surprise of this group, pending a trial of the manual tranny version. It is sad that virtually all Cadillac dealers in my area said they would never order a manual tranny version for stock, citing the "fact" that they would never sell. I say if you don't let anyone try one, how do you know? This attitude can kill off a good attempt by an American manufacturer to compete head to head with BMW. And I think the CTS has a chance.In typical GM planning. the second year CTS will get an upgraded higher HP motor (unspecified as yet) to solve the so-called underpowered cries of the motoring press. Heck, even today, 220 hp is still in the upper ranges of what is available for 30 large in a sport sedan. But by putting the lower HP motor in at first, they guarantee that a lot of enthusiasts will hold back, thus killing sales numbers at least a bit.So there you have the SHO Club review of three contenders for the SHO crown. None of them really make me want to take on a new payment book, but I will keep my eyes and ears open and just HAVE to go out and do more test driving!What's up with the magazine for Spring?The magazine should mail in early/mid May, so start looking for it in your mailbox soon after that. We delve into SHO aerodynamics with "Wooly Bully" (Taurus = Bull, get it?) you have to read and see this to believe it.We give several good tech/maintenance tips and of course there is the Four-Wheel Drift for the magazine, where I explore that we got a better deal from Ford than GM gave the GTO folks!Convention #10, down to the wire!Convention #10 is July 22-25, and our early registrations are going well, but if you have been holding off, then NOW is the time to get in that registration to guarantee you get in all events.We are going road racing, and DRAG RACING for the first time in a couple of years. We have some great roads for you to drive on, and the annual car SHOw will be worth entering or walking through.Come one, come all, you will see your old friends, put faces with names in the magazine and on the internet, and have a great time. This is a family affair with people bringing the spouse and kids and there is plenty for everyone to do in the D.C. area. The host hotel is nice, and has a pool and free breakfast!Visit this page to get your registration started! Not a member? No problem come anyway, and have a blast, you will want to be a member after seeing what a real SHO convention can be like!New suspension for the boss!No, not new struts for the wife's SHO, but new hips for me! As mentioned previously (and I promise to let it go after this) I was having problems with bad hips. I decided to take winter 2001-2002 and get BOTH hips replaced with new high-tech titanium and stainless steel replacements. I am too young for this, my doctor said, but I insisted, and so far it is the best thing I could have done. Recovery from the second hip is going much better than the first one, a new procedure that is less invasive really worked wonders. I was up walking within 12 hours and was released less than four days after surgery. I am now, less than a month out, walking sometimes with just a cane. And almost no pain.Next time we get together (at the convention..hint-hint) I won't be limping (as much) and will be in much better spirits. Again, thanks to all that sent their best wishes and even put in a good word with the man upstairs. I appreciated all the good vibes and thoughts.When to expect the summer issueThe next issue after Spring is Summer of course, and it will be out about 30 days after the convention, so we can have convention coverage in it. Look for that issue towards the end of August.Keep the rubber side down!Don Mallinson, President SHO Club
The 2002 Altima is a clean-sheet car that is actually bigger inside than the current Maxima. It also has the wonderful 3.5L V6 that was in the 2001 Maxima, rated at 240 hp. It also comes with a pretty nice 5-speed manual transmission. I drove this version. My impression? I think the Altima is a very good car. But like every Nissan product I have driven in the past decade, it has no soul. The motor is sewing machine smooth, but makes no noises that excite me. I think a good running stock '89-'95 MTX SHO would keep up with it. This Altima is not a SHO killer. My '89 with BOS and 245 dyno HP is faster for sure. Biggest disappointment was the shifter. Very rubbery and not precise. The ROD shifter 91-95 SHO's are much better. The Altima has lots of room inside, a nice stereo (my '96 SHO JBL setup is much better though) and some nice features. I loved the dual height arm rest. Style? This is a love it or hate it car, no in between. I think I could get used to it, but nothing about this car makes me want to take on a payment book, (pricing about 30k nicely equipped) and get rid of either my '96 V8 SHO or my '89NOTE: A former SHO owner that now owns this model Altima wishes to take exception (in a nice way) with my conclusions. Go 
For this year only (2002) the Maxima, although the top of the line car, is actually smaller and not as modern as the Altima. To make up for this, Nissan kicked up the HP of the excellent 3.5L V6 to 260 hp, and made available a 6-speed manual tranny. You can also get a posi-traction differential in the Maxima, but not in the Altima. Level of content is also higher on the Maxima. Pricing is just a bit higher than the Altima. I drove the hot rod 6-speed manual version, and you can tell these two cars come from the same company, and designers. The interiors of both the Maxima and Altima look very much alike. Same likes, and same dislikes basically. There is a bit less room in the Maxima, but it is still plenty roomy for my extra-wide body. The shifter also was VERY rubbery in the Maxima, worse than in the Altima. Getting the right gear in the narrow gates was very difficult. I pride myself on being a good driver. I had a lot of trouble getting the right gears, just in normal driving. If at a race, it would be very hard. I suppose you would eventually get used to it, but why spend this much time and money on a vehicle and make the shifter seem like it came from a 60's VW bus?Power? Oh yea, I could feel the 260 horses. There is no doubt this Maxima could probably take my BOS '89. IF you could get it through the gears. Again the driveline was sewing machine smooth, but even this much power refused to put a smile on my face.Trade the '96 in? Not yet amigo.
