I need an honest opinion from you guys as I'm stuck between what to do.

Heres the story, I bought my car about 1.5 years ago from my dads friend for $2000. I put a lott of miles on it in that past time commuting and such(almost 20,000)

My car as of now is just about to roll over 114,000 miles and its starting to have a bunch of things go wrong at once. I had a bad catalytic converter(the last one that isnt monitored with an o2 so I got away with just gutting it out), transmission slips from 2-3 when cold and the fluid is starting to turn brown with about 12,000 miles on it(looks brown but doesnt smell burnt), has minor body damage on the right quarter pannel from some ******* hiting me in a parking lot and running away, has a rear end clunk when first driving in the cold periodically, had to replace the rear valve cover, and now an o2 just blew out on me.

I really love my maxima and I also love not having monthly payments but Im not sure that this car is worth the upkeep. Im thinking about trading in my baby, but something keeps telling me to run it to until the wheels fall off. I just want an opinion from you guys.

thanks

 

$2000?!?!? I envy you if you got a 5.5 in good condition for $2000.

20,000 miles is not a lot in 1.5 years, in fact it's about average (between 12,000 to 15,000 miles/yr)

Transmission seems like the largest of your worries, but I'd pony up the cash for it. Everything you listed you can source parts for and even take care of some of it yourself. The hit and run I'd claim to insurance and get that fixed.

 

well it had some rear body damage when I bought it but it was only about $500 worth.

I got it for so cheap because it was my best friends dads car and he always knew I really liked it so he cut me a deal.

I just feel like it might be easier to have a newer car with no problems then to keep putting money into this one. The thing is that I got a good deal on this car and nothing major except the tranny has gone bad.

 

Honestly think you will have a hard time finding something better newer. You will either pay a lot more money for a newer car or will lose a lot of advantages of the maxima. The maxima seems to be the most praticaly car under $8,000 to me. Except maybe a pontiac grand prix 1997-2003. (I know people will argue, but they are excellent cars). Fixing it is a lot easier. Getting a car around the 50,000-60,000 mile range will suck, because the last owner can get away with almost no maintenance. If you wait until 80,000-100,000 you have a good idea of how it is taken care of. This hardly sounds like it is making sense, but when you have good car, keep it. Finding another is super hard. I had a 1989 maxima se that was AMAZING, nothing compares, not even my significantly faster newer 2000 se. I know the 89 was more reliable. It is just how the car was taken care of. Fix what you have. None of those problems minus the trans is a big deal and a trans isn't too bad anyway. (6-speed swap!)

 

I agree with the others.

For the money you paid for it you're so far ahead that you should stay there. There are several sites that have tranny's for sale.

Buy a tranny with 60K on it. Pay the money to have it installed and have the same place fix the small engine issues (leaks and suchj) if you can't do it yourself.

For less than buying something as nice as a 5.5 you can be good to go for a couple more years.

 

^^^
yeah I see what you guys mean. and if my transmission does go, it will be replaced with a 6 speed. Thanks for the feedback so far

 

Other than the tranny issue thats little stuff. And you said it only does it when cold too. I'd replace the O2 and drive it till the wheels fall off. A new car is gonna have problems too, can't run from maintenance.

 

with that price i would just fix it up. You really aren't looking that much of an investment IMO. Get a used tranny from a junkyard when the original one blows up (which would probably take a while). I have the same delay shift issue on my 01 and from what i've read, that is not a mechanical defect. My friend has an 00 with 150K and he had the slip issue when he bought the car new (or almost new)....the car still drives good apart from the slight delay b/w 1-2 gear.

If you buy another car, you would first have to pay the tax on it, which depending on the cost of the car, can run you anywhere from $500-700 easily. Dealer fee and other misc bs and that's a grand right there. There aren't any guarantees the car you'll buy would be trouble free...unless you want to buy a brand new one. So factor in all these things and make a decision
good luck

 

i would say keep the car once u fix these issues like the tranny i had to do too tur car will run like a champ in this economy i woulnd want and added payment for a car id say keep it

 

keep it, if not I'll buy it from you

 

I say you got a steal so what are you out if you have to put a little money in it . Its that or another payment.

