We've owned our '90 SE for 19 years. I've finally bought a replacement. I'm wondering what kind of demand is out there for a '90 SE 5sp w/black leather & sunroof, 245k miles, and whether it makes sense to repair its issues before trying to sell. The exterior color is "Super White", color code 326.


Here are the issues I'm wondering if it makes sense to have fixed before trying to sell:

-Clutch is slipping. It's getting bad. When I drove it yesterday, I avoided sharp inclines and on lesser inclines accelerated slowly and used the hazard lights. I have an appt to have the shop look at it. I'm hoping it can be adjusted rather than replaced, but google tells me that since it's a hydraulic clutch, it's automatically adjusting and would have already done all the adjusting that can be done. But a new clutch is a lot to spend on a tired old car that I don't plan to keep.
-Two fuel injectors are malfunctioning. Runs rough until very warm.
-One radiator fan is wobbly and makes a raucous noise.
-Clutch.pedal clicks loudly. Mechanic says its rubbing against a spring, that formerly there was rubber between which prevented the clicking but it has worn through and the part is no longer available, says he could try to make a substitute.
-One leather panel on driver seat torn at seam.
-Very tired paint, could really use major touch up & refresh.
-Speedometer doesn't work.
-Trunk lid sticks in up position.

Other than that, it has good bones. This would be a solid car for a person who was willing to fix those issues.

That's a lot of deferred maintainence. Our income picture suddenly improved, and with our oldest kid driving, rather than fix the old Maxima's issues I wanted to replace it with something with better crashworthiness. I wanted to replace it with a 7th gen Maxima but the 3 kids rebelled against its formed back seat, not comfortable for the middle kid. We settled on a 2006 Accord EX-L V6, they loved the back seat. I'm fine with how it drives, even though I'd have preferred a Maxima.

So.. what makes sense for selling it? As is? Fix just the clutch? Fix all these issues?

And what price makes sense to ask?

 

This is the Best Maxima Ever Made.. Fix it Keep it and Hold on to it.

What you need to do is find a Shop or person who Knows these Cars to Do what you Need to be done. I Nissan everyday, in a shop you could roughly do the mechanical work for about 12-1500 depending on how thorough the tech is doing the wk on getting you up to date on your delayed maint... I Vote FIX. #savethe3rdGens

 

I love it too, but the plain fact is it has no real crash protection by today's standards. With my teens driving, that's a very important consideration. As much as I love that Maxima, I don't love it more than my kids' lives.

That isn't Nissan's fault of course. It wasn't bad at crash protection by 1990 standards. But the world has moved on. My kids can be safer today than the kids of 1990 if they do something dumb as young teen drivers, and I want them to be.

So...what price range makes sense to ask for it, both before and after fixing the issues?

 

If you refuse to fix anything before you sell it, you have a $500 car and you should be happy to get that. I wouldn't even think about charging less than $1k in labor alone for the injector and clutch replacement. Then it still has 245k miles and the other issues. Would be hard to get more than a couple thousand for it. It makes more sense to sell it for $500 to someone who wants to use it for a project or parts car. Where do you live?

 

Thanks. I live in Bellevue, Washington State, near Seattle. This is an expensive area for used cars.

 

I'll pay you $500 for it if you drive it to Portland and take a bus back.

 

Haha thanks but that clutch would leave me stranded long before I reached Portland!

 

I had a Nissan Dealer Tech come out and asked to look at my car (it is nothing special w/375k miles). He said " I had heard these things last forever."

Even if you don't decide to keep it, try to find a good home for it.

 

I hate to say it, but the "lack" of today crash protection standard make them better defensive drivers if they understand that. I've notice a lot of SUV/ Crossover/ Pickup drivers are doing stupid stuff like running stop signs and briefly crossing over to oncoming traffic lanes. They know the vehicle will help them of their stupidity. And vehicles are much heavier now. So I agree, save the 3rd Gens. Fix it. You can get speedometers from a junkyard.

 

Haha spoken like a person who doesn't have a teenage Gen-Z kid driving it!

 

You are right. I think it should be acompanied by a visit to a junkyard and look at the wreck cars and discuss what the driver and passenger went through.
But some thing about these cars makes you want to drive sporty... but also not want you to lose it.

 

Whatever your local junkyard is offering, take it there and be glad you did.