Here is the surprise of the year so far. I had a problem finding a CTS to test drive in Central Illinois. These things are flying out of Caddy dealers lots in my area like popcorn at a drive-in theater.The dealer in Pekin, IL had set aside a basic CTS with sticker just over $30,000 for demo drives. It was an automatic, so an evaluation of the 5-speed manual version with sport suspension will have to wait. But you can tell a lot about the sport version of a vehicle from the base version if you have an open mind. The CTS has been praised by most of the automotive press. They are cool on the styling (But love anything similar from Japan...go figure) but like the handling. I agree about the handling, and I could learn to love the styling. If only they would do something about the huge back-up light/license plate frame/CHIMSL combo on the trunk lid. That is clumsy.In my test drive I was floored by the power. This car has a 220 hp rated 3.2L V6 with 218 lb ft of torque. Sound familiar? It should. Overall weight is a bit higher than the Nissan pair at just over 3500 pounds. Considering the high content, additional safety features and bigger wheelbase and interior of the CTS, it is something that the car is less than 100 pounds heavier than the average SHO.I didn't mention yet that this Caddy is rear-wheel-drive. That adds to the excitement a bit.What amazed me was the power. I think this motor is under-rated, or it has a super deep gearset in the 5 speed auto tranny. The CTS leapt away from stops like I remember the SHO doing, and it didn't hesitate to kick down and scoot right away from traffic when floored. Although I didn't get to take it on a test track, I did take some curves with alacrity and try out the brakes. This car handles very well.I can't wait to try the 5-speed version. I was impressed with the automatic tranny. There isn't any "automanual" option, but there is a sport setting, leading to higher rpm shifts, and fewer upshifts when you let off the gas, in a turn for instance.When sitting in the CTS you don't notice the rather wild styling, but the dash on the CTS is a wild departure from previous Cadillac format. The main console has dozens of unmarked buttons that are confusing as hell. The steering wheel has many buttons also, with cryptic symbols that are hard to read, and four buttons that I guess you can assign to various tasks, they are just marked one through four!So the CTS is the real happy surprise of this group, pending a trial of the manual tranny version. It is sad that virtually all Cadillac dealers in my area said they would never order a manual tranny version for stock, citing the "fact" that they would never sell. I say if you don't let anyone try one, how do you know? This attitude can kill off a good attempt by an American manufacturer to compete head to head with BMW. And I think the CTS has a chance.In typical GM planning. the second year CTS will get an upgraded higher HP motor (unspecified as yet) to solve the so-called underpowered cries of the motoring press. Heck, even today, 220 hp is still in the upper ranges of what is available for 30 large in a sport sedan. But by putting the lower HP motor in at first, they guarantee that a lot of enthusiasts will hold back, thus killing sales numbers at least a bit.So there you have the SHO Club review of three contenders for the SHO crown. None of them really make me want to take on a new payment book, but I will keep my eyes and ears open and just HAVE to go out and do more test driving!What's up with the magazine for Spring?The magazine should mail in early/mid May, so start looking for it in your mailbox soon after that. We delve into SHO aerodynamics with "Wooly Bully" (Taurus = Bull, get it?) you have to read and see this to believe it.We give several good tech/maintenance tips and of course there is the Four-Wheel Drift for the magazine, where I explore that we got a better deal from Ford than GM gave the GTO folks!Convention #10, down to the wire!Convention #10 is July 22-25, and our early registrations are going well, but if you have been holding off, then NOW is the time to get in that registration to guarantee you get in all events.We are going road racing, and DRAG RACING for the first time in a couple of years. We have some great roads for you to drive on, and the annual car SHOw will be worth entering or walking through.Come one, come all, you will see your old friends, put faces with names in the magazine and on the internet, and have a great time. This is a family affair with people bringing the spouse and kids and there is plenty for everyone to do in the D.C. area. The host hotel is nice, and has a pool and free breakfast!Visit
