1st, Your 3.8 Grand Prix, being 300 cc larger than the maxima's has
potential to have a beefier torque rating at the low end simply
because its larger. Not much, but it is.

2ndly, domestic motors, since they cant go to higher rpms, tend to be
designed do all their work at the low end, and therefore have valve
timing optimized to make the beefiest torque down low. With a peakier
and shorter torque curve, the gearing is chosen to spread the torque
more. The rpms are lower because the torque peak is higher. The rpms
rise faster because the torque curve is shorter.

The maxima with its slightly smaller engine and larger rpm range,
spreads its torque out more. Gearing for that motor is chosen to
optimize that broader rpm band, and hence you wind up with that cruise
rpm. It's a little high, but rises more slowly. In other words you'll
be at 2000 rpms at 60 mph, then 2300 at 70 mph etc. The Grand prix, I
bet, will have a lower cruise rpm, but it rises faster as you
accelerate.

By the way, I hope you know that the 3.5 V6 in your Maxima as part of
the legendary VQ series of nissan motors. I had the 1st gen VQ in my
98 Maxima. At 80 mph in 5th gear, my engine (a 3.0 liter) was spinning
at 3000 rpms. I thought that was absurd but found out later that it
was normal for that engine. Not only that, even though it was spinning
so fast, it was dead silent and vibration free. The only way I could
tell the motor was running was by holding the shifter. That was one
helluva refined motor. That's what made it such a great motor, well,
plus its more than decent power output.

CD