I'm looking to buy a 4th gen max in the near future. I'm probobaly going to be looking at either a 95 or 96 SE. I owned a 90 SE for over 2 years but I sold that a while back. Is there anything that I should look out for when purchasing either of these cars such as recalls, problems, or causes to problems? Also, I'm looking to buy one as close to stock as possible, but loaded from the factory, never wrecked, and reasonable mileage. Any and all advice welcome. Thanks in advance. Later.

the Mr. P

 

Yeah, '95s are the quickest Maximas, but '97s are a little more solid. The only common problems with '95 and '96 Maximas are O2 sensors and starters. If you get one with 60K-80K miles, these have probably been replaced already. If not, expect failure of those items soon.

 

Watch out for squeaks and rattles. Some cars are solid, others are rattle traps.

I'm looking for a `97 SE 5-spd w/ABS right now, actually...

 

Well, I'm not going to be racing it. I prefer to get a automatic since my past 2 vehicles were 5-spd, and I drive in way too much traffic. I am trying to keep the price under 10g if at all possible, and I live in the southeast if that makes a difference for price. For the options I want and the price I'm trying to stay within, most of the cars are either a 95 or 96 with over 75k miles. I'm not too worried about mileage, I know these cars are good for them, but would it be better to hold out for a 97+? Are there any other things on the 95-96's known for going out like the o2 sensor and starter with this type of mileage? Does anyone know where the squeaks and rattles are coming from? I don't remember too many of either in my previous Maxima. Thanks.

the Mr. P
http://members.prestige.net/gwpainter/home.html

 

I live in the southeast if that makes a difference for price. For the options I want and the price I'm trying to stay within, most of the cars are either a 95 or 96 with over 75k miles. I'm not too worried about mileage, I know these cars are good for them, but would it be better to hold out for a 97+?

The 10gs figure seems a bit low, though I'm in the Northeast, where everything is more expensive than where you are. Also, I got my automatice '97 GXE from a dealer, so there was a little rip-off action, to be sure. Still, I'm happy so far.

 

i thought the 98s were safer than the 97s due to the side impact air bags and reconstruted front end collision..

the 99 maxima got "fair" in the offcenter collision from comsumer reports...
i think the 97s were either Fair or Poor. :P

 

See, my brother AND my dad are looking for cars, my bro kind of wants a midsize 4 door sedan with a V6 and fairly reliable, he would spend up to 8grand, my dad wants more of a family oriented roomy car, maybe with a split-fold back rear seat, (did 4th gens have that?) but I know the 4th gens are pretty roomy and got big trunks, he also wants to spend something in the 8 grand range. I will be getting a 4th gen when my tranny dies again, this is going to be a freakin 5-spd for sure!
So can we find, lets say a 95 GXE auto with under 80k and for about 8 grand? We are in NYC, suggestions on where to shop? dealership lots? where? auctions? where?

 

I don't know if its just how my speaker box was built and installed but my car doesn't really rattle that much. I haven't done any changes to the trunk or anything. I have 2 12's with no rattles.



Late