RocketMAX

iTrader: (1)

I have two questions.
Would you have done this for a Max? and Deal or No Deal?

My friends and family are telling my I am nuts for what I did. I'll give you guys a quick rundown then a description of the max and I'll let you guys be the judge.

Saturday the 22nd - Purchased one way ticket from Miami to NYC
Had friend pick me up from airport and drive me to Conneticut(3hrs-w/traffic) to check out a Max I saw on Autotrader. Test drove the Max and purchased it.

Monday drove Max down to Virginia from NYC(4.5hrs) to catch the Amtrak Auto Train that goes to Orlando, FL(16hrs). Drove down to Miami from Orlando (4hrs) and just got home today.

For those of you who don't know - Amtrak has a train service that will take you and your car from Virginia to Orlando for $85 per person and $140 for the car. The only thing is that the trip takes anywhere from 16-20 hours.

Maxima Details
2002 SE - Sterling Mist - Mint Condition
29,000 Miles - (when purchased) - Now has 29,650
6-SPEED
Black Leather Interior
Bose Audio System
Sunroof
HLSD!!
Meridian Package - Heated Seats and Steering wheel - Don't think I'll need this one in Florida.

The max was owned by a couple in ther 40's and apparently didn't put too many miles on it. They traded it in to the dealer for a BMW. The dealer was originally asking $16,800 but I worked him down to 16K. They also serviced it, put new rotors, brakes and Toyo Proxes TPT tires on it. (Spoke to them on Friday about this one).

Update: I forgot to mention that it did come with a 60 day, 3,000 mile warranty from the dealer.

Reason for the Motivation:
I actually bought it from a wholesale dealer that mainly sells Mercedes and BMWs. I spoke directly with the owner and he answered all of my questions regarding the condition of the Max. I was on the phone about half an hour with him on Friday as he was doing an inspection of the car answering my questions. He was honest about the few things that it had but is was nothing major. I definitely got a warm a fuzzy about the Max.

So I managed to buy a car from Conneticut and get it to Florida for less than $500 round trip. I must also note that my back is killing my from sitting down for more than 24 hours.

Here are some of the pics from autotrader.

Arek

I must say you have guts to buy a car so far from your place based on one test drive but if this is the car you really wanted then I do not see anything wrong with what you did even more I would say that shows how passionate you are about this car.
Congrats on new car - looks nice, clean and it's 6 spd !!!

vq356sp

iTrader: (13)

Wow I say good buy. BTW I noticed your pedals LSD????

RocketMAX

iTrader: (1)

Thanks, It is indeed HLSD, I checked the tranny code on the firewall plate and I have the window sticker.

Yayomax

Personally, I was about to make a simillar trip when I came across a 4th gen 5spd for sale in Illinois. I really wanted it and it was going for 3,500, but it had 125,000 miles on it. I came a cross my 5th gen for 6,500 so I got it instead. So no your not crazy, and it was a good choice. Since I'm from Boston, MA, I know those New England winters get real rough and salt is the best remedy on the roads. Get your undercarriage checked for any rust/corrosion. A body from frame seperation is nowhere near fun.

mjk

iTrader: (1)

I shipped my car to Jeff at maxtuning, then flew with a friend to pick it up and drive back... so I voted yes =]

glenmoormax

iTrader: (13)

i know exatctly what you mean, I recently drove to pheonix AZ to pick up a full black leather interior swap for my 97, i already had the tan leather so my family couldnt' figure out why i would want to drive from SLC to Pheonix (10 hours each way) pick it up and drive right back, in my truck, with gas being 3.05 a gallon at that time... (for premium which my truck uses) Crazy what maxima's will do to people.

tedo007

iTrader: (6)

id say its worth it. me and my bro we went to PHILLY to buy his G35c from alabama. we drove 16 hrs. and got it for cheaper.

Bluesbrekr

iTrader: (4)

Nice find. I think you did the right thing. 6 speeds are somewhat hard to come by especially with all those options.

