Alright guys, the insurance company looked at my '92 SE and it has offically been declared totaled. So its time to go car shopping again. Any suggestions for cars under 10k and decent insurance rates?? I want some performance but dont want to die with high insurance rates. (Im only 17) Im wanting a 95 SE 5spd but I keep reading about everyone's starters messing up. Man thats not cheap! Im surprised with so many people having problems with the starters there wasnt a recall...Oh well, if I get a '95 should I almost expect to have a problem with this? There isnt anyway to tell if the starter is going to go bad is there? Thanks.
Later, Steve

 

There's no way to tell it it's going bad, but if it has 80K+ miles, it might have been replaced already. A new starter is less than $200, so it's not a big deal. You'll spend way more than that on all kinds of repairs if you get just about any other used car, so don't let that one problem keep you from getting another Maxima.

 

My 95 had the starter replaced under warranty. I agree though, don't let the starter issue hold you back. There are quite a few TSB's on the 95's so you might want to familiarize yourself with them.

 

I have a 95 and know five other people who have 100K miles on their 95 and no starter problems...

 

If you are so worried that the starter is going to go bad, why not just replace it as soon as you buy the car? Is $200 really going to stop you from enjoying the car?

Good luck.

 

No, I will still get a Max, Im just trying to look what to watch out for.

Also, I was talking to this guy that I know that works for a dealership (Not Nissan) and he said that the '92-'96 Max's are known to have bad heads on them and that they have been know to crack. Ive never heard that....plus there were 3 different engines durning those yrs. Anyone got any input to this? ~Steve

 

I've never heard of a head problem with the Max. You've covered 2 generations of the max in 92-96. My guess is the "guy" is off base.

 

Yeah, I've never heard of a problem with a Maxima block or heads at all. Even that guy that had a 12-second Maxima didn't damage the block or heads when he broke it (I think that he just bent a rod). So the engine (the VQ30DE in the 4th gen) is very strong. The VQs are actually used for motorsports in the LMP race cars.

 

some give some don't.. mine went...

 

and the ONLY problem ive had on my 95 is the starter...go to ebay and get one for cheap, if ur worried about it.

 

This car is incredible, never had any starter trouble, a '95se auto

 

Mine went out just after 100K, but I replaced it myself for around $175. . . Took about an hour, probably less if you know what you are doing. . . I wouldn't let it bother you that much though, in terms of everything else, the starter is cheap. . . It will be the clutch that will cost you the most. . .

 

If you can live without all of the goodies, I would try and find a 96 or 97 GXE. I'm sure you could bargain someone down to 10k. If you want the car for it's engine and looks go for the GXE.

 

Wicked, that babe is SWeeeeT. That you or yours?