I've got a 1997 Maxima SE that just turned 300,000 miles. I've had it since new, replaced lots of things over the years. It drives fine, has a few cosmetic flaws. My garage is getting too full of cars and this one is next up on the retirement list. I've had a wholesaler offer me $1000, should I take it and run, or is it worth bit more???? I'm also curious as to what happens to cars like this when a wholesaler buys them. Do they wind up parts cars somewhere? I'm assuming the useful life is just about used up.

 

WOW thats a grip of miles....I think you can get more for the car...

 

you can sell parts off of it for more $, then sell the remains to a scrap yard.... I'd say try to get more money for it

 

The bluebook value is probably around 3200 or so. . but thats just my guess, look it up on kbb.com and work around that amount.

 

Im sure it is worth more than that, assuming that it is in good condition and is not beat up.

 

under $2000

 

Here is the think though:

I used to work for a dealership. We dealt with wholesalers a lot, and they don't junk them. It would not make them money. There are people that cannot pay thousands for a car. These wholesalers get these very very high mileage(probably not in as good of shape as yours) and then put them on "tote your note" lots. That is where someone can come in and pay like $25 a week for a long time. It doesn't seem like that much, but when you are paying that every week, it adds up.

That being said, I understand those "guides" say that you ought to be able to get more from selling the car, but they are just guides. You are only able to sell a vehicle for what someone is willing to pay. True, you may find someone willing to buy your max with 300k miles on it for like $2500, but highly unlikely. I mean, first you have to take into consideration, it could take a really long time to find that special person. Plus, unless you can do some kind of a loan to the person and are willing to do so, the type of person that will usually buy a car with those kinds of miles will not be able to slap down that amount of cash, or get a bank loan, for that matter. "A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush..."....Have you ever heard that? It is saying that it would probably outweigh the amount of time, and possibly not getting that offer again later if you don't go ahead and take it right now.

I would put it in the classifieds of a paper locally and maybe here on the classifieds forum with lots of pics and a good description of what all has been done to it and see what happens. If that doesn't work out after a couple of weeks, I would say, sell it to the wholesaler. (talk to the wholesaler first to see if he will give you that opportunity first.)

Another option would be to go straight to someone that you know is in bad need of a car but cannot afford an expensive one. Sell it to them.

Also, if you know anyone at a dealership, tell them that if they sell it for you and bring in a certain amount for it, you will pay them $______(you have to make it worth their time....like if they sell it for around $2000, you pay them $400...which is more than the average commission per car nation wide).

If all else fails, you could probably sell all the parts and come out pretty good too. You do have the 97, and that is what a lot of people want to conver to.

Sorry for the lengthiness of this post...
Just trying to help...

 

I am with happy on that one. 300,000 is a lot of miles and not too many people will be interested in a car like that. I think you should get more through private party than from a dealer, but first $1500 - take it and run

 

KBB is crap... i know this working for a Dealer... GALVES is what they use... this book is printed every 2 weeks.. so it has the true market value for cars... almost all car dealerships use this

 

In the SouthEast, the NADA yellow book(dealer's version...not consumer version) is used the most. However, it is still a guide.

The biggest point I was making earlier is that not very many people will buy a car with 300,000 miles on it. Therefore, you cannot get "market value" for it because market value is if you didn't have to discount it to make up for peace of mind for the person buying it. Make sense?

By the way......Kelly Blue Book is C R A P!

 

I was wondering; is it 5speed? And where are you located?

 

Are you nuts?

Anyway, as someone already mentioned, KBB is C R A P. That is precisely why you will absolutely not get more than $500 for the car.

 

um a wholesaler already offered him $1000, and ur saying he won't get more than $500?

 

$2,200 it was a 5sp with no leather. You can definetely get more than $2000 for the car.

 

that si what i was going to say...hell just part it out and make the money.

 

300,000 miles, thats impresive.

 

I got my 93 max at a wholesaler for 2499 with 160k....needless to say I won't be going back anytime soon(lotta problems)

 

A car like that would be a great candidate for an engine/tranny swap as long as the rest of the car is in good condition. For someone who is planning on modding the hell out of the car anyways, it'd be a great buy at ~2000$ IMO.

 

You can make good money parting it out since you have a 97. The airbags alone will get you $400+ and then you can sell your entire front & rear end for a 97 conversion for someone with a 95/96 Max. If you have a leather interior, you can sell that. If you have time to part it out, then do that. If not then you should be able to get atleast $2500 (I wouldn't sell it under $2000).

I would buy it if I had the money b/c after an engine & tranny swap, it'll come out to be a $4000-$5000 Max

 

if you part out the max i have dibs on the trunk PM me if you decide to go that route

 

caz 300,000 miles? Wow!! No major problem since you got your car?

 

I wish you'd keep driving it just to find out how far it gets until it gives up the ghost!! >400K would be sweet!

 

RIGHT ON! My baby's got more than 184,000 miles, I have NO INTENTION of getting another car in the near future...gonna drive her until she can't go any further, and then rebuild!

If that was mine and I didn't need her as a daily driver I'd rebuild the engine and trans with new bearings, piston rings, valves, etc. I'd love to see a Million Mile Max!

 

Thanks for the replies! I have the shop room to sit on it and part it out, but not sure if I want to hassle with doing so. As for it's reliability, it's been pretty good. A few problems here and there. As the miles rack up lots of parts need replaced. I've got every receipt since new including the mobile 1 oil changes and every time I bought new tires. Have somewhere around $8500+/- in records. New trans included in there too, and the car is an automatic.

Not too sad about seeing it go as I have a 96 SE manual trans that sits beside it with a fraction of the miles.

Thanks for the help and opinions, I'll post back here when I decide what I'm going to do.

 

yeah do it!! You be in The Guinness Book of World Records.

 

The only way you are going to get more than what the wholesaler is willing to give you(and still selling it as a whole), is to find an enthusiast like are on here, that wants to do a engine swap and tranny swap. Other than that, I would just sell to the wholesaler.

 

Where are you located??? I have been looking for another Max to gut and start all over with. Do you have any pics? I am seriously interested....let me know something.

 

Honestly , if the car runs ok, the mileage should not be a big deal...Just imagine that most miles were highway miles...I would not be surprised if that car would do half million miles...Regarding the selling price, the mileage would hurt you on paper...You could try to get $ 1500 for it ...and be happy. After all,that car served you wellfrom zero to 300 k.
I work for a Honda dealership (and drive Nissan ) and we got a 1998 civic Lx with 384k ,and it came in for $ 1500 real money.And it still looked and ran great...
So...your Max mileage is not a big deal...probably the break in period is over now, and you could drive it normally Good luck , and I think that your car has the highest mileage on the org.

 

yep, I definitely salute you for the high miles.

 

why not get the engine rebuilt and sell it for alot more?....

just a thought...