Thinking of buying a 01 max...HELP PLEASE
12-22-2006, 06:45 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 60
Thinking of buying a 01 max...HELP PLEASE
hey guys, 
i have been car shopping for a while now, and so far i am trying to get a RELIABLE car that is a little sporty. I cant find any preludes, celicas, or nice integras that have not modifed...I came across a 01 maxima.
2001 maxima
SE - black with grey leather
5 speed
85,000 Miles
10,000$ obo
the problem with the car is that it needs a o2 sensor replaced. I talked to the owner, and he said that he already placed the 3/4 o2 sensors. He even had to replace 2 of them right after buying the car brand new! This last o2 sensor that needs to be replaced is supposed to cost like 1000 bucks or something...
i wanted a car that was relaible, but also a little fast. the max in a 5 speed is realy fast, but i am not so sure how reliable it can be with high miles...after doing some research, it seems that replacing the o2 sensors and catalytic converter are inevitable, and the audio head unit acts wierd...and a buncha other crap that goes bad sooner or later. I am a college student, and I dont have the doe to spend on random things that go wrong. I drove my volvo wagon from 0-120,000 miles and only probs i had was stupid things with the window. Is this car for me??? Or should i look into something else??
also...i'm going to test drive this bad boy tommorow, so can anyone tell me what i should look for? if the guy is telling me that all 4 o2 sensors will be replaced after this last one, should i stay away form this car??
sorry for the long post....but I really need some help.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!
i have been car shopping for a while now, and so far i am trying to get a RELIABLE car that is a little sporty. I cant find any preludes, celicas, or nice integras that have not modifed...I came across a 01 maxima.
2001 maxima
SE - black with grey leather
5 speed
85,000 Miles
10,000$ obo
the problem with the car is that it needs a o2 sensor replaced. I talked to the owner, and he said that he already placed the 3/4 o2 sensors. He even had to replace 2 of them right after buying the car brand new! This last o2 sensor that needs to be replaced is supposed to cost like 1000 bucks or something...
i wanted a car that was relaible, but also a little fast. the max in a 5 speed is realy fast, but i am not so sure how reliable it can be with high miles...after doing some research, it seems that replacing the o2 sensors and catalytic converter are inevitable, and the audio head unit acts wierd...and a buncha other crap that goes bad sooner or later. I am a college student, and I dont have the doe to spend on random things that go wrong. I drove my volvo wagon from 0-120,000 miles and only probs i had was stupid things with the window. Is this car for me??? Or should i look into something else??
also...i'm going to test drive this bad boy tommorow, so can anyone tell me what i should look for? if the guy is telling me that all 4 o2 sensors will be replaced after this last one, should i stay away form this car??
sorry for the long post....but I really need some help.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!
12-22-2006, 06:55 PM
#2
the O2 sensors are a problem that you will have to live with them. As far as an 01, go with an 02-03.. more HP for the money. I have an 01, no regrets or major repairs but If I were you I would go with the 02-03 models.
12-22-2006, 07:06 PM
#4
2002 maxima se
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BUENA PARK, CA (orange county)
Posts: 1,082
$10k is little high for 01 max 5spd with 85k. the 02 sensors would not be the only issue in that car. you must find out if the mass airflow meter=MAF, Coils, plugs etc was ever replaced. because the current mileage it has it will definitely need these parts sooner or right after 100k. these random parts do cost hella bucks so make sure to always have some money saved up. 02 sensors are not big deal you can replace all 4 by spending $400+labor or you can do it youself its easy as plug and play. make sure to find out if the tranny was ever serviced or flushed because transmission is the main part that you should be considering about. i own 01 too it has 120k runs like new because i have replaced all the parts that i just mentioned above. if you were looking for an auto i would sell mine for less than 10k. goodluck.
12-22-2006, 07:10 PM
#5
2002 maxima se
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BUENA PARK, CA (orange county)
Posts: 1,082
Originally Posted by baseer
ok....but after i fix this last o2 sensor, will i need to replace them again?? or is it just a one time thing?
what else should i expect that is very likely to happen?
and the hp on this 01 is enough for me!
what else should i expect that is very likely to happen?
and the hp on this 01 is enough for me!
12-22-2006, 09:14 PM
#6
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5
Try to go with a 02-03 body style. the 01 was the first redesign and the ironed out alot of issues in the 02-03 models. As for O2 sensors, its something Nissan hasnt ever really been able to get a handle on. Its been there in almost all the Maxima's I replaced 3 of the 4 on my 97 GLE but the fourth one isnt used for fuel or emmisions management so i didn't bother fixing it. But i would never drive anything else. except mabey a M45x
12-23-2006, 11:54 AM
#8
Originally Posted by MightyMaximus
Try to go with a 02-03 body style. the 01 was the first redesign and the ironed out alot of issues in the 02-03 models. As for O2 sensors, its something Nissan hasnt ever really been able to get a handle on. Its been there in almost all the Maxima's I replaced 3 of the 4 on my 97 GLE but the fourth one isnt used for fuel or emmisions management so i didn't bother fixing it. But i would never drive anything else. except mabey a M45x
10k is a descent price but I am sure you can get that down a few hundred more bucks.
12-23-2006, 03:21 PM
#9
You're going to get alot of biased information from a Maxima Enthusiest forum. All cars have their problems and the Maxima is far from being bulletproof. (Yes, you WILL have have maintaince costs with this vehicle. 
) I can say that you will probably not have any internal engine problems unless you buy a 3.5, they seem to be built pretty strong.
