Yep, just got a assignment to Iceland. Way too much hastle to bring the Max over there. Would have to remove the side window tint, no parts for the car, with the 20"....and volcanic potholes....not to mention side markers are manditory, like on BMW cars. Car will now rot in storage for a few years on jack stands so the tires do not go flat. What would you guys do? Hey, I am happy to be going, but would you take a year old car overseas, drill side markers in it, scrape my side window tint, drive it in the salt and ungodly weather....and if it breaks, so much for warranty work in Iceland.

How much does it cost to store a vehicle long term? I always just sold them when I was going overseas but WAY too upside down on this.

Any advice from you all appreciated.

Also, before I go looking for someone to take over the web site for me as my web space will be cut off. I can burn all the pics on CD.

Is there even a Maxima in Iceland....LOL.

 

I'd sell it if I were you.... take some of the money and buy a POS car that you dont have to worry about when you're over there... put the rest in a savings account... when you come back you'll have a nice chunk of change to put down on hopefully the 7th Gen AWD 320hp Maxima

 

Sorry to hear about you being shipped out to Iceland. I don't think that place is big enough to actually drive and enjoy your car. How long you gonna be gone? It sucks to have to make payments on a car that you don't get to drive as it depreciates in a garage. I'd list it for sale and see what happens,you might get lucky and sell it and buy a new car when you get back.

 

I am so major upside down on the car. May be a 1 year tour or 2 year tour with the family, regardless, by the time I get back, car will be up on blocks. Selling the thing would be shooting my self in the foot. I can say though taking it with me would be destroying the car in the process. Kinda in a catch 22.

 

I completly understand how you feel. My first assignment out of tech school (Keesler in fact) was to Japan. I had just bought a '92 Camaro. I wasn't too excited about going overseas on my first assignment but the car issues were the deal-breaker. I ended up going to Texas instead.

Do you have a friend or family member that can take care of the car for you while you're gone? I'd prefer to have someone I trust to take care of the car rather than putting it in long-term storage.

 

If you can't / won't sell it, then store it. Just make sure you have someone here in the States to run it a few times month.

 

TAKE IT! it's alot easier worrying about it when you have it vs. it being across the world. heck, even if it sat on blocks at Kef, at least you could start it & sit in it...haha!

 

Carcus - don't take it man. Like you said, there won't be any parts and you have to do too much to the car just to get it over there. I'm in the Air Force and I'm due for a Korea tour. IF I happen to get it this time around, my car will be in storage. My wife will go and toot the horn for me every now and then but it will be in storage. Good luck in Keflavik.

 

Oh wow. Have you ever been to Iceland before? I've been through Keflavic a few times. That place is definently something else, quite a bit different. Not much there in the way of trees and stuff, and it gets cold, but it's still pretty cool there. I've always had fun. Cant comment about ever seeing any nissans or if there are dealers and whatnot there as every time I have been through there it was just for a night or 2 and I havent paid attention to that stuff. As far as badblackmax comment goes, that country is plenty big enough for a car. The cities are smaller ( I was kinda suprised that Keflavic, one of the main cities, was not much of a city at all but more like a town), but the country itself isnt that tiny. Anyways, I dont think it would hurt my feelings at all if I ever got orders there, except that I'm not a big fan of cold weather.

 

choices : 1: Do not leave it on blocks here or even give it to anyone to take care: you will always be worried abt it.... and it will be CRAP when u get back!! Sell it instead.. Get as much as you can for it now... it will keep on losing money otherwise and you would not have enjoyed it even

2: Take it with you : Think of th e joy you will have driving it there... where "no maxima has been before" ... you would love the heated wheel (and those icelandic babes will go crazy (not sure if you metnioned wife..)

 

Dude, everyone on this forum is overlooking the obvious, (retired military, 24 years) get out of your orders to Iceland, Al Qaeda Not There!!!

Max Fine, Max Stay...

 

He did say that he was happy to be going so that may not be an option.

 

I know, but from a former military stand point, he'll get it...

 

Prep it for storage and leave it here. I'm in the military (14 yrs) currently and I've done it a few times before although the longest was only for 7 months. You will be OK if you actually "prep" it for storage...meaning drain the existing oil and put in new oil, put it up on blocks, fill up the tank and add Sta-bil in the fuel (keeps the fuel good and since the tank will be full you won't have to worry about rust in the tank. Cover the exhaust tips wewll to keep anything and everything out of it. Put a couple moth ***** in the floor of the rear seats. Remove the battery from the car and buy a cheap trickle charger. Get a quality car cover. Starting the car for a few minutes every couple of weeks is worse than not starting it at all. If you will have someone starting it, then the above does it no good and obviously won't work. However if you do intend to have someone start the car for you, it needs to run well up to normal temp to get the condensation out, which is not good for the max. You mentioned that you were way upset down on the car so your best choice is to keep it for now. The bright side to look at it is when you get back, you will have your car that much closer to being paid off while it is not racking up a whole bunch of miles in the process. If you plan on keeping it for a long time, this IS your best option. To have your car paid off with a lot of miles left to go. This is my opinion based on my experience. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

 

I don't agree with the above comments and I'm an accountant. Being upside down on a car is a function of your own financial situation which obviously isn't good. It appears that you are now in a situation of owning a car that you can't afford.

