I echo this. Unfortunately, I only hold a 10 year badge here. But, I DID join maxima.org in 2005. Does that count? I mean, I remember when Rochester drew up the new logo for the maxima.org forums. That should count for something, I think?

 

My (limited) perception of today's social media apps and the way things have moved from the big screen to the little screen, it looks like an environment that is anything but genuinely social. It's more like a rapid fire world of disconnected people. There was a time here when the forum was rich with relationships and community. IDK how you accomplish that with social media and small screens.

 

Well, it made me smile, that's counts for something.

TBH, I don't remember the exact image we went with. Best I could find is this one:



2nd Gen all the way through to the 7th Gen.

In looking for this image, I ran across this one too, although that's not the one, I'm sure of it.



And then there was this silliness, LOL. Weird how I don't remember making them.

 

So awesome that you still have the prototypes. I am just about 99% certain the community voted for the first one - 2nd gen through 7th gen. Oh man. So much has changed in my life since those days. I am now married I am a dad of a toddler. However, I am oh so grateful for maxima.org because I amassed SO much knowledge via those forums. "pmohr" was one of my favorite posters in there. I learned SO much by searching and reading his posts. But, I digress. Life led me here and, while I dabbled in Lexus for a bit with my is350 f-sport, I ended up coming back. And I have no regrets. I am still here. Thank you to all. Drive safely now, and take care. 😆

 

And prior to hobby forums, online BBS. Those were excellent.

 

My first forum indoctrination was with my 2001 Acura CL Type S coupe. That gen CL/TL platform was so new at the time and I remember the excitement of the rumors when the Comptech headers were coming out (for which I still remember made exactly 32 peak whp..), the first lowering springs, the AEM CAI that took forever to launch, and on and on. I remember that no matter where I was, I couldn’t wait to get back on the old Compaq desktop to see what was going on in the forum. Vacation meant a week of posts to get caught up on! What a fun time.

 

My first forum experience was with my 1999 Accord V6! I remember the same things

 

Surprised you have such nice pics! I’m not even sure where any of my CL pics went.

The headers were so good on these cars. They just ripped once VTEC kicked in and they sounded so good. I did headers on my G35 coupe hoping to get a little boost and….nothing. Now, when I did the cats it made a much bigger difference, so maybe the combo worked well together, but headers with stock cats was zero difference on the G35

 

I have somehow managed to keep most of my (digital) car pics. That one was from early 2004. Yes!! You could really tell when VTEC kicked in!! Got me all nostalgic over here.... But front wheel drive... never again.

 

Ditto 110%. There was always that grin on your face once the VTEC solenoid kicked in and the power band opened up. Those cars truly had dual personalities. Honda had a good recipe back then...sad they lost it (IMO).

Shame cars these days lost personality to become (mostly) colorless, soulless, bland status of wannabe symbolic econoboxes.

 

Engine bay pics... I got one of my old 2003 Maxima SE 6MT. Admittedly it was a little sticker heavy, LOL.

 

I agree. This is partly why I decided to never sell the G.
For the time? Not sticker heavy enough!

 

Actually, that's a good placement for the air filter as it's probably the coolest (temp) location under the hood. Same mods worked on this VQ35DE as the one in the G35s? Intake spacer being everyone's favorite. On the G35, the 350Z midpipe and springs were also direct bolt ons.

 

Hondas are utilitarian vehicles anymore. Really good cars (4 cyls better than the 6 as their VCM is a nightmare) which appeal more to folks measuring the size of cup holders and added storage bins as opposed to smooth power bands and steering response. Acura was supposed to take this aspect over for Honda and offer a better experience for enthusiasts, but until very recently with the Integra Type-S, they went more in the direction of tech vs performance as that's probably what most buyers seek out these days.

 

The last Acura I cared about was the TL Type S with the 3.5L engine. They did a nice job on that car and the quad exhaust looked really cool. It would have been good if they had evolved that model instead of going for the revolutionary redesign with the beak grill and difficult to tell the front from the rear of the car.

The Acura CL/TL Type S models actually had a kind of dual stage VTEC - the first stage was called IMRC - intake manifold runner control that kicked in at 3800rpm. With headers/exhaust/intake you could really hear the multiple transitions from normal acceleration to the IMRC opening and then full VTEC. The sound was glorious. Even the 3.2L was a very nice engine, especially when mated to the 6 speed which was one of the best sticks I’ve ever driven. Crazy that the CL only had a three year run and even crazier that they brought out a manual for a single year in 2003.