Spend Six G's On Car Or Buy Another Used?
 

283k miles and still going strong. Just need some radiator support work and some suspension upgrading (CA). What would you do? Spend the money on the upgrades and save the rest of the 6g's or sell it or find some lower mileage car and let someone else have the Maxima?

:woot: First of all, congrats on the 283k... that's amazing! I hope my car lasts that long. Part of me wants to say stick with it and see how far over 300 you can get, but, truth is... it's risky. I don't know all that much about this stuff, but if I were you, I'd probably end up buying another used car. I'd personally love to have a black '03 SE.... yum! :doublethu

well i think selling ur car u wouldnt get much off it so i would say try to get a cheaper labor on that job. remmember if ur engine dies u can get one for like $300 with like 100k and put it in for like another $300. So its risky but i think i would of sticked with the max. Cause selling it you wont get much of it. Then buying a used car you dont know who drove it before and how they a abused it. You might have more problems with that then this. U got 286k that means it wasnt beat on. i think u got a lot of life left on it.

yea im with whitemax on this.
stick with what you know works. used cars are a gamble (especially for 6k)
and selling a car with almost 300k? even if its beautiful ur not gonna get more than $1500.
i sold my 93 SE with 221k for 600 dollars....

Well, they do have a point. But I was under the impression that you were planning to drop 6k anyway, so it wouldn't really matter much what you get out of the sale of your car. Then again, I don't know your situation, so, really, I'm just saying what I would do. I bet your car is still in good enough condition to fix up and keep for atleast 50k more miles. There are up-sides and down-sides to both options. It's a pretty tough call if you were to ask me! Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

you should buy the stuff you really NEED! and take whats left and try to find a pretty cheap 5.5 gen. with a six speed and youll have 2 max's :)

i think you should just buy a jet. why worry about traffic....:doublethu

Get a 5th Gen.

i agree... something newer..
cuz our cars 2-3 years from now be almost 15 years old.. thats old.. and to invest 6g's in it. is alot

dude thats what i was thinking ... to sport up a 96 but now that i think about it ... it a diffical decision

i dont know about where you guys live, but during the past 3 months of looking for cars, the only 5th gen max's i could find with $5000 dollars were 99 and 00 with +120k. and mostly in bad condition. seems like the nicer ones start at around 7.5k.

283k damn. and i thought i had one of the highest mileage maxipads. 260k here :). i say just fix it. radiator support aint too bad to do.

Sell it! Get a newer and or at least a lower mileage Maxima. Something below 100K. Low mileage 4th gens are to be had in that price range. Maybe even a nice 5th.

HOW DO I GET A PICTURE OF MY MAX INTO MY SIGNATURE?
or any picture for that matter

holy ****ing **** stop saying this in every thread. i hope you get banned.

photobucket is your friend

But to the OP: more details would help, but...
1) get a quote for the car and get a quote for the repairs, if the cost of repairs outweighs the cost of the car (or if its even close to it) then its obviously not worth fixing it.
2) fix the problems and drive it until the repairs will cost more than the car. you will not get any money for it if u sell it so you will just be getting rid of a car that works. save up more money and get a 5.5th gen

if by every thread you mean two threads, one of which is part of an answer i gave, then yes i post this question in every thread.

Armelius, drive that thing into the ground and keep adding to that cash to get what you really want. If its a safety issue then I'd have whatever needs be fixed, but other wise keep using that 95 til the bitter end. These cars seem to be one of the few vehicles you can actually get your money's worth out of. The mileage capabilities are insane.

5 years ago I spent $6kish for my car with just under 100k. I'm up to 206k now. I'm sure you understand the reliability of 4th gens, why not get another car so u don't hafta worry about anything for a couple years?

Although I can argue that budgeting $100/mo for repairs/maintenance like I do is a much better deal, if you don't mind being stranded and w/o a car a couple times every other month. For me, I'd keep the car cuz i kno how to repair it, even if I get stranded. For my family members, I'd get another reliable car and not worry about it. Depends on you.

Jae

Since when is a '99 a 5th gen?

first of all do not put 6k into a 13 year old maxima. find out how much it will take to fix the problems. They dont seem too expensive and then save up for a new car.......................

touche....guess i was thinking of the accord coupe style (starting in 99) which i was also lookin at.

trade in the maxi and put 6k down on a 5.5 gen or another car from 00/03. The 02 maxs can be had in good condition for 10,xxx. With the max and the 6k you would be atleast 7k of that 10,xxx. Thats what I would do.

honestly i would put 6 grand in one, i love the 4th gen maximas bodystyle, go but you a new or slightly used 3.5 with a 6 speed, get it put in and what do you know a very fast very reliable max!!! that is seriously what i would do...

Alright. 6k is next year's budget for a car. Don't have to sell the Maxima. Might as well sell the 87 Pathfinder 4x4 with 232k miles. It has some slight rust near front fender but easy fix.

The Maxima I can only think of three issues. Control arm, radiator support and soon the sunroof mechanism might go. That's it. All new Cooper Cobras all the way around and it still has punch. A new Porsche blew my doors off the other day but that was expected.

Next year I am going to be in a really decide on what to do. The Pathfinder seems like it should go since it doesn't get driven that much but it is just about a tank like the Maxima only it starts right up after sitting a month. And it seems like it's a classic just waiting to happen.

It's not like me to get rid of a car that has been so dependable. I like newer things like an 03 Maxima and even if it isn't in the budget I can make it happen.

I just feel I am going to be having this same conversation next year. Two pathys (also have an 01) and it will probably be two Maximas instead of one.

Just fix whatever is wrong with it and drive it till it dies. Motors are cheap, just keep it until you have some $$$$ for something really nice...used E39 M5 maybe?

I'm still not sure how much money you are looking at spending to fix what's wrong, but that is necessary information. I don't think spending 6k makes a whole lot of sense, but I don't think that's what you were saying was it?

I'm a mercedes guy, so that mileage is nothing for me. I just sold my 1984 300D with well over 200k for $2700. I only did this because I just moved to Cali because of a sudden and unexpected divorce.

I am not like most of the guys on the forum. I bought a Maxima based on reliability, not based on it's performance.

I guess what I'm saying is... Drive It Until It Dies. Fix safety issues, but thats it. Meanwhile sock away the money that would have been spent on other "unneccessary" repairs into a "new" car fund.

Good luck. Shopping for a "new" car sure is fun though. I love the hunt. Always best to HUNT when you don't NEED.

yuo had a mercedes, they have a high resale value, i'm sure it did bring that lol

wow. . i hope my engine stay that long. why don't you do a engine swap?? :ben:

thread title is misleading. Should say spend 6k on newer car or spend a few hundred and keep the 4th gen.

But I would get new paint and spend a few thousand on this Max in a heartbeat. I just hate getting rid of something so reliable. Feels like it's part of the family.