It has 300,000km's, runs great, but some other issues are coming up.

- I need 4 new struts... approx cost is $900 to fix it
- Front Right fender needs to be completely replaced as it's rusted out
- was written off before when someone hit my left fender, I fixed it totally with junkyard parts - same color too!

Should I spend the approx 1000 to fix it or should I just drive it until she dies?

 

Not sure what to do.... because I can buy a decent maxima for 5000k... so 1/5th of the price for an older one? Not sure...

 

Its completely ur call. U can get a set of Tokico Blues for 260 and have someone install them for you for $100. If you r sure those are all the problems the car has then I don't see why you'd wanna get rid of it.

If you wanna upgrade and get a new car then by all means. Like I said, ur call

 

I'd keep it. You can probably do the struts and fender yourself if you've done all of this other work. If it runs great, why not keep it and fix it up?

 

agreed, if its running great, keep that baby alive!

 

yeah just keep it...mine has 203k miles and runs great but has some rust...i plan to fix her up cuz she dont got no major problems at all...just rust...the issues u got with ur car are just minor stuff.

 

I'm just afraid if I put 1000 into this car, that something will go since nothing ever has and it has such high mileage....

 

As someone mentioned, you can pick all 4 up for about 260 ish and a new aftermarket fender is about 40 bucks.... www.certifit.com or you can check junk yards for a similar colored one. Most national junk yards here in the US (not sure if they're the same in Canaduh) charge anywhere between 25-45 for a fender you pull. If you're not able to do the work yourself then I suggest you check the regional forum section and find an org member who can help out for a lesser amount. Its not worth getting rid of a good reliable car for only those problems unless you're ballin'

 

oh and 300,000 km / 1.6 = 187,500 miles... its just barely breaking in, I'm pushing 328,200 and by tomorrow I'll be at 328,500

in other words, I have 525,120 km - if I did the math right in both cases. If you take care of it, it'll last forever

 

I called every junk yard in 100km radius... and none have the exact color, although I can get an aftermarket black prime for $100

I'm calling places for the struts now.

I do live in Canada.

 

Where can I buy Tokico Blues from? I called Canadian Tire, partsource.... I have no idea where else to call

 

Thanks for the info... I thought every car died at 300,000km haha

 

What color is your max? have you tried www.car-part.com ?

 

dark green

and no

 

just looked on the car-part site... closer fender in my colour is 400km away LOL

Damn Canada!

 

Some of those places will ship... sometimes its not as bad as you think

 

Yeah they probably would ship, but I think I'm going to save for a 5th Generation Maxima... probably spend $5000K max.

Thanks for your help.

 

I guess... lol

 

fix it!!! yessir

 

Unless its a 5.5 gen then all you are getting is a heavier 4th gen. i would fix the max and save for a new car. Any used car is going to need repair no matter what it is. If you think by buying the newer max you wont need to fix it then you are way off.

 

If it ain't a hazard just roll it as is. I Love my Max so I pour money into that *****. If your not planning on keep it and fixing it up, let it ride. A car can be the worse investment you make. So roll it till the wheels fall off...

 

I thought about selling my 1997 GXE 5MT last year on the cheap because my leaky, worn tranny was about to seize. I took a chance and got a rebuilt tranny, installed a new clutch assembly, and new CV axles. The car now feels like new.

I had previously replaced all 4 struts, a noisy alternator, the starter, 2 sticky rear calipers, and a couple front end parts. I just put new bearings and rotors up front and will probably replace the rear rotors and bearings before next winter.

There's little rust and the engine still feels great despite burning just a little more oil at 171k miles than it did at 100k miles. I'll easily get a couple more good years out of it before selling it. That depends on whether I can find a new car without a sticky gas pedal and brakes that work on bumpy roads.

 

+1

 

My '96 has over 250k miles on it, it's dented all over, the spoiler is missing, the passenger front fender is crushed, and Firestone just quoted me $3,700 to fix all the mechanical problems on it. You know what my plan is? I'm keeping it.

I have had a new spoiler and fender in my shed for a while. When I eventually get them painted, I'll put them on the car. The other things it needs (struts, engine mount, trans mount, steering rack bushings, etc.) I can get from O'Reillys and Courtesy for $1,000 and install myself.

The way I see it, I can make a "new" '96 Maxima for about $1500.

 

I'd keep it personally but I sure as hell wouldn't pay $900 for new struts on it. If you can get away with $300 for new struts and some junkyard fenders, then I'd do it.