Aqno

I need help deciding whether to buy a 2000 Maxima GXE for $6700. It has a clean title, but obviously driven to hell and back...

Also, It has slight hail damage on roof and hood, paint chips on hood and front clip (from highway driving), a 1" puncture hole in the front clip, but otherwise in nice condition.

Opinions on 5th Gen Maxima's with high miles would be appreciated!

kramerica72

I say it's a pretty good deal. As long as the previous owner did the regular maintenence(oil changes especially), that engine is practically bullet-proof. Spend the money you save on some bodywork and paint and you will have a sharp car!

djPlayboy

i think 6700 is a steal, but i would get a good mechanic to look the car over first. my 2k max has 88k and still runs like new and yes shes been ran alot, i put right at 90 miles a day on her going back and forth to work.

Craig Mack

That is alot of miles for a 2k. Get a mechanic to look at the engine. The price is cheap though. But then again, the 2k GXE is one of the ugliest Maxima's on the road, IMO. If I were you and bought it, i'd buy some SE components (spoiler, tails, rims) to clean up the look.

Aqno

I wish I knew...this deal is from a dealer... no warranty; I have a 1992 Maxima SE with 188K miles, with VTC failure, crank seal leaks, etc...and was debating whether to fix my ol'92...

Dave Holmes

Try Kelley Blue Book at www.kbb.com. I did a brief check on a basic 2000 GXE w/basic options and got a retail price (from dealer) of $11,340. This doesn't take in to account any options that can increase the value, but it doesn't take in to account the body damage you said, either. It's also for my zip code. My old '96 GXE got hail damage (prevalent here in Louisiana, as you know in Texas), and it cost my insurance $4800 to fix. Only part replaced was the hood and trim. The rest was pounded out, and paint. Real good bodywork is expensive. I can't imagine 132,000 miles in 3 years. If you finance it for 5 years, average 12,000 miles/year (national average, which for younger people is extremely low), it'll have 192,000 miles on it when you get it paid for. Trade-in probably won't be much by then. And even with the Maxima's quality, it'll probably have some mechanical problems before then. Also, $6900 from a dealer doesn't include tax, tags, title, financing (interest alone for used car at $6900 will be about $1000 at 13%!),extended warranty, and every other little thing they can get from you. You'd more likely be looking at $9000-10,000 out the door easy. Get an exact to the penny quote from the dealer and let us know.
I'm not trying to talk you out of it, just reminding you of some things to consider. Hope this helps.

Dave

Grey00lustre

iTrader: (15)

Aqno, u didn't mention if it's stick or auto? but either or have the whole car check out before buying..

T-bone

iTrader: (1)

This price is obviously a great deal. Although high milage scares some people, I feel that buying a GOOD high milage car can be a great bargin. However, if you are going to pile on the miles, yourself, you may want to consider looking elsewhere.
Take it to your mechanic
What tires does it have?
What service records do you have?

IceY2K1

iTrader: (3)

Compression Test!

NickStam

iTrader: (3)

At an independant place!

IceY2K1

iTrader: (3)

That's more than TWO words.

I would take it to MY mechanic and have him check EVERYTHING over along with a compression test.

Frank Fontaine

There are a few instances that I can think of where a person got a good deal on a car--

divorce
parents gave it
won the lottery and don't care
inheritance

How come people are constantly looking for "bargains" in the auto world? In a normal business transaction, the object changes hands where supply meets demand. for a 2k Max, there would be lots of demand and little supply, unless there is a material defect, in which case, there is little supply, AND little demand. That's what this one sounds like.

Many people just don't believe that you get what you pay for and there's a su**** born every minute. With that said, under normal circumstances, you can get a "good deal" because you bring a specialty to the table. You have some skill that most people don't, and you are willing to use your time applying that skill. Fixing up an "as is" house for example. Parent's are supposed to convey these life's lessons, not strangers on the web. Oh well, to each his own.

bk2kmax

I have a 5getn 2k Gxe with high miles too (110,000) to be exact and it seems to me that my car is just starting to break in (some will be sarcastic about this) but my car is faster and I get better gas mileage 2mpg better (I really keep track of this) than when I first got it.

I have a few paintchips on the front from rocks jumping up and hitting it, so I bought a bra to cover it after I painted over it. As long as you do regular maintenance everything will be fine, if I were you though I'd have the tranny checked if it's an automagic.

I haven't had any of the other problems that some of the 2k2/2k3 guys experienced and my car has only been to the shop once for repairs to anything (crappy auto trans went out) anyway everything else is fine (thank God) knock on wood.

I think you are getting a good deal, I could be biased though, I own a 2k Gxe.

optimus1

you're turning into an Old Fart, driving slow gettin better gas mileage ... j/k pretty soon Hondas will start passing you, then you'll want a Bimmer ...