My name is Justin Gadlage and I am the proud owner of a 96 Maxima SE with an automatic, power eveything, sunroof, Bose stereo system, beige leather interior, and 15" alloy wheels. I started modifying the Maxima with a layer of 10% limo timt to block out the sunlight and glare from nighttime driving. I noticed that the window tinting also keeps the car a little cooler than before it was without tinting. I love my cave-like environment. Next, I replaced the factory wheels and tires with some 17x8 SSR Integral wheels (38mm offset) wrapped in 235/40ZR17 AVS Intermediate tires. This reduced the un-Godly amount of fender gap left from the factory and improved the car's cornering capability. I then ordered and installed a set of Intrax 1 3/4 lowering springs and reduced the fender gap even more. This once soft four door had a sport car feel that I was looking for and without any unusual tire wear due to lowering the car that much. Now I had the lowered stance to compliment the wheels, and I'm done right? No, I looked under the hood and decided to install a Stillen strut tower-brace and K&N airfilter. This tightened up the handeling even more for a quicker response in steering (no where the level for serious autocrossing but it got better). The K&N airfilter took about a hour to install, but I reaped the benefits of quicker rev's and better breathability due to a more efficient airfilter. The car had a growl that some people don't expect to hear from a four door sedan. I further improved the exhaust flow with a GREDDY cat-back exhaust system for that rumble that the stock exhaust couldn't give me. Seat of the pants impression tell me that I have more horsepower than before, so I am content for now. A accident that happened on March 1, 1997 left my Maxima in the condition you see. It happened when I was going home from college in the third fast lane (next to a turning lane) when a driver of a red Ford Ranger in the turning lane decided to make a left turn in front of me without any arrows telling him to do so. I swerved to try and miss him but still got hit. Upset and emotionally crushed I pryed the door open and waited for police. The car is still being fixed, ($6,800 last time I checked and rising) because the insurance companies are fighting that there was a problem in the police report. It will be fixed sometime, so I'll just wait to start modifying again. Maybe I'll get some bigger brakes and rotors, or a nitrous kit from Jim Wolf with some of the insurance money, but only time will tell which it will be. Anyone need some help with something that I mentioned let me know and I'll help you out. - gs05jmg@panther.gsu.edu or 96maxima@geocities.com