Well I have come to the realization that cars are a big waste for me at this point in life. I would rather invest my money elsewhere.

I need a point A to B car that will be reliable, and cheap without sacrificing too much (ie it will still have power windows/locks/ac/decent power). I couldn't think of a better car than a stock beater 4th gen.

I know Nealoc187 scored a nice 4th gen for $1000 as a daily driver, and so did a few of you guys. What kind of mileage is typical and what year for this asking price? Should I expect a totally beaten up version?

Thanks

 

There may be a few good deals, but hard to come across. Most around here have damage but this one looks like it a steal.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...en&cardist=527

for the price of course.

 

ouch thats located all the way in NY. salt = rust anyone? if your looking for a 4th gen and looking only to spend around 1500 max for it, i think it would be reasonable to assume your either getting a low year with avg mileage (maybe a 1995 w/ 140k) or maybe a high year 1999 with crazy mileage (170k+) who knows. i would try to invest more money into your car, remember this saying "if its too good to be true, it probably is." or "you get what you pay for."

and thats my 2 cents.

 

Mine was pretty beat up aesthetically. Mechanically it's still running great, only having needed an alternator replacement. It was a 95 with like 170k when I bought it.

 

If you can get a 4th gen that runs dcent for <$1500 you would be set. ANd makes your maintenance/repair work that much easier.

Having another max wouldn't be too bad, I am in definite need of a commuter car but am leaning towards a small pickup.

 

If you can do everything yourself and have plenty of time, then $1000 isn't bad. But if you have to pay someone else to do the CV axles, then that's over $500, brakes can be I've seen $800, etc. What I'm driving at is there's probably an inverse relationship between price and what the vehicle needs.

I cannot do everything myself so I would personally up the price to around $3000, which is probably the sweet-spot for a 4th gen. I'd ask the seller for some evidence that cv's were replaced, brakes were done, leaks were fixed, belts/tensioner. Even at $3k you can assume the car will not be perfect at all.....

 

Asthetically, I do not mind if the car is in poor condition (scratches, dents, rust). However mechanically, it needs to be at least reliable.

I can change axles, brakes, etc myself. Major things like engine/tranny/clutch however, I cannot...those are items that must be in good working order.

 

phil you need work on that ride ill come help.

 

Well given that most maxima's now in good condition and near 100k miles sell for about 5-6k. I would be expecting some body damage, thats mainly the reason why ppl sell the cars anyways and also the reason why the price would be lower then average. Second higher mileage cars same reasons 150k, most people think once it hits 150k its game over. But expect a couple of things to be broken, point it out and lower the price some, axles, coils, brakes, maybe some interior electrical stuff. But as long as the engine isn't knock, tranny isn't shot and if its a manual the clutch feels good you should all set.

$1500 i expect personally a purple/white 96 with 172k-189k miles on it, with 1 leaking axle, and a couple of small items. rear bumper has chips and a fender had 3 rock dents. And an AUTO.

reason why i'm expectiing that was because when i was on a hunt for a 4th gen gen i found those all day everyday.

 

Its possible you just have to keep and eye out for a good deal. I picked up my beater for $800. Mechanically Sounds but not the most attractive car.

So are you going to sell you current car Kingrukus? or have it in addition to your Max now?

 

^ his car is no more =( about 2 weeks ago. there was a post for it sad to see it go..

 

I think if a person can do most everything themselves, then $1000 is a good price. We all know that a Max will need CV axles, so if one can do something like that on their own, then I would say perhaps no worries. And then if something powertrain-related failed, they're only out $1,000 anyway. At that price I'd expect all the issues that I had to either fix myself or pay someone else to fix.

Figure my car is a 98 SE 5-spd 128k every option, totally reliable and never been hit, and it's worth $3k. How many more cars do I want like mine at that price? NONE. I'm not a hoarder, I don't have room for more cars and I can only drive one car at a time. I'm simply not in the car business...

 

I think he got in a wreck? not sure but thought i read that a little while ago. and yeah u can find one under $1500. I got mine for $885 in great condition body and motor wise. I just put a new tranny in and it is good as new. it had 204k when I bought it and its a white 5spd.

 

wrecked?


dammn sorry to hear it Kingrukus I must have missed that thread.

 

My cousin picked this up for $1000
http://www.sounddomain.com/ride/2134906
Go to page 2 for original pix and condition.

It needed rear struts, battery terminals, a wheel bearing, and a few other minor things to be road worthy. After he got the wheel bearing fixed the tranny started to leak, diffy bearings which is common, so be prepared to get your hands dirty. Your probably looking at $500 in common repairs alone with cars this age. This one happens to have 225k miles on the clock.

 

Honestly, I would get like a sentra, 4cyl accord, something along the lines of that. A reliable 4cyl so you get good mpg.

 

I got my 1995 maxima for 3000. It needs both cv axles, and I just had to put in a new muffler, clutch is good for probably another year. The body is in rough shape, rust on one of the fenders and around the key hole on the trunk and it has a lot of door dings. Cloth and it's got hub caps but it runs well.

 

Sorry to hear about the accident...do you have a link handy? (for the original thread). Good luck finding another car man...

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=485537

 

bro you can have a bike for less than $200 a month. cheap, fast, easy on gas and chix dig it !

how much did insurance give you?

 

He lives in Canada, do you know whats going to happen in the winter months

 

Insurance didn't give me anything for my car yet. I gotta return the Chrysler 300 rental though tonight. Its been a battle with the ba'stards to get what I want so they still havent settled yet. I may avoid going with a beater and just get a newer car as a temporary replacement.

 

$hit. i hate to be you right now

 

best of luck man

 

why don't u just get a 4cyl for a daily driver?

 

I picked up a 97 Maxima SE for $300. 130k miles, body is good, needed front and rear rotors & brakes, muffler, 2 tires, A/C & heat didn't work, windshield wipers didn't work and the timing chain tensioner is rattling.

 

damn good price. good find.

 

That would make gas mileage sense, however most of the local 4 cyl japanese cars (ie corolla, civic, etC) that are the same age as an older 4th gen, are worth more!! The higher price, coupled with the fact that I know how to work on Maximas somewhat, makes the 4th gen the clear choice for me.

 

That is an INCREDIBLE find. Does the motor/tranny run? Wow, I would not think twice about picking up a car like that (unless there was a lien on it).