10k for a Manual SE with 80K seems about a grand or two to high for me. Weather it's coming from a private party or a dealership will make a big difference in price. Put into retrospect last year at this time I bought a 2000 Auto (yes autos do have a better resale value) GLE with 58K for 10,200. That was far from "stealing" it. Being a year later you could compare that to an 01 today. Being that you want a manual you have tremendous bargaining power, especially if this is from a private party who is paying listing fees and watching his vehicle depreciate while looking for a buyer. Generally speaking, younger people are the only ones who drive manual transmissions, and the Maxima typically either isn't in their price range or not quite sporty enough.
For the informed:
Try www.endumds.com, www.carsurvey.org, www.jdpower.com, www.kbb.com, www.mycarstats.com, www.carfax.com (MAKE SURE YOU GET A CARFAX BEFORE BUYING), and some others I'm probably fogretting.
Some of these, like www.carsurvey.org for example have no bonds with anybody and the reports are of people like me and you just reporting if we're happy or not with the car.
When looking at cars remember that all manufactuers have good and bad vehicles. No one brand is superior to the other and some of the domestic vehicles are just as reliable as the asian imports.
) I can say that you will probably not have any internal engine problems unless you buy a 3.5, they seem to be built pretty strong. 10k for a Manual SE with 80K seems about a grand or two to high for me. Weather it's coming from a private party or a dealership will make a big difference in price. Put into retrospect last year at this time I bought a 2000 Auto (yes autos do have a better resale value) GLE with 58K for 10,200. That was far from "stealing" it. Being a year later you could compare that to an 01 today. Being that you want a manual you have tremendous bargaining power, especially if this is from a private party who is paying listing fees and watching his vehicle depreciate while looking for a buyer. Generally speaking, younger people are the only ones who drive manual transmissions, and the Maxima typically either isn't in their price range or not quite sporty enough.
For the informed:
Try www.endumds.com, www.carsurvey.org, www.jdpower.com, www.kbb.com, www.mycarstats.com, www.carfax.com (MAKE SURE YOU GET A CARFAX BEFORE BUYING), and some others I'm probably fogretting.
Some of these, like www.carsurvey.org for example have no bonds with anybody and the reports are of people like me and you just reporting if we're happy or not with the car.
When looking at cars remember that all manufactuers have good and bad vehicles. No one brand is superior to the other and some of the domestic vehicles are just as reliable as the asian imports.
12-23-2006, 07:25 PM
#11
Originally Posted by oldmanshirt
$10k is very high for an 01 with that mileage. I bought my '01 GXE with 45,000 miles on it for $10k, and that was back in Sept. '05. Get the seller to reduce the price or go for a 5.5 gen.
12-26-2006, 11:17 AM
#12
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 11
Buying 2001
Originally Posted by baseer
hey guys,
i have been car shopping for a while now, and so far i am trying to get a RELIABLE car that is a little sporty. I cant find any preludes, celicas, or nice integras that have not modifed...I came across a 01 maxima.
2001 maxima
SE - black with grey leather
5 speed
85,000 Miles
10,000$ obo
the problem with the car is that it needs a o2 sensor replaced. I talked to the owner, and he said that he already placed the 3/4 o2 sensors. He even had to replace 2 of them right after buying the car brand new! This last o2 sensor that needs to be replaced is supposed to cost like 1000 bucks or something...
i wanted a car that was relaible, but also a little fast. the max in a 5 speed is realy fast, but i am not so sure how reliable it can be with high miles...after doing some research, it seems that replacing the o2 sensors and catalytic converter are inevitable, and the audio head unit acts wierd...and a buncha other crap that goes bad sooner or later. I am a college student, and I dont have the doe to spend on random things that go wrong. I drove my volvo wagon from 0-120,000 miles and only probs i had was stupid things with the window. Is this car for me??? Or should i look into something else??
also...i'm going to test drive this bad boy tommorow, so can anyone tell me what i should look for? if the guy is telling me that all 4 o2 sensors will be replaced after this last one, should i stay away form this car??
sorry for the long post....but I really need some help.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!
i have been car shopping for a while now, and so far i am trying to get a RELIABLE car that is a little sporty. I cant find any preludes, celicas, or nice integras that have not modifed...I came across a 01 maxima.
2001 maxima
SE - black with grey leather
5 speed
85,000 Miles
10,000$ obo
the problem with the car is that it needs a o2 sensor replaced. I talked to the owner, and he said that he already placed the 3/4 o2 sensors. He even had to replace 2 of them right after buying the car brand new! This last o2 sensor that needs to be replaced is supposed to cost like 1000 bucks or something...
i wanted a car that was relaible, but also a little fast. the max in a 5 speed is realy fast, but i am not so sure how reliable it can be with high miles...after doing some research, it seems that replacing the o2 sensors and catalytic converter are inevitable, and the audio head unit acts wierd...and a buncha other crap that goes bad sooner or later. I am a college student, and I dont have the doe to spend on random things that go wrong. I drove my volvo wagon from 0-120,000 miles and only probs i had was stupid things with the window. Is this car for me??? Or should i look into something else??
also...i'm going to test drive this bad boy tommorow, so can anyone tell me what i should look for? if the guy is telling me that all 4 o2 sensors will be replaced after this last one, should i stay away form this car??
sorry for the long post....but I really need some help.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!
12-26-2006, 12:15 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,207
if you want a car that's totally trouble free get an accord or something. Maximas are reliable in that you'll probably get to and from work every day but as far as trouble free... not these cars. There's always something little to fix.
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