If you store the car it will continue to depreciate and interest costs will continue to escalate. Obviously the best alternative would be to bite the bullet and sell the car ASAP.

If your financial situation improves you can always buy the same car when you get back, albeit with more miles on it. You will have the benefit of having someone else absorb the depreciation.

Storing a depreciating asset when your financial situation is not sound is not an option and any reasonable person would concur with this conclusion.

Unfortunately, when you do come back perhaps you should be looking for a vehicle that better suits your financial situation.

Out of curiosity, perhaps you could explain how you got so upside down on the car. I think there is a fact pattern here that requires some rectifying.

Sorry to rain on your parade but there is something here that makes absolutely no sense!

 

Is there someone you trust to "rent" it to? Let them make the payments for you / drive it while your gone? Hey, not any different than a lease for them. If they actually take care of it, might not be a bad deal for either of you.

 

I say keep paying for the vehicle, find someone who may want to do a take over payment or have them get it refinanced through a bank of their choice at a lower interest rate.

You may also offer to make some extra payments as a incentive to help the new owner not feel the pain of your upside down situation.

Regardless, don't store it, sell it, and get out from under this financial burden. The military unfortunitely does not pay that well, and I am an expert in understanding what it is like to live payday to payday (US Navy May80-Feb04).

Hey you got some free accountant advice, use it and get a fresh start when you get back. Maybe by then you will be on more stable ground. Good Luck...

 

Wow! Now I'm being accused of not being reasonable by simply offering an opinion?!?!. Explaining how he got upside down in not going to rectify this particular situation, nor is it anyone's business but his own. It surprising how you can say that it appears that this guy is now in a situation where he can't afford his vehicle without knowing his financial background. I don't recall him saying he can't make the payments, but hey, I'm no accountant. Your statement of "Storing a depreciating asset when your financial situation is not sound is not an option and any reasonable person would concur with this conclusion" is not fair, unless you know this guy and is his accountant/financial advisor, which would still be inappropriate to put his personal business in public. Relax. I was only offering an opinion based on my own experiences. The ultimate decision is obviously up to the owner, and again....I wish him good luck on whatever decision he makes.

 

I would take it, I had a Altima when I was stationed in Germany and I took mine and had no problems with it. The folks who had to store their cars that went to Japan they had some problems when they returned from it having to sit so long. I would take it you spent all that money on it why waste it, plus you can put all that stuff back on it with all that Cola money you gone be makin

 

Once again I disagree. Obviously, this guy has got himself in a financial bind with this car and storing it is only going to exacerbate the situation. Forget your love affair with this car, rays01se, and pay attention to sound, logical thinking if you're capable of it.

The best thing he could do is sell the car now and like someone else said buy a POS in Iceland and start with a clean slate when he gets back. Hopefully he will have some cash in his jeans and be in a better situation.

He hasn't said what he intends to do with his residence (which is a greater concern than a car) and for all we know he might just be renting. If that's the case, consider this an opportunity to save for a down payment.


I rest my case!

 

Carcus, heres some info about driving in Iceland http://travelnet.is/umferdarad/index.html

 

See Carcus, listen to your daddy... If he knew you he would know that you traded in a 3 series convertible and that's prolly what put you upside down. Plus, the fact that you bought a new car which that in itself puts people in negative equity situations with cars. He doesn't have that since he is twice my age and has a really old car. Now you know for next time that no one should go into debt and that when you want to drive something new you should get yourself a Kia Rio. Sorry, that post was rude and uncalled for. You are in this situation because you are called to serve for your country and not because you don't know how to manage $.

I think you should put it in storage and "prep" it like someone said before. You have really done some work on it and it would be a nice thing to come home to at the end of your tour...

With that said, do whatever you think is best. Have fun in Iceland, and dang there are alot of military folk on this forum. Wonder what the Maxima/military correlation is.

 

My really old car, ThunderMaxi, happens to be in mint condition and has 58,478 mostly highway miles on it. I've owned the car since day 1 and its not a daily driver.

All I'm trying to do is give this guy some sound financial advice. If he wants to take it fine, if not so be it. When I was your age I got my act together financially once I got out of university. I can afford to buy virtually any car I want, but I don't consider them to be a sound investment.

