I have a 96 maxima 127k 5spd with mevi jwt ecu, h&r springs, tint, intake, budget y pipe, apexi world sport cat back.
And I found a 2003 maxima SE (leather) with 69k for $11,000.

Here is the deal, I am 18 years old and I have about 1700 left to pay on my car now. But i will be attending UTI (tec school) next year so i will have to take out a student loan. But I will be living at home. Should I buy the 2003?

Will it be faster then my 96?

 

It is faster, but I would save my money and stay with the 96, especially since your'e a student. And you wont get anything near, compared to what you invested in your 4th gen.

 

Of course its going to be faster... but can you afford the insurance? I would just stick with the 4th gen and save some money and pay off the car first

 

Don't be car poor until you're 30, stay with the 4th Gen. It sounds to me like the 2003 must be light on options, other than leather, to be that cheap or else there is something wrong with it. I know the price could be down a little because it's high mileage for a car bought less than 36 months ago - double what I would even considering buying it at.

 

sell the 96 and get a 98-99 with lower miles, STAY 4TH GEN

 

Your 96 is barely broken in and already modded. Forget about selling it and buying a 98 or 99. Nobody in their right mind would buy a 99 when they could buy a good 97 or 98.

 

I wouldn't say the stock 5.5.g 6spd is faster than your current 4g. Do both, pay it off keep it and get the new one .. or not, keep the 4g and get out of college and buy WHATEVER you want when you're done w/ school, b/c you'll be in the postion to do so. rmurdoch is smart, wise take his advice you';ll be giving it in 35 years too ..

 

yeah man, i would just keep the 4th gen, seeing as you're a student...

 

and why not?

 

No ECU upgrade . ..

 

The 5th gen would be faster but why do that when you can do 97+ conversion and boost for less money?

 

then i guess ill just have to by a turbocharger

 

i am leaning a bit torward FI. Mainly TC but ill take a SC if I can for the right price. I think i am going to stick with the 4th gen. So close on being finished with the payment, it just wouldnt make sense starting all over.

 

Exactly wait till you have no payment to make it will be a great feeling and you'll have that amount of money extra in your pocket, You would have a faster car but have more payments and insurance, plus worry about people stealing youe headlights. Stick with the 4G enjoy college, then get what ever you'd like.





Plus if you went 5thgen you'd have that ugly rear

 

I think UTI is pretty expensive. No way I'd buy a new car with payments AND go to UTI with payments.

Pay off the 4-gen, go to school with ONE loan, then mess with the 96 when you got extra funds. I mean, that's WHY you are going to UTI correct?

 

I agree with most of the advice here. As tempting as the 5.5 gen may be, it will still get old and lose value. You don't have too many miles on your 4th gen and you know if there are any issues with it. You will like not having a car payment hanging over your head. Get the most value out of your current ride.

 

Youre no better off performance wise.I don't know about the 2003 3.5 liter engine, but the peformance against the 4th gen is the same, since the power comes on after the redline. Youre better off paying off the 96, then waiting until AFTER college,then buying a loaded '03 PLUS your 1996 which will by then be paid off. The 2003 SE will be that much cheaper and you keep your '96 for a bonus.Patience is a troublesome but real virtue.

 

Can you explain this a little bit?

 

Its not that i like the 2003's it just seams like a great deal! (and yes the rear is pretty ugly) UTI is a pretty expensive school seeing that its about 14 months long. I cant wait to start.

 

 

I'd also tap it light on further expensive modding of the 4th Gen. Don't sink any more money into it that you don't have to in order to keep it well maintained. As you are certainly aware, it will cost more to maintain over time.

 

Yeah you'll see minor things break now that you have over 100K miles. However it will still be less than a car payment, and the increase in insurance. Stick with the 4th gen since you are going to college. You gotta have some money left over to go on dates. Girls like nice cars, but they also wont go out with someone car poor.

 

yo zippo, im in west chester too. If you decide to sell and want to get rid of the y pipe, i'll give you some cash and trade for my stock y. Let me know.

 

I bed to differ.
Nothing like taking a Date to an All you can eat resturant and you guys share a plate, save money and you both still eat good, and its soo romantic. . .

 

Sound advice adithius! I would rather look at a good looking girl/woman than a car I can't afford to put gas in, lol.

 

Have you posted in the 5th Gen forum, I think you'll probably get a different response from them. One loan is enough to worry about. That's also a LOT of miles for an 03, it would be a fairly new car, but not really. Stick with what you got until you find something you really want.

 

As was mentioned, if youre gonna go FI, id stay with 4th gen. More ECU options (tunability).

 

Keep your car. Use the money to buy school books/supplies. You don't want to jump into a car which you don't know the history.

 

Didn't really notice but that car does have high miles ... hmm ... yeah who knows where it's been.

 

my diluted opinion:

are you nuts ? a 4th gen is the greatest maxima ever made !! the 5.5 gens are nice but performance wise and looks wise the 4th gen is far superior its not even funny ! can you shout out VQ30DE a few times ? now dont that feel good ! now go outside sit in your 4th gen and apologize to her !!


real world opinion:
hey the 5.5 gens are awesome ! the 3.5 will spank you, and make sure you have a manual tranny. if you went auto i wouldnt bother. either way you cant lose ..long live maxima power !

 

I was thinking of doing the same in Feb. cause I was going to make some nice money in Iraq to give me a good down payment on one. After a month I came back to my senses and remembered all the good times Ive had with my baby. I am looking forward to next Friday when she finally becomes mine and mine alone when I make the final payment on her. I figure shes good for years to come, she only has 143k and has treated me well, and the extra $352 a month in my pocket will feel great, plus I will finally be able to spoil her back for all the good shes given me. Ahh, true love!

 

4th gens rock, especially the 95/96, the rear on those years look better than the 97+, since you already have a 96, dont change!

 

It will be faster and you should definately buy it.

 

Keep the 4th Gen. The 5th Gen has a bit more power but that's it... NOT worth the extra debt.