So I got a 6th Gen Maxima as a rental when my truck got wrecked and had it for a week (about 3 years ago).. Ever since then I was in love with them.. The cars are just super bad ***...

Well, I look on autotrader every so often just to see if there is one in my price range.. Last week I found one.. It's a 2004 SL with everything but Nav. It has 36,000 miles and they are asking $13,500 for it.. I told them if they would take $12,000 I would buy it..

I know it's already a good deal at $13,500 but $12,000 is the most we want to spend on a car so that's what I told them..

Is there anything I should know if they agree to this before actually buying? I'm seeing a lot about bad transmissions.. That is very scary.. How exactly can I tell if this one is good? Anything else to check?

Thanks much! Hopefully I'll be a full time member / poster soon!

 

Check to see if all the recalls and TSB's have been performed. Also check for the shimmy.
And of course always check to see if it has been in an accident.

Service bulletins:
http://x.nissanhelp.com/forums/Knowl...html?catid=211
Recalls:
http://x.nissanhelp.com/forums/Knowl...html?catid=293

I have an 04 that I bought new and now have over 80K and have had pretty much no problems with the car.

Good luck!!

 

i would test drive it first. pay attention to the way the car shifts gears.

look for the infamous rattle when accelerating.

 

Yes definitely test drive and make sure the trans shifts smoothly. I'm on my 3rd one. 1st lasted 58k, second barely lasted at all (replaced in late december 08..its now feb 09, just got my car back and another brand new trans!). great cars, great power, just watch the trans

 

anything you should know.... besides the tranny and the shimmy.... in an 04 SL see if it has the 4spd of 5spd auto. The 4spd is notoriously bad news ! The 5spd isnt that much better. I have an 04 SE with 55k miles, my tranns is slipping bad between 2 and 3 and sometimes just revs at stop lights when in Drive.

"advice" = Just look for an '06 or even an '07 (cvt)

 

Its a somewhat problematic car (steering wheel shimmy at highway speeds, interior rattling, HUGE turning radius, Tranny failures, etc). But $12000 is too good of a deal to pass up unless it has major accident(s). If it has any of the problems u could maybe look at the V6 Altima but dont get the 03/04 G35 either.

 

"i would test drive it first. pay attention to the way the car shifts gears."

+1

 

i have an 04 with 68000 and i love it frives like a dream. Super tight handling, fast, shifts smooth and hard, runs like a bat out of hell!
It will put all those mustangs on the road in there place...LOL
Good luck, but of course drive it and dont be afraid to drive it hard during the test drive...God knows i did!

 

My 04 is fine

 

Yikes! Some scary replies!!

I'm not a car person (ie: very mechanical).. Will I be able to tell these shifting problems in a test drive? What is the "shimmy" ? Turning radius really doesn't bother me as I have a 05 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab so I'm used to zero radius..

Anyone here buy the extended warranty off of WINTERFAUST over at www.6thgenmaxima.org?

 

Sweet mercy! You've THREE transmissions? Are they putting used ones in or what?

 

The shimmy will be noticed in the sterring wheel. Hold it firmly with both hands while driving it and also when braking. Test drive with radio off to listen for noises such as Strut mounts, end links or even motor mount problems. Check to make sure no ABS lights are on and even pull the fuse to make sure it was not bypassed. I could go on and on but that is a start.

 

I haven't heard of anyone having problems with the 4sp, of course I'm one of the few with it (uneducated purchase) But I do have 82K and not a problem!

 

Sir, my wife drives one bought in 9/03 when they first hit. It currently has about 55,000 miles and has been driven mildly its entire life. It was in the shop 17 times under warranty and since the warranty has expired, I have been fixing something pretty darn regularly on it. I'm totally irritated with this car.

 

how do people make offers either by phone or internet without driving the cars?

 

Squeaks. Shimmy. Tranny. ABS sensors. I could go on...

 

go with an 05....

less worry.

 

buy my '04, it's a 6 speed manual so you won't have to worry about the transmission. It doesn't shimmy either...

 

As everyone says it depends on how it was driven previously. The 4spd is famous for falling apart. I have an 05 with a 5spd and beat on it constantly so far ok. Change all fluids if you do buy and make sure to use nissan tranny fluid. I believe it should still be under powertrain which is 4/5 yrs or 60k whichever is first. Even then with the low miles you may be able to have the trans goodwilled. Your safe bet have someone look at it first, then do what i did, install an external trans fluid cooler to keep the fluid cool(major cause of trans failure is overheating) oh and the dealer can give you a detailed history of the vehicle with the vin.