At least my car is an SE with a 5-speed, not a granny's car with an autotragic. Why don't you take the 6th Gen of his hands or can't you afford it?

 

Yes Sir, now I am convinced that you are super stupid. Why are you lurking in the 6th gen forums anyway? Your sig says you have a '95 Max. Don't try to drag this guy down with you just because you are struggling yourself. Accountants can do better than a '95, correct? You should stop assuming a person's financial situation without "sound, logical" evidence. Find yourself. You are an accountant, not a financial advisor, remember? Your assumptions are all over the place, as evidence by your assuumptions about the man's residence. Statements like "for all we might know he might just be renting" further shows your inability to tend to the issue at hand. I'll leave it at that to prevent this thread from being locked. Don't forget that we are all entitled to our opinion. That is why myself, as well as other members of this thread lay our lives on the line every day for people like you to have the freedom to say the stupid personal attack opinionated statements like you have said in this thread. MODS - I apologize in advance, but I had to respond to this idiot!
Now "I rest my case"

 

Dibs on the dash carpet

Good luck Carc. Sucks to be upside down, but I say sell it.

 

I'm not going to engage in an intellectual debate with you. All I'm suggesting is the owner step back and look at his situation objectively and assess his situation with no emotion attached. You can go through life with a myopic perspective if you so desire.

Have a nice day!

 

Please ignore the bean counter playing financial advisor. Really now rmurdoch, your expertise is nothing but plues and minues, you should stick to that. Go balance a check book or somthing.

 

Damm, lots of Hate'n going on. Dudes, let CARCUS sort through the replies and make his own mind up, he asked for advice and it seems like he's getting it, good or bad it's still his choice and people are entitled to their oppinion without being attacked...

 

What are plues and minues? "Somthing" I'm not conversant with!

 

Good point. Carcus has to ultimately make the decision that is in his best interests.

I apologize if I've pissed some fellow .orgers off, but I hate to see people struggle with being car poor. My bet is that the vast majority of the .orgers are just that, and are living from hand to mouth, with nothing but a car to show for it and a big mortgage if they're lucky.

 

rmurdoch,

It has become apparent to everyone that you can't help yourself. Even when I specifically point out your shortcomings, you still assume that people are living from hand to mouth without any proof whatsoever, and even go so far as specifically call out "fellow .orgers". You start off with an apology for pissing people off yet continue on the same destructive path. You should be banned from this forum. You are obviously a wannabe to have a '95 and posting in the 6th gen forum. All you are doing is causing trouble and you are anything but a fellow orger. Get a life, dude. I detect a bit of your jealousy with us 6th gen guys, so save us the headache and go buy you a 6th gen so you won't hate on us so much. Oh, and your post count is suspect. Don't fool yourself, because you're not fooling us.

Fellow orgers, unlike rmurdoch....my apology is sincere as I apologize for taking this guy on via this thread as I know that is not the purpose of this forum. Hopefully the moderators will take notice of this troll and remove him indefinitely.

 

Thanks to all for the input and especially the military guys, 15 year E-6 here, find out if I make E-7 next month.

First of all, I was due for a short tour, not bummed I got Iceland...good short for the AF...I did put in for a 1 year for Iraq...but this is what the AF had for me and I got it, now way to change it.

Now, about my money situation.....I am not hard up for cash, I was upside down because I traded in a used car and bought the Maxima in early 2004 when they were alot more expensive than now it seems. I have no problems making payments on the car. I pay by allotment so it comes out of my check automatically. I have no gripes on what I have to pay for the car.

My intentions were to be responsible and get rid of the toys and get a good brand new FAMILY car which I would pay off and run into the ground as this will be my last brand new car and one I will give to my son in 6 years when he car drive. Selling it would not be an option. My point is I am bummed becuase bad timing....but that is the military way of life...adapt and overcome. I do love the military and spent over a year total in various combat zones in the sand box.

Reason I do not want to take it to Keflavik.....like I said, no parts, bad roads....imagine a VOLCANIC island that freezes, the roads...makes NYC look like a smooth glass city. Also, too much of a hastle with converting it to meet Islandic standards for 1 or 2 years.

I have 2 options, go on the tour alone without the family for 1 year and my wife stays here and drives the Maxima, or put the Max in storage for 2 years, take the family with me....if my families medical clearance is squared away...still have to wait on that. I CHOOSE BEING WITH MY FAMILY OVER THE MAXIMA....my personal choice.

I know it will depreciate in storage, but hell, I am upside down now, so guess on the bright side, if I store it will like one of the military guys said....appreciate the info and tips on storage....at least I come back to a brand new...well...semi used car.

