First-time Nissan owner here. I've been searching for a decent sub-$5k car for my teenage drivers (3 kids, my oldest just turned 16). If you've ever searched for a car in that price range/market you know what a junkyard it is. Utter crap as far as the eye can see.

Then I stumbled across this one-owner '98 Maxima SE for $4,995 (PRICE FIRM!!!). That's $1k over high book (as useless as book values can be) so I balked. What does this guy think he has, a collector's car? Then I checked out the car. Holy moly, it was like it was fresh off the showroom floor! 56k miles and perfect in every way...EXCEPT...the owner was a smoker. The car smells like a casino. I think it gave me cancer just driving it home. I can actually taste tobacco when I'm driving it. But it is so otherwise-pristine, and I was so tired of looking at crap I decided to roll the dice.

BEHOLD:




No dings. No scratches. No stains, rips, rust, cracks, dimples, divots, bare patches, scrapes...

Yes, the bra needs to go. As does the demonic stench inside. I'm working on both. I'm hoping a good interior shampoo and some time with an ozone generator will do the trick.

What a solid car. The pearlescent white paint is gorgeous. Problem is, the car is so nice I want to keep it for myself. I'm afraid of what my daughter will do to it (as conscientious as she is).

Oh, and don't smoke, kids! Smoking ruins your lungs...AND YOUR CARS!!!

 

Congratulations! Great car. I also have 3 kids. They all started driving 4th gens.

Over the years I've owned 4 fourth gens. Very solid and safe vehicles for sure.

You have some great scenery in the background. Where are you located?

 

I'm in Mountain Green, Utah. I took the pic right in our neighborhood. A beautiful area for sure. If you look closely at the mountains in the background on the right you can see the ski runs at Snowbasin ski resort.

 

I was looking around to see if they have anymore low mileage maxs around. I thought they would not have one around just unti,l i read this tread here. Congats on the purchase and the excellent condition max. I if i was a father I would feel the same way about my kids driving the car and wonder if i should keep it and let the kids drive it sometimes. Hopefully the kids will drive and treat it good. You always can teach them how to drive better. Congrats on the rare find.

 

Congratulations on that beautiful Maxima!

I've owned several older, low-mileage Nissans including a 1983 Datsun Nissan Maxima with 60K miles on it. Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but with an older low-mileage car like this you will probably find that gaskets, seals, hoses, suspension/steering bushings need to be refreshed. The water pump and radiator may need replacement. I've had to deal with everything from frozen brake calipers to rotten head gaskets on cars like this.

I'm not trying to poo-poo at your party, you've got an awesome vehicle on your hands. While there may be minimal mechanical wear, be ready to tackle the age related issues that may arise.

 

I would like to visit The Lodge at Snowbird in Sandy Utah sometime in a February.

 

As well you should be.

Been there - done that.

 

+1

One of the 4th gens (I30) suffered a t-bone when my daughter first started driving.

I managed to patch it up to get a few more years out of it. Though completely replacing the rear quarter section of the car and a new paint job far exceeded the value. So this 99 I30 has been replaced with a 98 Maxima.

 

Definitely do it. Snowbird is spectacular.

 

That is a nice car, sucks that it was smoked in, I hate that and never would buy a smoker's car.

 

Yeah, I bought a smoker's car once 25 years ago and vowed I'd never do it again. If this car wasn't as pristine as it is, I would never have considered it.

 

It looks like you have tinted windows. I use a product named Invisible Glass with a microfiber towel to clean tinted windows without damage.

 

Need more pics, one just doesn't do justice. Very nice pick up though and would get rid of that bra in the front!

 

Shampoo the carpet and full interior detail to get the smoke out.

 

This is how my maxima is sitting