bpe383

great post, Just got my 02 6spd, HLSD, fully loaded with 55K miles for $13,700. Which for the area I live in is a steal. I looked for a few months at the dealer lots, and non ever had a 6spd. The dealers around here want gold for these maxima's, and they get it to. That's what kills me. In the few months I looked around I didn't see one maxima 02-03 for less than $17,000. One nissan dealer wanted $21,000 for a 03,AT, cloth, base model, with 80k miles. Another one I looked at had $19,999 on the sticker. It was a 02, AT loth, base model, 56K miles.

F23A4

This thread got me thinking about how bad a hit in depreciation I took since purchasing my 02 Max new, even at a discounted new price of $23.5k.

So I did a quick KBB TIV on my car along with comparably equipped competitors, with each car being a 2002 model and equipped with auto tranny, cloth interior and moonroof being in excellent shape with 44k:

Maxima: $11,650
Accord LX V6 (I added the moonroof, although it doesnt come on the 6G LX): $11,650
Camry SE V6: $12,125
Alitma 3.5SE: $12,450

Anachronism

Interesting, I looked at the altimas because I thought they might be cheaper, but they where the same price or more

Did you happen to see what those cars cost new and what they where actually selling for?

I don't think theres any doubt, a used Maxima is a lot of car for the money.

bpe383

I wouldn't say they have dep. that much. Have you purchased a chevy new? That's dep. Guy I work with got a chevy truck brand new in Aug 04 total cost $44,000, he just traded it in for $22,000 at a chevy dealer. Now the Maxima new in 02 was 30K and it's worth about 1/2 that now. That's not bad in 4-5 years. The recent hit on the value is all these 07 models coming out already I think? Example. Chevy has it's 07's out, and Toyota is even bringing some of it's 07 cars out here in a month or so. Making our 02 cars 5 years old in the auto world. Our 02 is not a young car any more guys.

HotshotVQ35

iTrader: (5)

i dont ever plan on selling mine, but having a loaded 02 6spd every opt but navi, if i ever did sell it, i would be firm on the price.

TheBigDu

iTrader: (1)

Actually, I don't think they're depreciating very quickly at all, considering a redesigned Maxima has been on sale for almost three years now.

I got a great deal on mine: 2002 SE with 48k miles for $13,750 back in October 2004. Of course, the thing has no extra options, but I've learned to live without most of them (the moonroof being the one that still really bugs me).

Certainly there are things about this car that bother me. It's an autotragic for one, and the transmission slips often (but I'm out of warranty now, and the dealer wouldn't do anything when I was in warranty). Also, there's some problem with the front-end that feels like out-of-balance wheels, but is definitely something else. Then there's the recurring warped rotors.

Still, the car has a lot of power and even though it's not loaded for a Maxima still has a lot of features other cars don't. So when it's running and looking good, I love my Max.

DoNcHoYaX1

All of you guys that are buying your cars are you getting loans for them? I just got a 00 GLE mint condition in and out but with 105k for 11k no intrest, + tax and plates.

TheBigDu

iTrader: (1)

bought in full

bvenvert

I bought an 03 Max, Loaded, everything but navigation, July 2005 for 18.6K from the original owner with 25K miles on it. When you consider the original sticker was close to 32K, I think I stole it. I had to drive about 4 hours to pick it up, but it was well worth the trip. The original owner took a huge depreciation hit and he knew it, but his loss was my gain.

I have owned three Maximas since 1998, it's basically the only car I have driven for the past 8 years and I expect to keep the latest until the wheels fall off. I bought this one loaded so I would be happy with it well past the time when it is paid off. The other two, a 94 SE and a 00 SE were both great cars and I sold them each with around 130K miles on them, both of them running perfect.

A two year old Maxima, with low miles is a great value in the used car market. They have good styling, a comfortable interior and a sturdy powerfull V6 that will run forever.

F23A4

IIRC, the 02 3.5SE I checked out briefly (before opting for the Maxima) was about the same price as my 02 Maxima SE ($27,500). The new Altima was the probable reason for me being able to get the 02 Maxima for $4k off sticker without having to haggle on price.

The market for a 5.5G, is definitely a buyers market. It is indeed a lot of car for the money. If I myself were in the buying market, I'd get a loaded 6MT or an Infiniti I35, if an auto tranny is the preference.

Tiberious

You can't really look at the depreciation based on MSRP. Those '02 and '03 Maxes went for huge discounts because the Altima was newer and bigger and could be had with the same engine. They were giving them away for around 22k-23k most times. Unless the buyers were just stupid. Heck. They sell brand new '06s for around 24k. Not fully loaded models of course. But all of the option are way overpriced anyways.