MxdOut97

iTrader: (1)

you a--hole, now theres one less 6speed in ct for me to look at! oh well, ive got my eye on a few others

Cdoc

iTrader: (2)

There is NO chance I'd ever do that! If that's what you really wanted and you went out and got it then I can respect that but I'd never do it.

Especially not for an Autotrader car. I've been mad at myself for driving 45 minutes one way to see a a car from Autotrader that was in much worse condition than advertised. I was kicking myself for that.

meccanoble

iTrader: (22)

yea, its all about the deal. If the car is really hard to find I would do it too. I'm guessing u couldnt find jack sh*t in your area. I just wouldnt care too much about warranty. The work to get that sh*t back up to get it fixed will be a B*tch especially if they start acting up...unless u can get it fixed at any nissan? I never dealt with manufacturer warranty before....

i vote yes

TXT-1

iTrader: (1)

Congrats on the new ride! I'm picky about getting exactly what I want in my new car and so I would've done the same thing if not more for a rare Max like you found. Good luck with everything!

Deckdout2

iTrader: (151)

I drove 16 hrs for one just like mine in Boston after being paid for. Then found out there were things wrong with it and drove back with a friend, and stopped in Jersey and found the one I have now. Had this one shipped to me. So yeah, I'll drive for one that I want.

boondoxmax

iTrader: (1)

I don't think your crazy at all. When I was looking to replace my totalled 02 with a 6 speed, I was will to travel to get what I wanted. I was gonna go to Pennsylvina to buy this 6 speed I saw there but I ended up finding one in Newport R.I which was 1.5 hours away from Boston. I drove down there and brought it after a long test drive and some bargaining....6 speeds are rare so if you don't plan on traveling to find a good one then you limit yourself. The amount of miles your car has good job man.....

MAXRB8

iTrader: (19)

Good for you man, and congrats, I did a similar thing, flew 2 hours, stayed over night and drove 11 hours back for my 6 speed back in January, it was a great deal and I have absolutely no regrets, my wife did question my decision as I still had my 4th gen to sell after but it has all worked out better than expected. So enjoy and get modding!

Your def not crazy but outside this forum to the rest of the world you probably are, but what does the rest of the world know anyway?

d00df00d

iTrader: (4)

Wow, nice car. Glad it worked out.

I would definitely do something like that for a car that I KNEW was EXACTLY as advertised. If I had any doubt whatsoever, though, I wouldn't do it... Buying a one-way ticket before driving the car kinda puts you in a position in which you pretty much have to buy the car, because otherwise you will have wasted the money and the time. Best to leave that kind of pressure out of the buying process.

But, hey, like I said... I'm glad it worked out for you. That's definitely the right car for the right price. Props for the find, respect for the effort, and congratulations for the purchase!

n3985

iTrader: (36)

You guys really spend the time to get what you want....damn. I drove 15min to my local dealer in NJ and found my car in the lot.

Maxima570

iTrader: (1)

I would do that too, although usually people do the opposite and buy a car from florida and bring it up here because there is no salt in FLA. I usually end up driving 3-4 hours for a car. I'm always happy after I get a car, but I've made several trips that ended with me not buying and it is disappointing.

Good for you for having the ***** it takes to go through all that, its scary enough to buy a car from CT (or mass or jersey) when you live in NY!

PS Who says u cant use heated seats in Florida? I use the meridian stuff all year round, and I'm 99% sure I would use it in fla, but maybe just at night...

Congrats!!!

