I have a 4th gen, and wanna buy a 3rd gen for my girlfriend for $500..is 200k miles too much for the engine for it to be a daily driver? I don't want to do an engine swap or rebuild, but do you think the car could last a year or two?

The car is in fairly good condition, and the engine and tranny are in good condition, but the timing belts need replacement, how much would that cost me?

 

well, if the trans is good it should last a few years, as long as that timing belt has already been replaced 2 times, you could drive it for a little while. if its a gxe or 89-91 se. 70k 140k 210k are change times. timing belts are around $200 then they want to do your water pump because they are already in there which is $150 part.

 

if the engine is in good condition and the transmission is, the answer is yes. If the belt needs replacing, definately replace it before something goes wrong. I'm assuming its a VG, which are built like tanks. My dad's 91 SE has 236K miles on it, it should have more, but his odometer stopped working for 3 months straight until he hit a big road bump and it started again

ooh , and he's never changed his timing belt since he bought it with 60K miles on the odometer, true story transmission was rebuilt at 125K miles, no major mechanical faults that effects driveability. Heck he hasn't even cleaned his TB or even the plug wires and the like. Just basic oil/filter, air filter, spark plugs. The car has a slight lumpy idle due to a bad injector though

 

no. it's a pile.


junk it.

 

Agreed VG's are built very strong, I think there engines are more reliable than VE's, especially with the VTC problems those guys have.. (but yes 190>160)
It should be a good car for $500. Change the timing belt, along with the other belts and seals, and the water pump (you can get it for $30-$50, http://internetautomart.com/ has airtex which is a good brand)
Also make sure the fuel injectors are ok, otherwise you're gonna be looking at spending a lot of $$ for a car that you only plan to drive for 1-2 yrs as you said.



You are kidding right. 236k and never changed t.belt....

 

I got 195k and my car is running real good right now. Though I have fixed pretty much everything on it, I would be someone to buy car right now at 195k.

I don't think my belt has been changed of my knowing

 

If your looking for something that you are not going to have to work on, the best thing you can do is not to buy ANY car with 200k on it.

 

Last time my belt was changed was about 86K miles and about 8 years ago when my sister first bought it. Now I'm some 149k miles above that making it 235K miles total. Only problem I had was the transmission and I found one for 350 so in total I spent 1,700 to keep this baby running (1000 for the car, 350 for the tranny and install(700 in total)). VG's are not bad cars. Low end torque will make you cry because it's plentiful. Test drive the car and let your gf have your 98 because that Independant Rear Suspension will show you a new light.

 

My GXE has 222K on it and runs great (tranny is going though, but that has been the case since 186K). My SE I just bought has 295K but the motor was rebuilt at 230K and the tranny replaced at 250K so its a non issue.

The GXE does great though, the VG will last a long time if taken care of. The tranny's are another story, at least in my case.

 

no such thing as too many miles

 

my 91 GXE has 270K miles -- original engine and tranny, the only reason i'm getting a newer is because (1) it needs a lot of suspension work, plus the tranny is going slowly, and I can't afford to put that much in it at this time

but for 500, you can get it fixed, and drive it.

i'm about to sell mine too AS IS..

best - Noela

 

Not the least He's never changed the timing belt, but maybe the previous owner had? regardless, him putting 176K+ of his own miles on the car and its only failed on him once because of the transmission is a good sign of the care Nissan put into building the VG. Its unbelievable driving his car and seeing how tight the structure still is with only the ocassional A-pillar squeak over bumps.

 

 

295k! That is unreal... I have 145k 93 SE and am thinking about getting rid of it but that gives me hope mine will last for a while longer.

What is the hightest original milage for a 3rd gen?

 

I just got my maxima and it has 211k miles on it. they told me that a new transmission was put on at 150k miles. the only problem that I can see is it needs a new timing belt and then the rust around the seat belt and gas tank.

I think it would be cool to know whos got the most miles on their engine.

 

IIRC some guy posted a few months back in the general maxima area that he has a VG with over 500k miles on it's original engine. I am not too sure if he posted a pic but the mileage just keeps on tickin. I know that I am one of very few orgers that has a third gen that's over 230k miles. Hopefully I can get over 300K with the addition of boost.

 

i got a ve with 185000 on it and it definetly has seen its better days, the auto tranny is an absolute piece tho. The vg sounds like a much better engine for someone of my age and money status.....hmm, if i did get a vg, it would HAVE to be 5-spd tho.

 

I got 268,134 miles on my ve, still running great.

 

buy the car. deal with it after.

 

my 89 se 5 spd just turned 272k on my way home from work tonite. no engine rebuilds, swaps, or tranny rebuilds. just plugs , wires, filters, and a clutch. this is the smoothest motor i've ever driven, and still pounds thru the gears when you need acceleration. the absense of lost power or sluggishness amazes me every time i merge on the freeway. my parents and friends ask me when i'll start saving for a new car, but who's thinking about that? i've still got another 272k in this motor. when it goes , i'll probably replace it with another vg.

 

....ok. wait a minute. i just realized that this car is for your "girlfriend."
and you are 17.

don't buy the car. think about it.

 

I had a chevy monte carlo with 115,000 that I spend $5300 on less than two years ago that overheated and completely destroyed itself....so I traded for my 93 maxima with 230,000 miles for only $1000 that Im much happier with. The maxima is an amazing car

 

I didn't even see that. I don't know anything about you to but I wouldn't have done this last year. When I was 17. Hopefully nothing happens in your relationship to turn this into a waste of money. Especially after insurance and car registration.

 

My 91 SE has 210k on the odometer and runs perfect. Does not use any oil between changes and idles so quiet and smooth. I bought it this past Feb. from the original owner with 193k on it. She always had it serviced by her local Nissan dealer and gave me all receipts. My trans has recently started slipping which im sure is from my drivin habits. The VG is a very strong engine. Even the inside of the tailpipes are perfectly clean. Pretty amazin with the type of drivin I do day in day out.

 

Geez, I have low mileage compared to you guys! My 91 5spd se has 156K. Just yesterday I replaced my alternator and rotors. I've done routine maintenence without any major engine work. I've owned the car for over 3yrs and I love it. Considering its age, the car is very reliable! I paid $3800 for it with 111,000 miles at the time. I've definitely got my money's worth.

 

hello .....
there is a general basic that says : ( pay for the car the car will give you )
See You ...........

 

 

I think the saying was : Pay for the car, the car that will give you... What else would a hormonal teen male want other than a fast car?

 

I wanted a fast computer

 

you all with the time bombs (timeing belts with over 100k) are looking for trouble!

 

It's not really the engine and transmission you should be worried about on a Maxima with 200,000 miles, assuming it's a 5-speed. If it's an automatic, you should evaluate the transmission carefully.

The likelihood is you'll be nickled and dimed to death on little stuff like power windows, brake calipers, steering and suspension parts, water pumps, alternators, power door locks, fuel pumps, fuel injectors, etc. If the car's been well maintained and driven carefully, some of these parts may have been changed or may still be good, but that's where most of your expenses are likely to be.

For $500, though, if it's otherwise a good car, you can afford to pay for a few repairs, though you will find they add up quickly if you can't do at least some of the work yourself.

 

I concur. After changing my TB, I certainly sleep better.

 

I have seen what happens when a timing belt fails on an interfernece motor, it is not pretty.

 

:

 

That's funny.

 

I thought i had high mileage i have 135k on a 93 se 5 speed

 

You car is still in it's diapers. When you pass 235k then'll we'll be able to talk.

 

how is this for fubar

That is kind of what a broken timing belt will do to an engine