I'm looking to buy a used car. My mechanic, "Mike" told me that he has a 1998 Nissan Maxima with 176k highway miles on it that he could sell me for $7,000. He repossessed it from a guy who drove from Connecticut to Florida A LOT. Mike put a 73k mile engine in the car and the guy couldn't afford to pay it, so it got repossessed by him.

I test drove the car and it rides and looks beautiful. Excellent condition. Also has a expensieve stereo system, tints, and nice Nissan rims and tires. Mike says that he guarantees me that nothing is wrong with car and that he'd fix it for free.

Do you think there is a lot of life left in this car and is it a good deal?

I'm skeptical to buy because I'm not sure of what the true value of a car like that is. I've never heard of a car so new having that many miles. What kind of warranty contract would be fair to ask for? I don't know a lot about cars, but I know that you should avoid high mileage cars.

 

Pass

 

why and what do you recommend?

 

YEp pass. Couple red flags...Repossessed-so no $ for car care. Second the engine went out...why? poor maintenance again? You have no clue of the mainyenance and at nearing 200K miles it'll need things. If you get it for 3-4K then Id do it otherwise...Pass. For 7K you can get one on Ebay for 80K less miles.

 

how can you buy cars online without test driving them? Do you think I can find a decent Maxima for $8k or less?

 

I paid $8,500 for my '97 SE loaded up with everything with 90,000 miles this past spring.

This is not a good deal for you.

Pass on it!

 

pass ... you could find a better deal on ebay

 

Yes you could certainly find a better deal.
I would ask what year is the engine in the care now? He could have put a 95 engine in for all you know...

 

What year engine he put in is not as bad as the simple fact it needed one in the first place. As some other members pointed out, red flags everywhere on this "deal".

I personally would pass. If you're determined to buy a max, pick up your local paper, trader, or look around on-line. Even on ebay you may be able to find a car in your area that you can go and look at personally. For $7k, I would pass.

I tell you what, I'll sell you mine with all the goodies already on and less mileage....

 

7 grand for a 98 with a 170k mile body is not all that good of a deal..

I have been seeing a lot of 97s and 98s going for under 9 with just around or less than 100k miles and that's a clean title and not messed with.


Why was the engine replaced?

176k is really not much for a VQ?..

I'm with the others
pass..

you can definately find a better deal.

 

agreed....you would be crazy to spend $7000 on a car that is already on motor #2. Even if that motor is in good shape, how long till the rest of the car falls apart. find a nice 1 owner for the same price.

 

I'd say that's too good to be true but I'm w/ every-1 on passing up this deal

My '98 SE w/ almost 85.5K on the odometer would go for about $9,000 IF i was to sell it today

A few months ago, I saw & test-drove a '99 SE-L at Rinke Toytota in Center-Line, MI, w/ 27K on the odo going for $15-$16K, and to this day they're still trying to sell it. Drove like a dream.

Same features as mine, only differences were...
- Super Black outside
- Bose radio
- wood dash
- Gold emblems
- Sumroof deflector & splash guards

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm definitely passing. I think I'm going to look at some Altima 5 spds instead. A little more in my price range and less miles.