F23A4

.....was just answering Anachronism's question....

Dimashka

I got my 2003 SE TE 6 speed from ebay with 22k for $17000 about 3 months ago

MaxedOut

iTrader: (4)

im almost afraid to check the value on my 2003 SE 6mt beast... it had 84k miles on it.. lol..

MSchumacher

iTrader: (1)

I don't know where you got this from but the maximas seem to be keeping their prices...maybe you could get a gxe.But a decent 5.5 se/gle with low miles go from 16 to even 18. I don't think the prices will drop much untill a 6th gen. comes out

nismopc

iTrader: (3)

I just purchased a 2002 SE 6spd w/59,000 miles for $13,800 today.

beyd7

I purchased my 02 glacier pearl gle w/ spoiler, tcs, meridian(fully loaded except navi) for 14,000 with 47,000 miles april 05.
I think that if you look hard anough they can range from 11,000 to even around 21,000 so this car is definately attainable for most peoples budget as long as you look hard anough.

Also, on the selling side if you try hard enough you can get the right price close to what you want for your car. In all reality, selling on the .org will just get you many people low-balling and a long time to sell.

TheBigDu

iTrader: (1)

Until a 6th gen comes out? Where have you been since 2004?!?! Did you even read this thread before you posted?



Oh wait, this was probably one for your first 15 posts to freedom of threadstarting and PMing. If you're trying to get some posts, at least read the threads you post in. You clearly did not read this thread (in which the 6th gen is mentioned several times) before posting.

avsmusic1

I think the prices kbb gives isn't really reflective of prices they are going for at all. I have been searching for a few months now for an 02/03 6sp with almost no luck in my price range. KBB says private party value is 13 for an 02 6sp with leather and sunroof but I've yet to find one that is less that 15. I had my heart set on one of these for a while but have a 14k max budget so I have been forced to start looking elsewhere

SEmy2K2go

iTrader: (10)

kbohip

That's EXACTLY the same boat I was in! The only other loaded 6-speeds I was finding around the Denver area were going for way over $16k, and these were not even in the best of shape. Lol, I even tried to get my brother-in-law to get his boss to sell his awesome loaded '03 TE 6-speed Max. He liked the car to much to want to sell it though.

avsmusic1

I'm starting to get inpatient. I found a 6sp without leather or sunroof for 13.5 but I really want those options

Anachronism

How much are you looking to spend? This was my second choice if the one I just bought didn't work out http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...er_id=55959819. It has been listed for at least a month so the dealer will probably be flexible on the price and it is listed incorrectly, it's listed as a GLE 5 speed , but you can see in the pics its an SE 6 speed and it has a clean carfax.

Auto trader is great if you use the advanced search option, you can specify the distance from your zip code, maximum price and manual transmission. You still have to sort through them to find the ones with leather but if your willing to drive a bit you can get quite a few choices. I set it for 75 miles and got 19 6 speeds for under $18,000


Seems to be a popular idea in my area, most people (including dealers) are asking way more than market value then act insulted if you try to haggle . I bought my 98 SE (4 years ago) for almost 4 grand less then the best price I could find from a dealer and he wouldn't budge on the price. Of course the car sat on his lot at least another 2 months ( I drove by there on my way to work). Now I see dealers with 2k2/2k3s listed for 21,000 and even 23,000 (WTF?)

I don't understand what happens to these cars, but I do see lots of them sitting for sale for months at a time . I guess if you keep it for sale long enough some fool will come along and buy it, in the meantime it just gets older and looses value. With the internet clasifieds, affordable prices for shipping and third party inspection services there is no reason anyoone should pay more than market value.

I paid a little less than edmunds 'true market value' for my car and I am happy with the deal I got. Edmunds uses the prices people actually pay (based on registrations) to establish 'true market value' but I think it may be distorted down a bit by people who list a lower price on the bill of sale to save on sales tax.

Maxima570

iTrader: (1)

KEEP LOOKING! I bought my 02 speed black on black leather, meridian packege sunroof, no HLSD, 73kmi, $12,500 in Jersey about a month ago

DesiGLE

I am dying here looking for a loaded 6 speed for a decent price.

avsmusic1

I know its a bit off subject but I've posted this on other threads and nobody has answered. Is there any way to tell if it has the hlsd? I had heard that the medal pedals means hlsd but I don't know if its true or not. Thanks

Anachronism

Metal pedals mean hlsd but someone could have changed the pedals. There is a plate on the firewall that has a code that indicates (among other things) transmission type, check this thread for a pic.

And in the future -- http://www.forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=368622

avsmusic1

Thanks alot! sorry for asking a question that I'm sure has been dealt with over and over