Today's Maxima was once a diesel. Owing to the RB25DET presently living-large under its hood the only thing on it that now smokes are its back tires. Will that make it worth ten-large however?

Fat drunk and stupid may be no way to go through life, son, but clean, stock, and reasonably well-maintained is, and that's just how yesterday's was presented. You seemingly can't go wrong with a '90s Honda, and apparently you couldn't go wrong with that car's price either, seeing as it earned an overwhelming 85% Nice Price win.

'Ludes are not a popular drug any more, nor are Preludes popular cars – at least not at Honda which

Perhaps the only lament that could be leveled at yesterday's car was that the wrong end was doing the driving. Oh sure, the back end did some steering - pitching in as best it could - but otherwise it was just along for the ride.

That's not the case with this which not only is RWD, but is a wagon to boot. Actually, I guess being a wagon it doesn't really have a boot. . . Alas, I digress.

This Maxima once had - and is still registered as having - a Nissan LD28 diesel six. That's not what lies beneath however as the car has been imbued with new purpose in life by way of an RB25DET NEO mill, late of a 2001 R34 Skyline. That's 2.5-litres, intercooled turbo, and the Nissan Ecology Oriented VVT DOHC head, to you. And all that should be good for around 270-bhp.

Not only was the car once a diesel, but it WAS also an automatic. That combo would have made it great for trolling Senior City, but not for things like freeway onramps or getting anywhere without arriving with a day's growth of beard.

The car now sports a five-speed stick, as well as a ton of other mechanical updates and upgrades to make the car's 182,000 miles seem inconsequential. The seller has more in mind for the car - Ford 8.8-inch pumpkin and bigger brakes, etc. - and some of those parts come with the car.

Okay, so it's got a rabid engine under the hood, but what about that conversion, was it accomplished by someone who actually knew which end of the wrench to hold, or by some yabbo with a roll of duct tape and an I'll-make-it-fit attitude? How would you know? Well, this from the Nico Club will both inform and delight.

What else is there to say about this cool car? Well, it has seats out of a Silvia, and the wheels are XXR 531s. The bodywork looks clean but the interior - save for the S14 seats - looks like a '90s Seattle band lives there. The ad claims that everything in the car - speedo, A/C, cruise control, etc - is in working order, and if you want to see how they all work, check out this .

The question for you of course is whether you think this monster Maxima is worth $10,000. Assuredly should you be in the market for such a beast you would be hard pressed to replicate this car for that much. But is the work that has gone into this one worth working up ten grand to buy it?

You decide!

Los Angeles , or go if the ad disappears.

Help me out with NPOCP. Click to send a me a fixed-price tip, and remember to include your Kinja handle.