Hi all,
A friend totaled my Jeep Cherokee last week of December. Not wanting to finance and not finding much I liked in the years that the money could have bought, I decided to go with a smaller Japanese model. I had narrowed my choices down to a 95 Sentra GXE, 5 spd, 71K for $3300...or a 93 Maxima GXE, AT, loaded, 128K. Price on the lot for the Maxima was $5K. I was torn between the newer model and the lower mileage..but this Maxima was beautiful....black with dark tinted windows. Looks more like a Beemer or an Acura than most of the Maxima's I've seen. I got the guy down to $4K..he wasn't a happy camper...they were getting ready to move it to another one of their and the guy there who didn't know I had already seen the car, told me he had a maxima coming the next day and he'd sell it to me for $4K. They showed me auction purchase price of $3650 and $955 worth of repairs..two new tires, speakers, struts couple other things.... My heart went with the Maxima. I drove it home today. Pulls to the right a little but haven't noticed anything else.

So...just knowing the above....did I make the right choice?

-L

 

then its the right choice. Oh and my max pulls to the right too and its a 97, don't feel bad!

 

Congrats on the new purchase! I agree with Nine7Max, if you're happy then you've made the right choice. My Max pulls to the left...

 

mine pulls both ways depending on the "stoopid" nebraska roads...sonofa.....

 

Mine vibrates like a sonofabit** because of a funky CV joint, but that's just because I'm too laxy to dump the tranny fluid again to yank the axle out, flip it over, and put it all back together. (one reason is because I've done it 5 times in the past few months replacing CV boots!)

if you like the looks of the car, you'll be much happier with it instead of buying something with fewer miles that you don't like. many guys have 200k plus miles on their 3rd gens, so I wouldn't worry about it falling apart on you, as long as you take care of it.
BTW.. I've been making payments on my 93 GXE for over 2 years, and I STILL owe about $3000 on it.. you got a pretty decent deal.

 

Yep..you guys are right, if I'd gotten the Sentra, I don't know that I'd have been to the window once to take a peek at it and after driving the Cherokee for so long..I can't wait for daylight....so I can drive it again. Too bad I only live a mile from work. lol

The whole thing has been nerveracking tho. This is the first used car I've bought since 1980 and the first car, post-divorce. There was a lot of comfort in the Cherokee as it was bought new and I knew the history. Had just put $800 in it..new lifters, 2 tires that sadly insurance doesn't compensate for when totaling a vehicle.

I am VERY impressed by the pics in the sig lines, some of the ones I've seen that were even '90 models are GORGEOUS cars!!! That was one of the plus' in the advantage over the Sentra..I figured "hands down" on looks even with rebuilt engine, this Maxima would win over the Sentra, and two people at work had Nissans that had over 200K miles on them..one had 300K and still ticking.

 

Congrats on your Maxima purchase, and welcome to the club!!

 

yep like everyone said, if you're happy you made the right choice. The sentra may have had lower miles, and been a few years newer but to me, a car is more about getting from point a to point b (as i'd imagine is the case with 99% of the people on this board). You gotta like the car you drive, and I'm pretty sure you'll like the maxima. =)

Good Luck.

Chris

 

One thing for sure: the Max is a much better highway car. Cruise all day at 85-90 without beating you to death.
First thing to check is the mfg date. The reason for this is the timing belt. It has to be replaced periodicaly. Cars made prior to 7/93 need a new one every 60K miles amd later ones every 100K miles. At 128K you may need one no matter when it was made. Note: your engine is an "interference" type: if the belt breaks the pistons will hit the valves - big $$.

 

Eek! Will someone be able to give me an estimate on how old the timing belt is by looking at it? I'm assuming one can see it somewhere. I've always heard mention of timing CHAINS...(just in general) is this the same thing? Thank you for suggestions. This is the kinda stuff I need to know to check.

-L

 

According to my manual, the 94's had belts, the 95's and after had chains. Both serve the same function (driving the cams), but the chain won't wear out, so you don't have to worry about replacing it.

 

Ok, here's the scoop. If you have a VG30E engine (which you do) then you have a timing belt, only the SE models from '92-'94 (speaking of third gens only) had timing chains. I think you made the right choice. The Maxima is a beautiful car. And don't worry my car pulls the the right too.

 

Ok, here's the scoop. If you have a VG30E engine (which you do) then you have a timing belt, only the SE models from '92-'94 (speaking of third gens only) had timing chains. I think you made the right choice. The Maxima is a beautiful car. And don't worry my car pulls the the right too. For technical questions, find Jeff92SE, he's pretty much the 3rd gen mechanical authority.

 

Especially if you do a lot of highway driving. I've done my famous western Michigan to lower NY trip in both my '93 Maxima and a '96 Sentra XE 5spd (with the 165 series SKINNY tires) and there is basically no comparison!

My Max cruises at 94mph (cruise control doesnt allow any higher than that) all day long Actually I keep it around 80-85mph.

You can't see the timing belt, it's hidden in the engine. Shouldn't be too costly to replace it, but I'd get it done anyway if you have no idea when it was last changed. Broken timing belt = broken engine!! $$$$

good luck with your new ride!

 

you made the right choice. like the pepsi commerical and confused me throughly towards the end