So I currently have a 1999 Maxima SE with 150k miles that i bought for about $1200 bucks as a beater 6months ago. It was reliable for me until the control arm snapped. I was debating fixing it but its so rusty that its probably not worth putting much money into it.

I saw someone on craigslist selling a 1999 base maxima with 5spd. It only has 41k miles and I'm going to look at it tomorrow. So what should I be worried about, since the miles are almost too low. This one doesn't have leather, power seats, sunroof, Bose or spoiler, but its a stick and it looks very clean. I love this style maxima but its so hard to find a clean one up here in New England.

Can I swap my power seats and my remotes over if the car doesn't have those?

 

all depends on how much they want for it

 

They want $3,700 going to look at it tomorrow morning.

 

I'd bet there's some negotiating room. Use it! All of it! A 5 speed is harder for them to sell.

I'm not sure if all the wiring harnesses are in all models, but the higher end models just have the additional parts. If so, you might be able to swap some or most of the goodies!

If the 5 speed has Limited Slip Differential, It will be better in Snow! I don't know why they sold the American Automatics with one wheel drive. Stoopid. I had an 88 before I bought my 99 new. It had LSD and climbed through everything in Winter! What a disappointment when I got the 99. Even with Traction Control.

Good luck. 41K is like an almost new Max but it will still have a higher incidence of repairs because of the years. But it will pull like a Banshee!

 

Yeah i doubt it has LSD, thought that was only Canadian model SE Maxima's.

Good to know about swapping parts

I'm gonna get the VIN and run the carafe, hoping that everything checks out, this is my dream come true: A 90's JDM car with such low miles is hard to come by.

 

Yep, the Canadian Auto Maximas have LSD.

But when it comes to the 5 speed, that might apply to American Maximas as well!

Hopefully, it goes your way. Hell, if it can be had for around $3k and has never been hit, I'd do it too! LOL

And DON'T let them know this is your dream come true. It'll do if the price is right! Got it? Act very aloof and almost disinterested.

 

Nope. Just the I30t's, like, umm, my car

 

Basically, I believe, there are two types of main body harnesses. A basic one for the Maxima GXE and another for the Maxima GLE. If that base Maxima SE has very little options, it may the GXE harness, so adding seats, remote etc might be a challenge.

But, it is also easy to see if the car has the functionality already. Just look under the front seats. There may be an unused power connector just hanging around under there. If there is, then you can add the power seats and just plug it in.

For the remotes, you can go through the procedure for adding a remote to the system:

1. Sit in driver's seat and lock all doors.
2. Insert and remove the key from the ignition at least 7 times within 10 seconds.

Now, if the car "blinks" by flashing the hazards twice, then congratulations, the car has the built in OEM remote system.

 

Around here a 5-speed 4th or 5th gen (if you can find one) sells for roughly $700 more than a comparable automatic.

Here's a 99,000 miles 96 model automatic for $2,950.

http://littlerock.craigslist.org/cto/4650172350.html

 

The Control Arm is an easy fix, and online cheap. Why not spend under $100 for the C.A., versus hundreds on a used car that could give the same problem??

 

Inspect the underside for rust, especially the lower radiator support. Take an OBD reader with you and check for codes in case the seller decided to pull the check engine light bulb out.

Or do what I did, find a mechanic that will do an inspection for you ans take the car to him.

 

I went and looked at the car. Unfortunately there was a bit of rust starting behind the rear wheels and the radiator support was starting to rust as well. The seller is a dealer and said he would take care of it (weld in new metal) if I was still interested. I said I would think about it and get back to them. Ugh I hate rust. I would fix my car but it has a lot more rust, the shocks are blown, and I also need a new rim and tire. If only Nissan used better body protection. Every maxima I see is a rust bucket and this one is a lot better than most but still not perfect.

 

So last week I replaced my Strut Assemblies in the rear myself. $210 total. No springs to compress because the assemblies are complete with all new parts. In that price is the roll of gasket material I made the gaskets out of.

