So here is the delima that I am running into. I am going to need a brake job soon and dealer quoted me $270 for the front and $270 for the rear. Then my 30K Maintenance is coming up in about 3K so that is going to run $500 maybe less with my Hospital Employee Discount thats set up. Then I am going to need new tires by winter (front ones are almost bald) lets say $500 for 4 Continental DWS 19", then last if my phone call with Nissan doesn't go good I am going to need 4 new wheels which are $700 each according to the dealership so thats $2,800. The grand total for everything is going to be $4,340 (roughly).

I have been looking into the new STI Sedan for 2011 and I have got to say I like it a lot. I have always wanted one but didn't learn how to drive standard until this year when I worked at CarMax. My question to all of you is what would you do in this situation; fix your car and spend over $4K or just trade it in and get the STI? Looking to get some opinions on this even if you don't like the STI would you just trade it in for another car?

Keep in mine my car has 27,200mi on it and I had to deal with Nissan for my spoiler lifting, then I had my driver side door window motor replaced cause it had died, then both rear door lock actuators were replaced cause they just stopped working and my doors wouldn't lock and if they were unlocked they wouldn't lock vice versa, and not to mention I am pretty sure the 19" factor rims are all bent slightly (ik 2 of them are for sure)<-- I take that as a sign as there is more to come...

Please help me out here just looking for an honest opinion; I don't want to get rid of my Max but at the same time I just don't want to spend that kinda $ on him if i'm just gonna have problems down the line more often.

 

Life is too short. If you want the STI, go for it!!! You've done a lot to your Maxima to date and if you "have to ask the question, you already know the answer." Good luck with that STI and stop back by and let us know how it rides!

 

Just from a financial standpoint, there are a couple more things that factor into this. Are you still paying on your Maxima? If so, unless you have quite a bit of equity in it right now, you are going to take a big hit when you trade it in. All of that negative equity is going to just roll into the new car and you will have a new car with even more negative equity in it than normal when you drive it off the lot.

If your Maxima is paid for or you have enough equity in it to at least get your loan paid off, go ahead an get the new car. The bottom line is that you should never dig yourself an even bigger financial hole just to get into a new car. It is just not worth it in the long run.

 

I agree with boone but if your have has enough equity to at least pay off ur loan then trade it in because if its only 1 yr old and you have had these problems then theres alot more to come

 

I would just trade, the car is just gonna get worse and pretty soon it won't be worth anything.

 

You can honestly spend alot less and get everything you need done. Not sure what the $270 brake job is, being sounds like they just replace pads and dealer is rip off for that. Also you can get the tires and rims from elsewhere for less price. Seems like you had alot of problems with your maxima. If you really like your car keep it and shop around for parts ect. The 30k mile service should not run $500 unless ofcourse you go to dealer.

 

The answer depends on your ride history. If you frequently change vehicles, then its time for the STI. I think it's cheaper to keep the Max, but you cannot fight your tendencies.

 

Get the sti if u have to question what u drive then don't drive it
If you wanted to keep it service for the car would not be an issue
But if u do keep it don't get the brakes done at the dealer they crazy with there prices the 30k
I would.do to keep the warranty people happy

 

Get quotes for the work you need done at different places then re-evaluate the question. Maybe buy all the parts yourself and have a friend or two help you.

 

Sounds to me like you already made up your mind.

 

How's the JOB and financial situation looking. For many, many folks around the country, it's still not hot at all. If you're even possibly at risk for job loss, the last thing you need is more debt until the economy turns around.

 

trade it in and sell me your exhaust

 

What's your plan when the STI needs brakes and service?

 

Just on a side not to everyone; I love my Maxima! Its a sharp looking car, it drives great and would drive even better if my wheels weren't bent but other than that it drives good. It has plenty of power, and again it looks good which is one of the reasons why I bought it in the first place. I would defiantly keep it if I can't get the amount that I want for it and or the amount that I am willing to pay for the STI if it comes down to it. I just can't bring myself to even think about putting almost $5K into a car to fix things that only has 27,2XXmi on it.

Car was paid off within a year of ownership

That is exactly what I am thinking is going to happen and that is not what I want to end up happening and just end up putting more and more money into it once the warranty is up.

$270 for rotars & pads on the front and same price for the backs. If i'm going to spend that money I'm just going to get PowerSlot Rotors and Hawk HPS brake pads for $70 more. Are there any things I should worry about when doing brake jobs myself cause all this car has freaking electrical crap and don't want to screw anything up. Also the 30K mile service is going to cost somewhere around there but ik that it wasn't less than $450 for sure though and it has to be done at the dealer to keep it under warranty. Where do you suggest getting the rims from at a lesser cost? I don't want anything off of ebay and don't want remanufactured cause I just don't trust neither of those and if I'm getting tires I know for a fact I want Continental DWS...

I do security at a local hospital and I'm part time but I'm getting pretty much 40hrs a week if not more. I don't have to worried about getting laid off cause it is a pretty big hospital and the way they work is if they are going to lay anyone off they are going to start with the full timers since they pay them benefits and vacations pay and what not. Starting pay for me is $12.75 with $2 shift differential for 2nd shift and a $3 differential for weekends and 3rd shift. OT is time and a half so as you can see i make good money I am averaging about $450 a week since I get paid on a weekly basis. I also plan on applying for PD's shortly so i'll be making even more $

If nothing else is going wrong with the car then I will fix it but on my Maxima i've already had the window motor replaced, the two back door locks, someone hit my car in the front quarter panel so its been damaged and repainted (fender, bumper, new headlight), I have 4 bent wheels, and it took me two months to get my spoiler fixed cause it was lifting and all they did was double the 3m tape and the end....

 

Uh....ok.

So what's your plan when the STi needs brakes and service?

 

Kam, I think If your finances are right, and you can afford the STI, go for it! Whats the point of keeping the maxima if it's gonna keep draining your wallet, just cut your losses and get it out of the picture.

 

If you want the STi then go ahead and get it but don't try to use maintenance cost to justify it cause the arguement just isn't there. The brake pads (Nissan) are around $70/set for each the front and rear and the labor is free (but you have to get your hands dirty). The 30,000 mile maintenance is just an oil and filter change, air filter change, in-cabin filter change and tire rotation, all of which you can do yourself. The rest is just checking stuff. So go ahead and get the STi, it is a great car and would be a lot of fun to drive.

 

Definitely don't know what the 270 for brakes is for, but if you have that many problems, i say trade it. No point in wasting money and then having to keep fixing little problems.

 

i would look into aftermarket pads, aftermarket wheels, tires, etc. that would be a lot cheaper than letting the dealership do your brake job and get factory wheels and tires..... or at least look around on craigslist or ebay for factory wheels.

 

agreed! you don't need to spend this type of cash on the repairs/tires/wheels but I know how new car fever works. You can easily justify the new car if you want it. I know, it happened to me and here I am...