Hi All!

My 23 yr old daughter wants a "nice" car to replace her's that someone totalled. She likes the subject car ALOT (and the SE version even more). Budget restraints dictate a car - with clean CARFAX and AutoCheck reports - in the 97K-103K range. Those that we have test driven so far are quiet and tight. I plan to get one or both of the "final" two cars inspected by an independent mechanic before we buy within the next days, but I'd like to hear from owners of this subject car three things:
1) do they really have to have premium gas?/how to they run on regular gas?
2) what are most likely going to be the first two "big ticket" maintenance/repair/replace items?
3) are u/how happy are u with your '07 Maxima?

Thanks, in advance!

 

Premium gas should be used, but not required. The manual states clearly premium gas should be used when available.

Repair wise, only the timing tensioner shoes wear out, which will run about 1.4K + parts to fix at the dealer, although with that mileage they might have been replaced already as the tensioners go at 60-80K miles.
Other than that, no other major issues with those cars, as long as maintained at proper intervals.

 

Dont forget the pre-catalytic converters! I did my own for about ~$600. Again they typically go out around 80k miles as well