Does this Maxima look like it's in "Excellent condition" to you?

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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
This car is local to me and I was thinking about it as a replacement for the sentra. It's being sold by a guy's mother because he has moved away from home for school. I called her and she asked if the ad mentioned the dent in the back. Ah...no it didn't. Well maxpain1.jpg & maxpain2.jpg are not indicative to me of a car in "excellent condition". Obviously this bozo thought that he'd interest people to check out the car and then be "Oh yeah did I forget to mention it has $1500 in damage? Oops!". I thought I'd check it out anyway and build repairs into an offer, but the left door and rear quarter panel need major work and/or replacing, plus touch up to the rear bumper, and the rear light
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It was priced well but not spectacular before. I have no idea how he expects anybody to pay anything close to $10k for the car! Oh yes, I forgot to mention that the rear left tire looked to be about 8 psi. Noway anybody could have driven the car for a test drive if they wanted to.
 
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shuan24

Platinum Member
Jul 17, 2003
2,558
0
0
i guess "excellent" is in the eye of the beholder.

I would definately take it to the mechanic and have them check it out. The exterior damage is nothing compared to whats inside. You DONT want to buy a lemon.
 
K

kt

Diamond Member
Apr 1, 2000
6,032
1,348
136
Pass. Not worth getting a car that has been in an accident.
 
radioouman

radioouman

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2002
8,632
0
0
Offer some ridiculously low price for it.... He is asking $10k, so offer him $5k. You never know...

 
Vic

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Heh... this is one of my biggest peeves when looking at Private Party cars. Every jerk-off thinks their car is excellent and that excellent means they can get an above book price.

Used car condition is NOT in the eye of the beholder, it is a defined absolute and here is the guide.

Until the seller gets that ding fixed, that car is in "Fair" condition (as the ding will require professional work to repair).

edit: book value on that car is about $7,600 as is or about $9,100 if he gets it repaired. I wouldn't buy from that seller as he is obviously deceitful. It's not just the his description of "excellent" on autotrader, look at the picture showing only the clean side!
 
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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: kt
Pass. Not worth getting a car that has been in an accident.
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Well I bought the 00 maxima after it had been in an accident, but one of the two car reports I pulled has a section for frame damage and none was reported. Of greater importance was that I had it inspected and the guy doing it told me he couldnt' for the life of him find that it had been in an accident (carfax says it was on the left, so he knew where to look). frame damage accidents are not good, or bad repairs, but in my case the car is flawless (my 00 max). This one I'd have nothing against if it was first FIXED! But who shows a car that nobody can possibly buy like this?

 
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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: geno
1500 for quarter panel damage??
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How do I know? :p it's a guess, but the quarter panel is screwed - cannot be repaired and will have to be replaced. The back door at the least needs a lot of work and possibly a replacement. Then additional work on the rear bumper and a new light casing on the back. I can't see that stuff being cheap.
 
M

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
Originally posted by: geno
1500 for quarter panel damage??
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From a decent shop I would say so. Labor+Paint Matching+replacing the whole 1/4 panel. I certainly wouldn't want the dent pulled and bondo put on it.
 
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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: Millennium
Originally posted by: geno
1500 for quarter panel damage??
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From a decent shop I would say so. Labor+Paint Matching+replacing the whole 1/4 panel. I certainly wouldn't want the dent pulled and bondo put on it.
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You couldn't even repair the 1/4 panel. Not sure the picture shows it, but it's been impressed so far that it split near the bottom and there is a hole in it and some nice rust starting to show. That panel gosta go!

 
M

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: Millennium
Originally posted by: geno
1500 for quarter panel damage??
Click to expand...

From a decent shop I would say so. Labor+Paint Matching+replacing the whole 1/4 panel. I certainly wouldn't want the dent pulled and bondo put on it.
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You couldn't even repair the 1/4 panel. Not sure the picture shows it, but it's been impressed so far that it split near the bottom and there is a hole in it and some nice rust starting to show. That panel gosta go!
Click to expand...

I'll bet that 1/4 panel costs at least 700 bucks and maybe more OEM.
 
T

T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,899
1
0
I'd be willing to bet that the car was only waxed about 1 time over the past 3 years - right before he put the Maxima up for sale. If you are even remotely interested in the car, get 3 estimates for the repair. Provide the highest price estimate to the seller and use that as your negotiating point.

 
S

SuperTool

Lifer
Jan 25, 2000
14,000
2
0
looks nice aside from the damage.
I would pass on it. 10K is not all that great of a price for it. I got a loaded 96 for 9500 at a dealer auction with 70K, and that was 3 years ago, and had automatic, and it didn't have this damage.
Keep on looking. I would stretch for a lower mileage 2000 though. The interior is better.

 
StageLeft

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
I already have a 2000, so the only other 5th gen I'd consider would be an 02 to get the big horsepower bump. I'm still interested in not paying more than $10k for another car, so I'm keeping an eye on 88/89 low mile (fairly low mile anyway) maximas with a 5 speed, but they are pretty rare around here. Most people sell autos. Also considering keeping the sentra, or buying a spec v, because with Nissan's current deals an 04 spec v can be had for a good rate!
 
F

flot

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
3,197
0
0
HAhahahaha that's nothing.

My GF and I looked at a 2003 car that was in "excellent condition. come see it, you'll love it!! only has 700 miles on it!!!"

So we go look.

Some "minor" issues:

1) Passenger door wouldn't close until about the 6th time
2) entire passenger side had been repainted
3) Front had obvious signs of bodywork
4) *** ROOF *** had been repainted (how bad do you wreck a car to have to fix the ROOF??)
5) Front fascia wasn't attached correctly
6) Trim on doors wasn't attached correctly
7) Trunk didn't close correctly
8) Windows did not roll up and down properly
9) RUST on the body
10) this is the best - had a Virginia "JUNK" title

The whole time we are looking at the car the guy is telling us how it is brand new and it only has 700 miles and look what great shape it is in. The guy honestly expected us to fork over cash right there for it, since we should have been so amazed at the quality...

PS: Skoorb, got a nice '91 ZXTT for ya

 
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