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Is this a good deal? 1998 Maxima for $5k **PICS**

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Old 05-18-2008, 01:47 PM
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Is this a good deal? 1998 Maxima for $5k **PICS**

I found this on craigslist and test drove it yesterday. Everything looks clean as a 61k miles car should. The thing i'm iffy about is whether the car was in an accident or not and does it look like the car was repainted to you?

Take a look at the passenger side airbag, wtf is wrong with it?

The guy said that $4500 and I can take it.






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Old 05-18-2008, 01:48 PM
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Old 05-18-2008, 01:52 PM
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anyone?
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Old 05-18-2008, 01:53 PM
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You should at least carfax the VIN if you feel it's been wrecked. I wonder if a owner dropped something on the airbag cover. That's pretty funky looking.

S
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Old 05-18-2008, 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by maximase86
You should at least carfax the VIN if you feel it's been wrecked. I wonder if a owner dropped something on the airbag cover. That's pretty funky looking.

S
I don't have carfax but if anyone can run it...

JN1CA21D6WT521824
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Old 05-18-2008, 02:00 PM
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Would you buy it for that price?
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Old 05-18-2008, 02:23 PM
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did you blue book it or use edmunds.com?
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Old 05-18-2008, 02:24 PM
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If you are seriously interested it in, run a carfax and grill the owner with questions. Ask for any paperwork and receipts for any maintenance performed.

When I sold my 96 Max I had paperwork and receipts since day one, and the buyer felt confident in his purchase.

Ask why the dashboard is shaped like that. Think about what kind of actions it took to bend the hell out of the dash like that. Drop something? What are holding that is that heavy over the dash anyway?
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Old 05-18-2008, 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted by fat_kid
did you blue book it or use edmunds.com?
KBB doesn't mean anything. There's a KBB price and then the price that everyone is paying.

Have you ever saw anyone asking KBB price on a Supra Turbo?

Ford cars on the other hand, is way below KBB on every model.
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Old 05-18-2008, 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted by PhaZe
If you are seriously interested it in, run a carfax and grill the owner with questions. Ask for any paperwork and receipts for any maintenance performed.

When I sold my 96 Max I had paperwork and receipts since day one, and the buyer felt confident in his purchase.

Ask why the dashboard is shaped like that. Think about what kind of actions it took to bend the hell out of the dash like that. Drop something? What are holding that is that heavy over the dash anyway?
What make it hard to ask question is that i'm dealing with a 16 year old kid who's selling the car for his mom (She doesn't speak english)

They have a brand new house (just look at the development in the pics), his mom just got a new car and she's selling maxima. Is it normal for the air bag to warp/melt like that or is it because the car is in an accident and they replaced it with a junkyard one?
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Old 05-18-2008, 02:39 PM
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http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailRepor...i3&language=EN

Oh wow, it got a reconstructed title

and the mileage has been rolled back.
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Old 05-18-2008, 02:40 PM
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4500 too much dude lower hin down to about 3700 or 3500

never mind i just saw the salvage title 2000k tops

Last edited by jojo98maxima; 05-18-2008 at 02:43 PM.
 
Old 05-18-2008, 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by kroze
KBB doesn't mean anything. There's a KBB price and then the price that everyone is paying.

Have you ever saw anyone asking KBB price on a Supra Turbo?

Ford cars on the other hand, is way below KBB on every model.
its just a benchmark price... something to negotiate with...

and i wouldn't do it with that kind of title and history
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Old 05-18-2008, 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by kroze
http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailRepor...i3&language=EN

Oh wow, it got a reconstructed title

and the mileage has been rolled back.
Money well spent my friend. (if you spent it )
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Old 05-18-2008, 03:06 PM
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it mite be the picture.... but GXE steering wheels dont wear out fast..... with 61k the steering wheel should have no wear marks, in the pic it looks like the steering wheel is worn off at parts.

im pretty sure the car has more than 100k on it.
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Old 05-18-2008, 03:12 PM
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Looks like that might explain the airbag...lol.

S
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Old 05-18-2008, 07:30 PM
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This is the reason why Carfax is in business. Its good to have that done before purchasing a car. It also looks like the Drivers side door is a different shade of white than the rest of the car. Could just be the picture though.
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Old 05-18-2008, 07:41 PM
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Carfax!

