I am trying to figure out what to do with my car (lots and lots of difficulties and problems) and one option is to fix it and sell it. Thus, the question is:
What do you recon a reasonable price to ask for this car is? Read on for the description.

1997 Nissan Maxima SE, Auto
Power: leather seats, windows, door locks, sunroof, and mirrors
182xxx miles
Bose stereo
Automatic climate control
Garage door opener
Alarm
SE bits and pieces, aka spoiler and fog lights
Vehicle is rust-free, the body is in pretty good condition, interior is in very good condition.
I don't smoke (don't know about the previous owner, but I've had it for about a year and a half so no nasty smells or anything).

Just had the following replaced:
Most suspension components, full exhaust, brakes, transmission (yes, you read that right). Car has brand new all-season Kumho tires with just a few hundred miles on them.

Problems:
AC is out
SES light is on – knock sensor and oxygen sensors

This isn't in the 'For Sale' section because I don't know whether or not the car described above is for sale just yet, or what is going on with it in general. I am not asking for offers, just your opinion on what is reasonable. Thanks.

 

Kelly blue book is ur best bet, with such high mileage, I would say $3500 max if ur lucky... nobody cares about mods when u sell a car... especially since u have an SES, and the mileage on that would deter the car's price from going any higher...

 

If I were you, reset the ECU and clear the codes. I had a knock sensor and cat code and cleared them. Three weeks later still no CEL. *knock on wood* Also, have you tried recharging the AC or is it completly dead. You may want to try recharging it if you havent already.

IMO I would keep the car. If you still like it and enjoy driving it you still got another 50-100K miles in it. I would save your money till you get outta school and buy somehting new for yourself as a graduation gift.

 

I would say with the problems and the miles not more than 3500. Also modifications to turn some people away b/c they presume the car has been beat on.

 

It's just sensors. Not worth selling the car over, especially after replacing all that stuff. You'll just be losing money.

 

very true. There comes a time in every vehicles life where it's worth way more to you than anyone else would pay for it. At that point, you're better off running it to the ground.

 

there u have it... keep it, and just beat it out until its dead, meanwhile save ur money so that when it does die on u, u have a nice sum u can use as a down payment (assuming u work, and if u don't then ur parents can just get u a new car)

 

Do you want to sell or what? Because the fixes for sensors and AC will cost less than selling the car and trying to buy a new car. If you want to sell then go for it, but if you are just asking if you should sell because of the problems I would say no.

 

umm......you might have a leak on the AC.......since Technically you don't have to re-charge your ac unless there's a leak. The freon or r-134a should NOT have leaked out. But an AC compressor used is prob around $50-$150. Assuming ur fixing it urself. Knock sensor can be purchased fairly cheap and 02 sensors are around $40-60 each. What you should of done was fix and sell the car before you needed a new transmission. Since you have a NEW transmission. I'm sure that the engine will last pretty long. If you do'nt mind the car, fix it up....drop it, put some rims on it..tints..n it'll be like ur driving a brand new car. I can get a new car...but i'd have to leave it stock for a bit..n i'd rather drive an older car that's distinctive than any other ME TOO! cars out there...

 

one of my friends was just looking into buying a max and was looking at $3000, for 140k. Anything over 150k is going to have a toughtime selling at anything more than next to nothing. My honda that I sold at 190k was sold for $800.

I feel you on wanting a new car, but your not going to be able to finance it on money from the max.

BTW, nice to see Umass rep'n on then.org, never heard anything bout you guys till recently. Need to get a pic of my max in front of the FAC.

 

Thats for the input guys. Just to clear up the confusion - there are no mods. I gave the car to my mechanic, gave him a budget and said fire away (long story, dont ask). Basically he told me that the brakes, suspension, and exhaust were ****ed (rear passenger side shock snapped in half, for example, and the exhaust could be heard a mile away - those things were obvious even to me). I had 3 different types of oversized (215/60/16, instead of 55) bald tires on the car (previous owner... grr) so I got the new Kumhos. Tranny - another long story (well I havent even replaced it yet but for the sake of figuring out what Id get for the fixed product.... you get the idea, its going into the shop this weekend probably).
AC - compressor is dead. And a new one will not cost $150 - try closer to $500. Sensors I can and probably will fix, especially now that its warm out.
Thing is, I want a manual (already looked into swapping one in, and its not happening) but at the same time I do realize that there isnt much I can buy right now. So yeah, chances are Im just going to keep the max for an indefinite amount of time until I can easily afford another car. Once again, thanks for the responses.

wetzelman1 - go to www.umassmotorsport.co.nr
Hurry up - we're going to an autocross this sunday. Also, mark May 12th in your callendar - huge car show that we're hosting.

 

Right now I would be in the same boat as you if I wanted to sell my car. It has over 200K miles on it so if I wanted to sell it I wouldn't get much even with the mods. I will just keep it sell the mods off one day and just keep it as a beater because it is better off that way. So if I were you I would just keep it and save your money.

 

Car is stock. NO MODS! lol

 

The way I see it, you just put enough cash into making her work again that you may as well finish it up and hang on to the car. In your shoes, I'd just hold onto it as a beater until I had enough saved for another car... I might not even bother fixing the compressor; you still have the 2-65 A/C

 

theyll come back. they came on for a reason. you probably havnt met the enabling criteria for those monitors yet, or havnt had two trips where the problem has been detected.

as for the topic starter, i dont think you would get much for it due to the mileage. maybe 3-4K....MAYBE. if you still like the car, keep it and save your money until you can afford something else.

 

doesn't matter if its stock or modded, fact is, ur car is very high mileaged as well as other issues, that itself will bring ur car's value down tremendously, u have some pics, let us see some exterior and interior pics...

 

$500 for a compressor???? Look again, you can easily get one for $150.

 

He is probably factoring in labor....

 

The compressor is about $100-150 used, $300-450 from your local parts store, and $464 from the dealer. So that is not including labor if he bought a new one.

 

I dont really have any recent pics, I'll try to take some tomorrow maybe and then I'll post them.
I think I'll put the car up for sale - if anyone gives me a good price on it (and I mean good) then great. Otherwise I'll just keep on driving it. I love my max and love driving it so if I dont get a good offer, oh well - I'll just have to wait and save up.