My '91 Maxima has been a money pit for the 3 years I have owned it. Now I find out that the rack and pinion needs replacing. The AC is already out & the rear windows wont roll down. It has 198,000 miles on it. I have fixed everything else that was wrong with it & can't decide if it's worth fixing.
Blue book says it's only worth $1,500. It drives like a dream-except the steering.
What would you do my Maxima brothers & sisters?
Fix it or sell it?

Thanks for the input

 

why do you think the rack is out. is the steering just sloppy any noises or groaning when you turn

ac may need charging and your rear windows are proboly the motors

are doing all the repair work or are you taking it some where

if your doing it id say fix it but if your paying for a rack to be replaced it will be expensive

 

Fix it!
maintenance is cheaper than payments and maintenance!

 

Rear windows are probably the regulators or motors and new ones are around $60 for regulators from Courtesy Nissan.

All of that stuff you listed isn't really that expensive to fix. For a car with that many miles, it sounds like it is pretty good shape.

Maybe fix the regulators and A/C, then trade it in on a newer Maxima with less miles? Maybe a VE or a 4th gen. Just a suggestion. It's your car, though.

 

The car slides to the side when I round corners & I had it looked at by two different shops & they think it's the steering

 

I agree. My concern is that if I sink another $1,500 into it the engine or trans might decide to go out. It has nearly 200,000 miles on it

 

I was thinking about fixing the AC & windows & selling it but I don't know if I could get more than $2,000 anyway

 

Are you doing the work yourself?
If you are than keep it and fix.
If not then I'd probably say buh bye.
it also depends on what you'll spend on the next car.
KBB is pointless when you are trying to determine whether to fix a car or not.
Replacement Cost is what actually matters.

 

My car did the same thing and it turn out my left rear strut is bad. Im getting it fixed now for $75...I say, fix it.

 

It just depends on how long you want to keep your max, and how much longer you think the motor will run. You're not going to keep it forever are you? I'd say to figure out how much it would cost for the repairs and if you don't want to put the money into it, sell it and get a lower mileage max.

I'm planning on keeping mine for life so I'm willing to put in whatever money it I need to in order to keep it 100%, including about $1000 worth of stuff next week, but mine only has 130,000 miles on it.

 

I'm gonna keep mine running. i hate messing with buying cheap used cars. I got my Maxima for a grand and it has been the nicest and best car so far. I'm keeping her ;-)

 

$1500 to fix it? Id buy another one instead of fixing that.
Im supposedly selling my older maxima for $2000 to a friend, we all know how that goes, i was told 6 months ago another buddy was gonna buy it for $2750

i know.....ridding one problem for another...but there are some good maximas out there like my old one that has everything replaced already....hehe...Been there done that, id say invest ina new 4th gen, like someone already suggested.(thats what i did) or buying another money pit(one that needs less repair) with the money you would spend on repairs.

 

Let's see- Dallas Texas heat, plus can't even get the rear windows down on the oven. Frankly, I'd sell it and get a car with AC. Don't fix it-you won't get your money out of it. Of course if it's not very drivable now-it might be very hard to sell. I've seen 92 gxes with 120k for 2200, among others. The other big thing to think about is how many new parts are on the car now. If all the parts are 198K miles old, you have alot of potentiol maintanence. When was the last 60K or waterpump? I would you manage financially if you replace the steering problem, and the next day the transmission dies? I'd go looking at the small car lots for a 3-5 grand maxima. Or better yet, pay someone to buy you a maxima at an auction-old cars sell dirt cheap there.

 

i may not even be your rack it very well could be worn out control arm bushings but im not 100% on that id have to drive it to be sure but id get some more shops opinions before you have the rack replaced

 

id say keep th chick. mine has given me probs. just did my clutch n tranny. then i had to do all my brakes. now i have to do my power streeting rack, water pump and steering rack!!!! i put alot into her n i felt just like u, but i bought her with a new engine....that smokes even 4th gens(mildly suuped up) n shes still stock. cant wait to do some upgrades n see what she really does. hold on to her, but if you fell like its too much just promise youll get another max. i got a friend who can hook u up 4 cheap with parts all u gotta do is pay the shipping. holla back if u need the help!!!!