Looks like the passenger airbag has been beaten back into place. Also check the frame rails for signs of mechanical straitening and under the trunk carpet and engine bay for patch spots and different color paint.
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Old 05-18-2008, 07:53 PM
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i carfaxed a car that had been in an accident that was not reported- and the report came back clean.....so carfax isnt the endall-beall for accident investigation. better to have a look at seams and under the hood and headlight bezels and things like that.

and yea anyone who buys a car and then sells it 7 months later is sketch.

the biggest red flag on carfax reports is NUMBER OF OWNERS. that is a true indication of the cars reliability and drivability.
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Old 05-18-2008, 07:58 PM
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Originally Posted by kroze
http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailRepor...i3&language=EN

Oh wow, it got a reconstructed title

and the mileage has been rolled back.

don't even waste your time with that junk
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Old 05-18-2008, 08:02 PM
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If u can avoid buying a vehicle with a salvaged tgitle, then do so.

I have a 97 max that i just got from my sister for free but she didnt tell me it had a salvaged title, so i had to get a brake inspection, light inspection & it had to go to the highway patrol for vehicle inspection. Luckily it passed all that in California.

But its a hassle & added costs for all those inspections. Although 61k miles is very low for your case.

I would say if u really want it, ask if you can have it inspected by your mechanic & drop the price down to $3700 or even $3500.
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Old 05-18-2008, 08:43 PM
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pass! if your looking at 5k for a maxima you can find much better.
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Old 05-18-2008, 08:49 PM
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Originally Posted by MaxGordon7
pass! if your looking at 5k for a maxima you can find much better.
for reference, i bought a one-owner 97 GLE (leather, bose, sunroof, etc.) with 41,480 miles for $4400.
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Old 05-19-2008, 12:16 PM
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i wouldn't give more than $1000 for that. carfax says it was a pretty severe front end collision so that could only mean so many more problems in the future.

hey, i just bought a 98 SE with 122k miles, carfaxed it, test drove it, got a friend thats a mechanic for the city to look at it and everything checked out. after driving it so far (a little over a 100 miles) everything seems great. i paid $3000 for it, which i think was a steal.

my advice would be to move on and keep looking. keep your eyes out for cars on the street with for sale signs (that was the case for me at least). going to the "stealerships" was a complete waste of my time and they just pissed me off.

Last edited by rex3001; 05-19-2008 at 12:53 PM.
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Old 05-19-2008, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by rex3001
i wouldn't give more than $1000 for that. carfax says it was a pretty severe front end collision so that could only mean so many more problems in the future.

hey, i just bought a 98 SE with 122k miles, carfaxed it, test drove it, got a friend thats a mechanice for the city to look at it and everything checked out. after driving it so far (a little over a 100 miles) everything seems great. i paid $3000 for it, which i think was a steal.
3000 for a 122k 98SE is a steal.

anything need to be done to it?

postup some pics in the members rides when you can

Originally Posted by rex3001
my advice would be to move on and keep looking. keep your eyes out for cars on the street with for sale signs (that was the case for me at least). going to the "stealerships" was a complete waste of my time and they just pissed me off.
yea i wouldnt trust any dealership, ever. they are in business to make the most out of every car deal, which means cutting corners wherever possible.

i would stick to the big three:

www.craigslist.org
www.autotrader.com
www.cars.com

granted you have to be a bit more discerning buying from a car noob, but it will definetly yield a better deal in the end.
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Old 05-19-2008, 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted by ROCKART
3000 for a 122k 98SE is a steal.

anything need to be done to it?

postup some pics in the members rides when you can
not really, the only "problem" is that the paint is seriously starting to chip on the hood and the rear bumper. honestly at this point i could care less about the paint. im just glad i have a car, it's my first.

the spoiler is kind of coming off on the right side, i just applied some strong adhesive to hold it temporarily.

other than that everything seems fine. the inside is like new. i'll post pics very soon.
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Old 05-19-2008, 01:38 PM
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You posted this same car on the Supraforums didn't you?
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Old 05-19-2008, 01:46 PM
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its auto don't buy it
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Old 05-19-2008, 01:52 PM
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yea no way. i got my 97 se leather and all for just under 4 grand in near perfect condition just under a 100,ooo miles. i think thats fair for wat i got.
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Old 05-19-2008, 03:25 PM
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your in jersey right,

check this one out.

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/car/681596726.html
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/car/681413647.html
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