tmaxxtim

I was lookin in the paper and saw a 97 Maxima for $3500 with 250k on it. Its a 5spd and I went and looked at it today, the body is nice and strait and the car rides great on the interstate. The only thing that concerns me about this car is the milage on it. 250k is a lot for a car thats 7 years old, about 35k a year!

I know Nissan builds great engines, but should I really be looking for another car? When he started the car, it started fine, fast no long start. It idles great, VERY quiet, no pinging from valves or any other unordinary noises. In the car there's no unsual noises or smoke from the back of the car even when pushed to 6k rpm's on the interstate. Handling is tight on it also.

I've tried to search as much as I could on this board but I coulnd't find anything that had a list of things to look out for, if anybody can point me in the right direction, that would be great.

He said he'd just driven it to Kansas City from Nashville and back no problems, and the transmission was rebuilt 50k ago.

I hope I'll get this car, or at least another cheap Maxima and be a part of this place!

maximaseefu

iTrader: (4)

it seems to be a bit high on both mileage and price imo.

97WhtSE

The price is a lil too high for those miles and i dunno how long that car might last. I wouldnt buy and just looked for a another used max.

tmaxxtim

What would you say is a fair price for it then?

How much is an engine swap down the line if it ever needed to be replaced, I was thinking it coulnd't be more than $1500, engine + swap.??

southeast_first

iTrader: (3)

i'd say definitely no more than $2000 with those miles. probably more like $1500.

matty

iTrader: (54)

Engines can be had for $200-$700 on Car-parts.com with low milage (30K-75K)...install in NJ i think is $800 full job...you also need to think about the down time of your car...if you NEED it for transportation from work/school, then think twice about getting into such an old car

-matt

daveyg

I have 205k on my 95 and 101k on my 96. The 95 runs just as good, if not better. If it was taken care of with service records, I don't see why it wouldn't fly past 300k no problem. I paid 3300 for my 95 w/ 200k. I paid 5200 for the 96 w/ 100k. I would think about 2500 to 3 is fair for that car. You can buy a Honda civic w/ 200+ for 2000 or a Maxima for 2500..... I'll take the Max.

niceguy

That's too much money....Even if the engine is running alright for now, remember the rest of the car as a whole has 250k on it as well and that could get expensive....I've seen lots of Maximas in the Memphis papers every week for around $3500-6000 for '97s-'99s w/around 100k, a few w/less miles.

Jeremy

Frank Fontaine

Let me introduce the concept of marginal benefit (a concept most don't seem to understand with regular vs. super unleaded when regular is $1.859 and super is 1.979, or when comparing dino vs. synth oil). If a normal '97 goes for $4200, and has about 100-110k, and the car you're looking at has 250k for $3500, is it worth it to pay $700 more to take 150k off the odometer (having about 150k less miles is the marginal benefit)? In my mind, yes. But if you don't have the extra $700, then my point is moot.

tmaxxtim

I'll see if I can get it down some more, then I'll make a decision.

jackiss2888

iTrader: (3)

Yea wow. That's quite a bit, both price and miles. I mean, I have defintely seen Max's with over that, into the 300's but it's very rare. Offer like, $1500 and beat the hell outta it

I30tMikeD

iTrader: (8)

If the body is really in good shape I would offer 2K for it (they are not going to get 3K+ for a 250K mile car) and put a new motor in it. You can get a decent mileage motor w/ warrenty for about $500 shipped to your door. Install will be anywhere from $500-$1000 depending on where you go.