I am considering purchasing a '96 SE Auto/Bose/Moonroof/Cloth with 135k. The interior is clean and well cared for. The exterior is average with the RF fender replaced and the entire right side painted to match the color. The check engine light is on but the engine pulls strong; I plan to retrieve the DTC(s) before I purchase. Everything else works good. There are minimal service records...mostly all are verbal. The owner is asking $5000. Edmunds.com appraises at $4500.

Assuming the MIL is minor (ie, O2 sensor) I'll probably offer the Edmunds amount considering the car has 4 new Michelins (good for now) and new brakes all around.

What do you guys think? How much would you offer/pay? Thanks to all for your input!

Victor

 

Market value minus whatever it will cost to get the CEL and any other problems fixed.

 

considering the fact that the car is 8 years old and with 135k miles on it, $5k is way too much. I would spent no more than $4k, which I'm sure the selling party is probably willing to negotiate down to.

Besides, you can find a 99 SE with 50k miles for approx. $8k today.

 

5k : too high. I say 4500 less cost of fixing the ses codes.

 

$5...haha j/k

 

is seems like a crap box......go find something that was better taken care of...and you will have less problems with. get alittle more money and buy somethign in much beter condition. Sorry but it has an awful lot of crap wrong with ti for that price, and you will probely come out on tip if you just go with someting alittle better.

 

5k seems like a fair price for a maxima with that milage. I would try to get the lowest price possible and maybe look at another maxima with less history. but that price is about right for a 135k mi maxima in decent condition.

PS. I dont know where or how your gonna get a 99 SE that is in good condition for 8k. as previously mentioned. I would stay away from something like that. Use carfax when ur ready to buy, it works and can save you some headaches. Unless ur dealing with a dealership your not going to get this guy to come down $1000 from $5000. Thats a huge percentage of the asking price and i dont think its going to happen. Best of luck to you and I hope everything works out.

Be patient. I waited 3 or 4 months for the right maxima at the right price. If something isnt right just wait for another. Maximas are not hard to find.

 

Go to autotrader, look up maximas for my area code, 98275. There's a 5th gen (2000) at 69k for $8000, a nice, leather 98 with 51k for $7900 obo, and a 96 at 48K for 7500. There's always a bunch of lunatics that think their car is worth way over book, like the guy with the 96 at 105k who wants 8200. Usually less with our cars than with sports coupes... I was looking at supras and sc300s once, and everybody was asking about 150% of the cars actual book value.

 

The price would be fair if it wasn't for the cell and the fact it was in a accident before. I bet if you search you can get a better deal. The car doesn't seem to be takin care of.

 

you are so wrong, obviously you must have gotten ripped off when you bought your Max.

 

agree, if it was in goiod condition i mihgt acually conciderate. but the fact that it has been wreck before oviusly, and you have ot have work done on it stright form buying it makes it not worth it. i would do it, get better.

 

I just bought my 96 SE auto with 185K for 3,000. They are highway miles though and mateniece was done by the dealer. I felt it was a good deal since the car was taken care of.

 

I just love it when people say they bought a car with nearly all highway miles haha! 99.6724% of sellers say their car is all highway miles lol. Unless you were actually there every time the seller drove the car for however long, you just DON'T KNOW. Some people are so naive...

 

5 isnt bad.

 

yeah, like everyone else says, there is a better deal out there for you.

Stay away from anything that has been in an accident - that just spells trouble with a capital T.

There are so many maxima's out there that you could get a far better deal than that ... just keep looking. As soon as you buy this car, that perfect max will come up for sale and you'll be kicking yourself for sinking your dough in this one.

 

If I were you go get a better maxima...$5k is too much for a maxima with that much problems. Have the owner see if he can correct some of the problems then sell it for less...who knows he might bargin with you.

 

Yep, he is right, I learned my lesson hard way (do I need to say it, paid 6K this summer for 95' 5sp/90K miles that was previously in accident and had MANY mechanical problems), it's way easier (and smarter) to learn on others mistakes!

Never rush!! Look around!! You gonna find your Max!

 

5k isn't too bad, but you should be able to get it for less. good luck.

 

Sorry to burst your bubble but they ARE highway miles... you want to know how?.... about 27K a year and he was a salesman. This was noted on the service records that I had retained.

 

I wouldnt pay more than $4000 assuming it has the color/options you want. If it wasnt a color I liked, or if it didnt have the options I wanted, I would offer like $3700 cash. When people sell their cars, sometimes they want it to sell fast, if you show them the money, for some people it would be hard to say no. If $5000 is pushing your budget, I wouldnt go for it; there is always a small possibility of problems.

 

4500 or less. do not pay more. you can prob find better.

 

3500 firm. The car's been in an accident, has unknown damages. If you really really want it give them 4K but no more, totally not worth more.

 

I paid 3000 for my 95 gxe, w 119k a little under a year ago. And I am in Miami. Man you get tons of maximas with clean titles here in miami for 32-4200 in good condition, or you can get a nice rebuilt one. I work at an insurance company.

Dont spend 5 for that, way too much unless you think the car is worth it, and think of it like this, the more money you save on ur car, the more money you have for mods.

 

if you are not sure just wait,
there will be better and cheaper ones
out there.
anyway, i like 97 more.

 

Hey i bought mine 3 weeks ago for 5600 96 Se 5-speed bose/worn leather seats/fog/sunroof etc car is in good condition 104 original miles but the guy i bought it from installed an engine 4 months ago 44,000
My bluebook was $7100

 

That's not bad man I just bought my 95 se 5 spd In perfect perfect shape. With beautiful flawless leather and paint, with 83,000 on it for 6200. And I'm so content on the car I got for what I paid. In the end that's all that matters.

 

Here is a 99 for 5,000 buy it now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...7134#mainImage

 

Salvaged Title....AS-IS NO Warrenty...Dont buy it

-matt

 

Man, wish I could say the same, my dad told me if I could sell both the 96 max and this 86 civic hatchback a neighbor gave to me, he would pay up to 4k in the difference of a 99. Most of the people want 11-13k for a 99 SE with sub 100K miles.

 

Although the engine pulls hard and strong now, thats not always the case in the long run for you. There are engine treatments out there that "soup" up the kitchen for a limited time, so dont go by your own instincts. 5 g's? are u kidding me? Thats a hurt piece man. That car is worth 2500 at the most. Stay away and invest in a nice Civic w/ 4,000 and use the remaing 1,000 in a big spoiler and lots of racing stickers and neon tubes! (im just kidding)

 

dam i just realized how cheap our cars are becoming. Maxima...used to be that in the middle car, not too expensive and high class like BMW's but not cheap and super sporty like the honda's. Now its getting real cheap like the honda's and doesnt have that sports look like they do. We may have to upgrade to better things. Dam, i'm gonna make a new post about this, i hope it doesnt get put in OT.

Anyway, car doesnt have the best mileage, its auto (very common), clotch (very common), and has CEL light. Doesnt seem like a hard find, unless its like the color of your dreams or something very rare, i would stay away from it. I see too many maxima's with same features, doesnt seem like something u need to rush into, especially when price isnt even on point. I say keep looking around and stay away with max with engine problems....unless he willing to give u a sick deal.