I will be into my Maxima at over $20K but happy with the results. I have never had to wait more than three days for a part. There are very few electronic chips. There's no shortage of similar vehicles in the junk yard for used parts. It's been quite a journey, once I have a third generation engine, the rest of the car seems ready to go the distance. I bought it with 137K miles on it and it's a good rust free Texas car. My goal is to have a vehicle that lasts until I'm too old to drive. Keep in mind since that there's a low demand for these cars, the parts you get are much less likely affected with untested parts being shipped because of the supply chain crisis. If you do a "defective auto parts" search on YouTube, you'll see that this is a widespread problem. Those "new cars" with a $6K dealer markup, especially from GM often have a major failure before the first oil change. If you check what's available for a Japanese new car, there's an awful inventory shortage. I could have bought a brand new vehicle, but it would have been inferior to my 20 year old Maxima. Try getting a brand new common production manual transmission with a 6 cylinder engine that's not a sports car; it's not going to happen.

The first letter in the VIN is a J which means it was made in Japan. Cars with a number as the first character in the VIN is not as high of a build quality.

 

I hear ya, but be careful. Nissan essentially stops supporting these cars at 25 years old. I watched it happen with my ‘91 3rd Gen. Almost everything was available at Courtesy Nissan one day, and then poof! All stock discontinued. You don’t have to worry about brake pads or alternators, but items like window switch relays or body parts may be tough to get in the future. Last time I had to get a starter for my 91, I had to drive across town to get the only rebuilt unit that was in stock locally.

 

Buy a blown up one for 500 bucks and park it in the yard lol

 

I like your thinking, but every time I go to the pull-a-part, there are less and less 3rd gens available. I also have a 5.5 Gen, which are kinda still in the sweet spot of junkyard picking. There will less and less to choose from as time goes on.

 

yes it's getting harder to find, I have been to junkyard numerous time and Ive noticed there's very hard to find 3rd, even a 4th gen but I'm starting to see a lot of 5th gen popping up since those cars already 20 yrs old. I have a 87, 93 and 2001 SE models all in my garage, love them all, just trying to keep it alive and going, just having a lot of frustration with my 87 since I redid all the gaskets and now the crank seal in the rear has a slow leak, Ughhh I just did them and now I am trying to figure what the hell gone wrong.

 

Everything vehicle related has to some extent been Cubanized here in the USA. If people on the island can put a Soviet tractor engine and a Russian Lada braking system on a 1950s Plymouth Savoy, certainly making needed adaptations to a Maxima is a lighter lift. I wanted a new car with a standard transmission, but refuse to volunteer for a sucker's deal at a new car dealership. We need to learn from those who know how to adapt to an economy that's rigged against them. While Cubans are most adept in the respect, mechanics in Mexico are almost as good.