 

my 04 runs mint 42K but a also don't beat on my car if you by the bam thing just get extended warrenty.Just because others have had issues
with there tranny doesn't mean you will as you can see not everyone
has tranny problems.

 

No tranny problems for me yet. '04 max with 37k. Runs like a beast. I love this car.

 

5yrs still driving it and its running perfect.. get the VIN of the Max and check carfax and i believe you can also check if this car been to all the recalls as needed.

 

dont mean to thread jack but will someone please tell me how to post pics of my max... it wants me to put in a URL but i dont have one ( or at least know what that is) LOL
Got my 04 Maxx tinted today and wanted to see what everyone thinks???
Please help!!!

 

Go to photobucket.com and create an account (takes like 2 seconds) then click on My Album then Choose Files and browse through your comp and upload your image and then it will give u a bunch of image link codes on the right jus copy and paste the Forums and Bulletin boards link in the message area when u are typing on this website and the picture will appear!

 

my 04 is the best mang!

 

Tranny is terrible, shimmy hate it, nosy cabin....etc

Please realize that alot of members on this site have modified there car alot... So you might have more problems if your car have all OEM parts...

 

Plus, the powertrain warranty through Nissan is over because you would be over 5 years... I have an extanded warranty through Source One Automotive... My tranny went bad and when I went to nissan they gave me a list of parts that needed to be changed.. NOT INCLUDING THE TRANNY, the parts and labor equaled up to $5800.00... Of course, Source One only fixed the tranny... This is just one story, but I love the car (crazy I know)..lol

 

My 04 is stock, 50K miles, and fine. I have to say that tranny acts a bit weird sometimes, but I have extended warranty from nissan

 

Yikes i just bought an 06sl with 20k....does that tranny problem apply to the 06 too?

 

I have a 04 and it has 120,000 on it and the tranny is is all good and it the 4speed auto the only thing that i had problems with was and wheel bearing going out, the airbag light going on, and the abs going out.

 

2004 here, loving this car. I've had some issues since 50k miles but nothing too bad. Then again, warranty has covered everything so far. Master/slave cylinder, front suspension (frequent), and a couple small items.

My one complaint is that there is a constant rattle in the front suspension. The dealership has replaced all suspension parts (so they say) and it's still there. I can live with it because I enjoy the vehicle.

So far so good....

 

105,000 only problem ive has is the stupid ABS which was replaced under warranty and never had a problem again. The first production year of any car is going to have more problems than the same car later in the run. Carfax and cross your fingers.

 

I put 3 sets of tires on in 60k, had the shimmy, have the strut noise (rf), have the trans slipping. noisy cabin, mistry hvac controls with a mind of their own sometimes. Nissan warranty service is just plan terrible. Had the trans problem before 60K (before warranty was over) and they charged me $200 for a service which just got me out of the warranty before it was doing the exact same thing; 2-3 slip and acting weird. Now Nissan will not take my calls.

 

Oh and I forgot AC just went out at 74K. Wife refuses to drive this POS anymore so I will take a bath on the value trading it in at the stealers as I wouldnt feel right selling it on the street.

 

Look for an '04-'06 GTO... drive one and compare it to the Max... just sayin'...

 

I just bought my '04 bout a yr ago, I love it!!! it also has 90k miles on it and everything is all good on it (knock on wood)......... i was initially looking for a good deal on a 350z or a g35 but i couldnt pass this one up........ i just started making mods

 

I've had my '04 SE for 2 years now. Have 105k miles on it too. Can't say I've ever had a problem other than the A/C went right after I bought it (warranty covered it). It does have the noisy suspension issue (which they need to be replaced anyway, 105k on the original stuff is a bit much I think....), and does have a slight shimmy at certain speeds on the highway...but it handles like a dream (for a sporty family sedan), is quick, good on gas, etc.

Mine is stock still with the exception of CAI and grounding mod... and Carpc...but that's not really a mod ...or is it

 

Okay, now I'm a little worried. I just bought an '04 and she runs and shifts great. Actually, the car is frickin' awesome even with 105K on her. However, I definately have the "shimmy" at highway speeds sometimes. I thought it just needed a balance and alignment. Is this "shimmy" repairable? What causes it?

 

Did you get a balance/alignment, and that didn't fix it?

 

Getting it done today along with some new tires. I hope that will solve things, but it sounds like the "shimmy" may be a recurring problem with this model.