RocketMAX

iTrader: (1)

I actually bought it from a wholesale dealer that mainly sells Mercedes and BMWs. I spoke directly with the owner and he answered all of my questions regarding the condition of the Max. I was on the phone about half an hour with him on Friday as he was doing an inspection of the car answering my questions. He was honest about the few things that it had but is was nothing major. I definitely got a warm a fuzzy about the Max.

dank104

If you like it, you gots to have it.

boondoxmax

iTrader: (1)

Cosatal Nissan I bet.

dafertilizer

iTrader: (8)

Absolutely!!!!!!
that was a great deal you got also, We just found one for my mother about three weeks ago, it's a 2k3 SE silver titanium edition in immaculate condition with 18,000 miles on it, she paid 19,700.
So I would say you got one hell of a deal

Deckdout2

iTrader: (151)

Yes......1 word.....Crackheads....sorry.

kbohip

Would I have done it? Of course, but then I've already done it before. Just recently I went to Miami, FL to pick up an '01 Lexus LS430 with my dad. We drove it all the way back to Colorado, some 2,300 miles. Now that was a trip! It was worth it to him though, as the car had every option and only 42k miles.

As for me, I've flown to Phoenix a couple of times to buy a car. Their usually cheaper and as a bonus have never been driven in snow/salt or have many rock chips in the paint. There is no cleaner used car than a desert car.

Congrats on that awesome Maxima

djbonsu

i definitely agree with your move man....CONGRATS to ya!!!..

i got lucky and found my 6spd nearby although i was gonna drive to pennsylvania to get a 6spd wit navi....it had way more miles though and plus i can always get an aftermarket navi unit...

GREAT MILEAGE TOO MAN!!!...02' w/ 29650??...WOW!!!!

Buck96

iTrader: (2)

For a Max, worth it. For that one, definitely worth it


Have fun :

XyNoix-HIC

no worries, some people go all way to the factory to buy the car and ship it back home because it is cheaper that way....it sounds like a SUPER good deal to me

housecor

iTrader: (2)

Funny timing reading this since a friend of mine just flew from KC to San Diego last week to pick up his new TSX. I nearly bought a Max out in Cali but I found my Max just 3 hours away in Missouri at the last minute.

Great call on shipping the car. I've never heard of that service but I'll certainly keep it in mind when I'm back to shopping in a few years! Great find getting one w/ all the options. Enjoy the new Max!

igzy

iTrader: (18)

Yup, have a friend that went to Cali from Ontario to pick up his Vette... He flew there and drove back... 3000+ miles...

MAXRB8

iTrader: (19)

Why do one's with Navi all seem to have higher mileage?

Driving round in circles maybe? Forgot to ask for shortest route? LOL kidding...

5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

I bought an 89 Mustang from Miami for under $3000 and drove it back to Iowa. (IIRC 28 hour drive if non-stop)
Thing was a peice of junk, but I ended up selling it for my purchase price 12 hours after listing it for sale. (89+Iowa= More Rustangs than Mustangs)...
The trip was fun as hell. Went to the beach for a day, then headed home with the top down...(until the rain and tornados hit)
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2195944/4 -It's the 89 convertible almost to the bottom of the page. Pic was on the way home.
Anyhow, I'm not sure I would do that for a $16K car. Seems kind of like a lot of work for a potential car.

boondoxmax

iTrader: (1)

I had issues with them. When I was looking to buy my 6 speed they wouldn't move on price. They overprice there cars very high and act like 6 speeds are made outta gold. They had a black/black 6 speed with HLSD listed at 21,000 last year and wouldn't move on price. I told them to go to hell......Hey someone brought it the next day so there are crazy people out there willing to pay

Malimal

Well I went from MD to pa with a one way ticket to a car dealer that had the Max listed on his site. did some research (carfax), test drove it and bought it. So far so good. Had to put some new tires on it to get past MD inspection. And they said something about the wheel well was cracked, but otherwise they said it was a good buy.

super6

iTrader: (5)

looks like a sweet ride, not sure if id do it but if u ended up buying and car runs good it was worth it, good luck!

RocketMAX

iTrader: (1)

Thanks everyone, I guess I'm not crazy after all. I see lots of people would have done the same and have crazy stories of their own. Now I'm off to start modding