Hi,

I've been looking for a decent 97-99 Maxima SE for a couple weeks now. I'm basically looking for something with atleast the convenience package. Auto or Stick doesn't really matter right now. And I'm looking to pay around the 10k-11k range. I've come up with a few prospects but now I'm confused. The other day, I checked out a 97 SE, black, black leather, fully loaded...but it had 131k miles on it. The owner is asking 8500. I'm kinda worried about getting a car with that many miles, granted they are all highway miles and the owner seems religious about maintanance. I also found the same car on ebay (97, blk on blk, loaded)...that car is in Florida, it has a Salvage title, 45k miles, and the guy says the best he can do is $9,500. He said the car runs perfect. The only thing that happened to it was the to right doors were smashed in an accident and they were replaced. Could just two doors be enough to give it a salvage title or was there something else? Even if the car drives and looks fine, $9,500 is a pretty good deal for a car with such low mileage, but the Salvage title has me worrying. Don't know what to do..please help.

 

I would go with the high mileage and NO SALVAGE title.

he is a crackhead.. you can't sell a salvage title vechile close to retail value.. thats why its called a salvage title.. i wouldn't pay more than $6000 for that car with a salvage title.. i don't care if his grandmother scratched his 30,000 custom paint and thats what tottaled it..

 

If his doors were hit, the part between them was hit. That is a direct part of the frame. Trust me, his frame was bent. I agree with Sprint, go with the high mileage car. 100,000 miles is nothing for a Max, one guy was looking at buying one with 320,000. But don't rush and make sure you check out AutoTrader. Oh, and decide wether you want a manual or auto. There is a huge bias against autos in this community. *cough*SPRINT*cough*
-Cyrus

 

The Salvage Title one you can bet has had frame damage. So forget that one. The other one sounds ok. The "Religion of Maintenance" is a good religion to follow.

 

The fellas are right. I would go with the high mileage vehicle. I really don't think you will have to worry about the engine much. Just have the people start that baby up, look for leaks and smell the exhaust to see if it smells like its burning oil or antifreeze.

 

I don't think you are looking hard enough. If your willing to buy an automagic for 10-12 keep looking. I guarantee you'll find something with lower milage. There are soooo many good deals aroung on Maxima's right now - KEEP LOOKING.

DON'T buy a salvage title.

 

If its a 5 speed transmission, check out the condition of the transmission fluid as well as the CV shafts for leaks/play. The 95-97s seem to have some trouble with their manual transmissions, particularly the differential carrier bearings (where to the CVs go into the transmission).

 

Look for a 5 speed. Automatics are fine but it seems almost everyone with an automatic wishes they waited a little to longer to find a 5 speed including me.