The frusterating part right now is not knowing if the family will be able to come with me. Wife just recovered from cancer after I got back from my last deployment....depends on what my tour length is on what I do with the family and car, if the Navy base denies medical clearance, family stays, wife drives the Max, I am gone for a year. If they let the family go medically cleared, Max is stored for 2 years, family and me for 2 years in Keflavik. That is what I want. Again, money is no problem, I am not broke....and if the family goes over there my COLA is $560 bucks a month living in base housing...over 2 years when I get back....imagine what I can do the Max after the warranty is expired...and all the $$$$$.

Just wanted to explain to you all my view. The military guys will understand it best. I did get one of the best shorts in the AF.....but with the WX, no place for a brand new car and chains, major pot holes, no mechanics, no parts....drilling in side markers, removing tint. You get the picture.

Sorry so long but wanted to respond to all of you. Iceland will be AWSOME!!!! But want the family with me and the car can stay.

Also, will be passing on my site probably in August. I will still have internet in Iceland but no web space to host the mod pic site. I can still be a co-owner though. Also...will still be posting from Iceland on the ORG...looking at all you guys modding and driving the Max...something to look forward to. I will be in Iceland first week of September, will send you all some pics. Thanks again and hope this cleared up my point of view. Glad I did not get the aftermarket Nav kit now, would have sat for years with no use.

I would have been the only 6th gen sporting 20" rims in Iceland though....wonder what the locals would have though with the bass coming and all the bling....LOL

 

Actually, you have no idea of military re-enlistment bonuses or what I have in my savings to have you judge my credit rating. I also would not be intended to hire an accountant that drives a 95 Maxima....

You make it sound like I am on food stamps or something.

 

I wish you and your family all the best in your tour of duty in Iceland and despite what rays01se thinks, I have been sincere in my comments throughout this thread.

Obviously your car has been a labor of love for you and I can understand why you wouldn't want to part with it.

If you decide to bring your family with you will you pay to store your car somewhere, leave it at your residence or leave it with a friend to babysit? It may be safest to pay to put it in storage somewhere if it isn't too expensive.

 

See there carcus, we can break rmurdoch down to size after all. He's changed his tone 360 degrees. Nobody understands these things better than us military guys. Some of the civilians/accountants don't understand what our financial situation is. I myself have a '05 Max (obviously), '01 Chevy Tahoe with bling (22s, tvs all that jazz), '04 Kia Rio, '89 Honda Accord as my work car and I am a homeowner. He has no right to stereotype us, but together we made him see the light, which is why he changed his tone, which I am glad that he did so I must commend him for that.

You're welcome since you thanked me on the tips for storage. Any thing I can do to help a fellow Armed Forces member and a Max owner, I will. It's no secret that together we are the most powerful military force in the world. We stick together......and this was a good example on a much, much smaller scale. Good luck on your next tour. Everything will work out. 'hand salute'

 

No one has made me see the light. I've been sincere through this whole thread.

And my comments about people being car poor still stand. When scrolling through the fleet that Carcus has gone through in less than 10 years, its not hard to see how he got upside down on the Maxima. Its been a snowball effect over the years.

And as a 31-year-old, with 4 vehicles rays01se, you are obviously headed in the same direction. I guess misery likes company!

 

Ah ha! See.. typical accountant. No imagination.

 

I have lots of imagination. I imagine I've pissed a few people off today and struck a chord with others but I don't regret it.

Maybe its a different perspective I have of being a Canadian. There's a saying we've had for years pertaining to Americans: A chicken in every pot, and a Cadillac in every driveway. That used to be the American dream and it still appears to be the case, but the vehicle may have changed. I never cease to be amazed when I'm in the US how you see a big expensive car parked in front of a clapped-out trailer on the side of the freeway.


That's what a chicken in every pot and a Cadillac in every driveway is all about.

Long live the dream!

 

carcus. You do what you have to do with your ride. The main thing is that you and the family have a safe trip and that you enjoy your tour of duty in Iceland. I know you will have a PC there and you can keep up with the forum. If you need any care packages from the states, just let me know. Good luck Buddy.

 

Murdoch, you're making some huge generalizations. Basically you're saying that having multiple late model or expensive vehicles is bound to put you in a financial bind. This may be true in some cases but definetly not in all. The truth is that everyone has varying levels of disposible income. If people choose to spend that disposible income on their vehicle then you are going to have people that have multiple or expensive vehicles that seem to be beyond their means.

I admit that there are also plenty of people who are "car broke" because they choose to buy a vehicle that is beyond their means but to automatically assume that this is the case with many people is not sound judgement.

Cars are almost always a losing investment. Actually, they are a liability in most cases. However, the value of a car to it's owner cannot be measured in dollars and cents. It is a vehicle's intangible value that makes people buy a Maxima over a more economical vehicle.