Ride so much like when the car was new.

Shop Moog ST8532 x 2 for the rear if that's what you need.

And/Or

Moog ST8534L and ST8534R for the fronts. Gaskets are cheap enough to buy from a dealer. $10 to $15 each. I'll be doing mine next week. I found the pair for around $210 delivered.

Add a control arm and a rim and pair of tires (same axle or one if they are new) and alignment and drive!

Ha! Rust is COOL! And that makes each Maxima unique! Nobody has exactly what YOU have. Cool Right??? LOL

Good luck!

 

well, sounds to me they wont get close to what hes askin, hes trying to make a killing on it....i definately wouldnt pay even close to 3700.00 for a maxima with a ghetto rigged support and rust in the quarters....and when someone runs a vin check they may find even more surprises..like 4 owners or such...or questionable odometer statements..sounds like hes gonna be LUCKY to get 2 grand to 2500.00 for it!once rust starts up here in new england, 2 yrs more time takes a hell of a toll

although there is a sucker born every minute!....

wheres te craigslist link?

 

Id check this 1 out..if ur still interested in a new ride
http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/4731300278.html

 

i feel ya on the rust issue, i've tirelessly spent thousands on fixing the rust on my max only to have more pop up almost every year. the members on here that live in warm weather states are truly lucky cause that's one issue they'll never have to deal with. i just had the rear quarter done and the guy did a pretty good job or so i thought and then i looked on the bottom rail in the back section underneath the door and there's bubbles popping up, still solid though when you knock on it and my drivers side rear wheel well is starting to rust as well. arrrrrrggggggghhhh!!!! man, what i do to keep this car!!!

 

yeah unfortunately its looking more and more like ill never find a manual maxima. the cars are just too old at this point. I'm blaming Nissan for their crappy rust-proofing. every 90's nissan in new england has visible rust WTF?

 

I feel your pain. When I bought my car about 3 years ago, I was looking for a fully loaded 5 speed. Abs, moonroof, Bose, etc. I'm sure you will understand just how rare those are.

Don't give up hope, though. There's another guy on here who just found an absolutely pristine 98 i30.....only 50k
miles and treated like a museum piece.

 

I've seen some 5-speeds (both 4th and 5th gen) in Texas on Craig's list.

 

I'm sure you can find something with a pretty mint chassis with more miles at a more reasonable price too - guess buying out of state is your best bet (AZ, CA). The drivetrain on the 4th gen will outlast the body anyway. Wouldn't worry about the rad support rust as a deal breaker as that is pretty isolated from the body if the rest of the body looks good.

I never understood the premium price tag on older regular cars with low mileage. They're infrequently driven that the owners are much less likely to spend money on maintenance; they tend to be heaps anyway. Actually, some of the most well kept used cars I've seen have been really high mileage.

 

Ditto. I'm at 265,000. If you take the average mileage of 12,000 a year, and divide that into an abnormal low mileage car, you'll realize it's probably been sitting for a period of time. Sitting breeds rust and other issues like a/c failure and mold.

 

Is this "heap" a low mileage vehicle that you would walk away from?

https://maxima.org/forums/members-ri...ft-planet.html

I wouldn't.

 

I am the lucky one, thanks for the compliment. When you are not looking it will find you. Jealous of that 5sp tho...but I'd steer clear of it

 

Yeah I know I probably have to be patient if I want the maxima of my dreams. lol. I need a car within the next few weeks and since I work or have class every single day I do not have time to drive down south and buy one. But I will keep saving up and maybe by next summer when i am done with school I will be able to fly out to the west coast and get a rust-free max, or I30t. TBH if I could have any maxima it would be a 3rd gen, but those are too old to be a reliable daily at this point i think. I'm probably buying a Subaru in the meantime, but I love this forum. I learned a lot from you guys on here.

 

You know what you've got already.

How much will it really cost to get another winter out of your current Max?

Even a mint 4th gen usually results in some amount of mid-life maintenance expense.

Are the motor and transmission solid?