tigersharkdude

iTrader: (20)

All right fellow Orgers I need your opinions. My cousin is looking into buying a Maxima. We found a 97 for sale for 2500. It has a few things wrong with it.
MY BIGGEST WORRY IS THE CEL AND AIRBAG LIGHT
********THE CONS
*the windshield is cracked
*the CEL is on
*the air bag light is on
*the interior is IMO a 3/5
*the sunroof cover is off track
*the trunk needs to be painted
*the front bumper needs to be painted
*it needs some TLC real bad
*it has 180K miles
********THE PROS
*it has some rather nice 20's
*it has eibach springs
*its a 5mt
*the body is in good shape, except for front bumper and trunk
*the inside is in good shape, needs to be cleaned

My question to you is, Do you think we could find something nicer for $3000

tigersharkdude

iTrader: (20)

Bassbreaker

iTrader: (8)

i think that is a really nice car..cosmetic work is nothing to worry about.
I mean just think about it...those wheels alone a worth a pretty pennie.

tigersharkdude

iTrader: (20)

bump

shook187

iTrader: (5)

Is it me or is the trunk not lined up.

I personally don't like buying cars that has mods....I like doing my own mods. Also the miles are very high for the price of the car. The radio is located is a bad spot, won't the shifter get in the way?

Torgus

iTrader: (10)

no.

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

Easy fix, shop around, new windshield installed should be under $200
We can fix that, pull the codes and post them on here.
That would concern me too. Try to get the code from the SRS system.
You're going to drive it, if it's OK with you, just have it professionally cleaned (Detailed)
The shade or the glass? If it's the shade, don't worry about it, should be E Z to fix.
That's going to cost a few hundred.
Who's doing the TLC you or a mechanic?
Heavy ultra low profile wheels & tires + sport suspension = harsh ride
What struts/shocks are paired with the Ebach's?
Nice!
Those two statements sort of contradict what you said about the body and the inside in your con's section.


Seems like that car has been driven hard and put away wet.
I'd look for a car that hasn't been modified.
The ware and tare will be much less and you'll get a better vehicle for the same price.
Simple mod's don't make a 4th gen Maxima worth more money, it's worth more stock, clean and well taken care of.
(the old lady car)
Try to find that vehicle.

Good luck with your decision!

Tatanko

iTrader: (34)

I don't feel that car is worth more than $1500, and personally even at that price I wouldn't touch it. Just looking at that car you can tell it wasn't taken care of at all, probably beaten on, and likely isn't up to snuff on maintenance either. In other words, it's going to be nothing but headaches for the entire time your cousin would own it. It's just not worth it IMO. Spend more money and get a nicer example or get a '95 or something to get yourself a better car for the money if he really wants a Maxima.
Me too, but in certain cases I make exceptions where they are really well done and will save me money. Like my current Maxima, for example

djipka

iTrader: (9)

the AIR bag light might just have to be reset.
the car looks good imo. i got mine got 2500 a year ago and its not in that good of a shape. I didn't know about the .org though
the CEL (as said above) we can help with.
Windshield is less than $150 from the right place.
I don't see any need for paint.
the sunroof is fixable
leather boots for the shifter and e-brake from the classifieds

If you can talk the people down that would be good too

I always want to know how it has been maintained mechanically, so I suggest that to you as well.
the VQ with proper oil changes, and all other fluids kept up will last quite some time (you prolly knew that already)

GL

EEMaxima

Looks like its had a really hard life. I wouldn't give this one as much as a glance myself.

allensteiner21

iTrader: (6)

i wouldn't pay $2500 but it's a nice looking car for $1500. the air bag light...do what i did - pull the bulb out

kingofquartz

iTrader: (3)

Looks like that one has been to hell and back. Both the front and rear bumper skins have been painted as well as the rear trunk lid. The reason the airbag light is on, because they painted it themselves and didnt repair the underlying damage. Everything from the painted over trunk lock to the spray painted grill is a dead give away for a self repaired accident.

Whomever had it, ran it hard. Its already been modified and run into the ground.. I'd stay far away!

NcSupra

iTrader: (1)

$1500 is top dollar for that whip.

vilmaxima

Some people paint their grilles, even if the car was never in an accident.

To the OP, the only reason I would not get it is cause of the airbag light, unless it was NOT involved iin an accident. The CEL check what the codes are. The inside looks like it hasnt seen much care, so my guess is the maintenance is probably the same.
Have you driven it?

JSMax

iTrader: (13)

I would take a pass. It looks like the owner stuck some wheels on it to detract from the fact that it was ridden hard and put away wet. The black accents on the interior look cheesy and stupid.
the radio is in a bad location as mentioned.
What is with the auto shifter trim and you say it's a 5 speed.
Stock shocks or aftermarket? I would bet the owner bought lowering springs and stuck them on the shocks not too long ago. Meaning your going to have to replace shocks and struts soon.
Black centre console against the beige looks terrible.
The vents on top of the clock don't line up and from the pictures it appears that nothing in that centre stack line up.
He has the fog light signal switch but no fog lights? WTH?

I would continue looking and maybe save up some more cash. that's my $0.02

z00york145

you can do better, that dude probably beat the ***** out of that thing.

shook187

iTrader: (5)

This car is taken a real beating, deservedly so. We haven't heard back from the original poster.


Whats it going to be buddy? You taking a pass on this deal?

Luiz

IMO, i think your cousin can find a much better ride for 3k. i bought a maxima in pretty much the same shape for 700 dollars. i was originally for sale for 1k but i talked it down, bottom line is that car has way too many miles and too many stuff that needs to me done and i dont think its worth it, i think the guy whos selling it is selling it for that much because of the wheels and the other modds done to it, unfortunetly, mods dont increace the value of your car, it rether decreces it, i think hes hoping to sell it to an enthusiest who would apreciate those mods or jost someone whos not educated enought to know better. like mentioned before i wouldnt buy a modded car, chances are it was driven hard or hacked by the owner doing modding the car himself. if you and your cousing put a lil effort into searching arrownd im sure you guys could find a maxima in the same condition for much cheaper or a better maxima on the 2-3k range. other then that, its hard to judge a car on pictures alone so try to judge how much the car is worth in your opinion and try to talk the price down.

kingofquartz

iTrader: (3)

Yeah.. but do they also painted the front/rear bumper skins and trunk? If you look at the pics close you can tell that all those parts have also been repainted. Add to that the airbag light, the dent on the very front of the hood, the out of fitment trunk lid, and the missing fog lamps .. pretty safe to say that this max was in an accident.

The interior has been totally screwed, someone who is obviously performance minded changed out the rotors and either painted or replaced the calipers as well. Not the grandma car we all want to buy that we know is in good condition.