My 58-year-old-soft-spoken-physician father has taken up the inexplicable hobby of making gaudy modifications to his 2002 6-speed Maxima. First, hideous chrome ASA 17' five stars on Cooper tires. Next, a boooooming Stillen exhaust with complementary rice-boy sticker. Now he wants me to paint his brake calipers red. Exhibits A, B, and C:







I'm going to put an end to this, because he won't and can't. My parents are misers, and my mother believes it's immoral to spend more than $30k on a car; she won't allow it. He enjoys cars and reads Car and Driver monthly, and I'd like him to own a truly great car before he gets too old.

So, I've set a budget and criteria for this gift:

Budget - $70,000.

Performace - Exhaust and chip must make at least 475 hp.

Condition - 2002-2005 examples only; no 2001 cars. Maximum mileage of 30,000. 6-speed manual only.

Is such a car available at this price? I'm willing to buy an already-modded car, and will travel to any part of the country for the right vehicle. And under no circumstances will I purchase from a stealer...er...dealer.

One critical question: Is the clutch too heavy for stop-and-go traffic? He found the clutch in the E39 M5 objectionable.

 

You just contradicted yourself. Your mother won't allow a $30k plus car but he hated the clutch in his E39 M5?

 

He never owned the M5. It was a test drive. She wouldn't allow a test drive even. He did it without her knowing.

 

, sounds like my dad, my mon won't even let him test drive other cars Poor thing reads carmags like bibles..

 

There are plenty of 01's out there in your budget. 02's and up, you may need to fork up another $10k.

 

Start looking at 01s they will be much closer to your budget. BTW that's an awsome gift, you can be my son if you want...

 

T,

Luis993 is right on pricing. The two turbos I've driven have very light clutches, lighter than my 996. And lastly I am interested in adopting you, my children have no interest in buying me a turbo.

k

 

Extremely nice gift... do us a favor and take a picture (and post it) of the look on his face when you give it to him.

The clutch on a stock 996TT is feather light... he will have no problems with it.

Joe

 

I wish that I could one day do this for my father. Best luck to you.

 

save yourself the 70K and make your mom happy by slapping a "turbo" badge on that maxima

Thats a very nice thing your doing PA001 I mean TotalledA993TT.

 

No if he was PA001 he would have bought him an '08 Enzo

 

Wow that's a sick gift... My father is also a doctor and drive's a 00 Mercury Mountaineer, he could care less LOL!!

 

Ya his M5 one entry later turned into a car he test drove.

 

he didn't say anywhere that he owned an M5. Said his dad drove one and found it objectionable

 

Im all about the cheap laugh, dont mind me. He might be legit001.