hello...Please I have posted in the "thinking for buying a 5th or a 5.5 gen....." without a response so...please let me ask you here....
I am in the hunt for a 5.5 gen 6 speed (which are really GOD DAMN rare around me)...I even started to search nation-wide....and I have few questions :
1-If I have a good budget in hand , should I continue to look for 2003 religiously or 2002 is just the same ? I mean the burning oil issue and what not...Can anybody confirm that 2003 is better or same as a 2002 ?
2-Would you find it OK to buy from a back yard d(st)ealer ? (I'm sure you know what I mean) or stick to an individual car (i.e craigslist or here in the .org) ?
3-What milage basically you think I should put as an upper red line (again I have the cash) ? (sure excluding the car condition and history of maintenance...)
Please tell me your personal feelings and opinions .. they will be of great help...
thanks

 

personally i think 03 are just the same as 02 just newer year lol they have everything the same as far as i know...well as for price wise around my area(PA) maxima with around 110,xxx miles goes for like 6-7k? idk if that helps but GL

 

You already addressed the oil burning issue which is never really a problem unless you are one of the few unlucky enough to have the problem. Other than that an 02 is about the same as an 03. Also if the car has been taken care of properly then any amount of mileage is fine. My 03 max is about to push 100k miles and I have never had any major problems with it. Also I would definitely stick to craigslist or something like that. If you find the right seller, you will end up with car in much better shape than if you got it somewhere else.

 

Yup pretty much same except 03 is a year newer. Just make sure to really inspect it or have someone else check it out.

 

Minor differences between 02/03

More just package and detail type stuff than anything.

03 was available to get the TE package, which was not in '02.

That type of deal.

 

thanks alot guys...much appreciated...

EDIT:I came across a 2003 , Grey with charcole cloth interior..6 speed..106k miles Very nice from the photos and the guy (private owner) is very honest...BUT when I checked the car fax there where "Accident Reported
Involving right front impact
It hit a motor vehicle
Moderate damage reported " 6 years ago ..

and

"Structural / frame inspection performed
after an accident or other incident
Structural / frame damage reported
Damage to right front "

the title is clean though...
would you advice me to look (at least) to such a car ? looking-wise is very clean inside and out...I didn't drive it til now..
thanks

 

I believe they are entirely the same mechanically.
That being said I'd look for an 03 at the very least its 1 year newer.
The main reasons to buy an 03 are cosmetic...the TE package adds some nice
Little touches and if you are lucky enough to find one in the Polished Titanium color like
Mine and that matters too you, I'd say its worth the hunt.

As with any vehicle purchase don't rush...there are always really well taken care of cars out
There, you just need to be patient and find them.