 

2k? for a 2k2?? keep it, even if you paid full price on parts labor etc it would still be worth it as most the 02s are selling for 5-11k.....

 

ill give you 2500,.. that way you make 500 and have a down payment

 

**** ill give you 3k =P

 

$500 for a down payment? haha that will barely cover title and registration.

Looks like im keeping her anyway. its at my mechanic now for the o2. i would attempt that myself but its too fawking cold out. as far as the tranny goes ill just hope it doesnt go for a while and when it does, ill worry about it then

 

im back *****es

 

keep it.
I had the same idea, but after driving those ecoboxes, I still love my maxima.

 

i bought my 01 5spd for $9k

 

nah bro..i meant 2500 for a down payment lol... good catch though

 

With as little as you paid for the car, I agree with the others, if you like the car it is worth fixing. You can probably take care of the cold temperature slip with a Transgo shift kit. I've had the same issue (cold weather soft or very minimal slip on the 2-3 upshift) since I bought my car about a year and a half ago with 113,000 miles on it. I've put 32,000 on mine since and the problem has not worsened and shifts perfect once it warms up. Seems to me the issue doesn't greatly impact the longevity of the transmission and the shift kit apparently completely cures the problem.

 

Keep it and fix it, you got that car for a steal

 

its ur financial situation and its ur investment, u know wat u can afford and wat u cant, ask urself and ur family members as well, u have to live with the car not us, if u want something for peace of mind get a new car if u can afford it, if u cant affrod something newer take care of wats most important on the car. We can only advise you, you yourself are the decision maker, but watever u do with it, keep or sell i wish u the best in the future. Not many can survive this economy

 

I'm at 114k now, and ironically enough, was at the same crossroad. I was inches from pulling the trigger on a TL, but then changed my mind. I have about $3k worth of repairs I am putting in to it, but you know what? That should keep her running for another 3 years or more.

If you're looking for the fiscally viable advise - keep the car and fix it. Anything else other than that will be based upon your emotions and desires.

 

Definitely keep it. I just got a 2000 5spd for 3600. It had a bad alternator diode and a starter issue, and needs some body work, ... Still I like drivin it better than my 08 Altima.
Maximas are about passionate driving. Sometimes it takes a little work to keep passion alive. Just ask anybodies wife and she'll tell you

 

who the **** are you

 

If you look at total cost of ownership, you are better off fixing it and have no car payments, higher insurance costs and higher registration. Plus right now you know what you have. Buy another used vehicle, you gamble.

 

Well I am definitely going to keep the max for a while longer. I still really do love my car and after thinking it through the only car that would be enjoyable and affordable for me to drive would be another used maxima. i thought about getting a slightly used honda ecobox or a sentra, but that would be a downgrade. At least I can drive something that is still a nice car and I know exactly what is wrong with it.

In terms of the tranny slip scottwax is your slip affected by rpms?? Mine will slip when its cold if I let it shift past 2k rpms until its completely warm. If i give it just enough gas or pull off the gas so it will shift at 2k rpms, then my tranny wont slip at all. Just wondering if yours is the same way.

 

ya dude,

so umm i STILL have a car payment and im at 178k my paint is insane horrible, and there are all kinds of **** that bother me about the car......


so if u really paid 2,000 for ur car with those miles, then you def should not be complaining.......


so if u wanna trade let me know....

 

I'd like to cast my vote for keeping the car. All these reason's that everybody else has posted is the reasons I can't let my '97 Atima go. At 230+K miles, the wife still puts 100 miles a day on her. We figured up all the money put into it, including the purchase price of $1800 and it came out to about $4200. Divide that by 53 months that we've owned it............you get the picture. Beats another car payment any day!

BTW, let me know what you find out with the clunk in the rear, I have the same issue with my '01.

 

oh well the clunk in the rear wound up being a one of those X shaped lug nut remover tools(cant think of the name of it for the life of me) that somehow got under the trunk liner and was bouncing on the spare tire cover

 

since you love the car i think as others have said that you should try to repair whats wrong i think you will still be ahead.. i think to with the economy the way it is too you'd be better off to stay with what you have!
no payments r mighty fine 2!!