I finally found and bought a car off Craigslist **PICS**

[Kroze]

After searching Craigslist for a couple of weeks and wasted countless hours looking at cars that are just complete junk, I finally found one that I like.

1999 Nissan Maxima GXE. 117k Miles

The care is pretty clean and at the price range I was looking for, so I bought it right on the spot.

There's just a couple of minor issues that need to be addressed but overall the car is in decent shape. First problem is the giant holes on the driver side carpet. Looks like a rat or a hungry bum ate through it (Picture #6). Second is the rear driver side suspension squeaks when you go over bumps. You can replicate the noise by pushing the rear of the car up and down. Does that mean that I need new shocks/struts? As far as the carpet goes, Nissan wants $600 for the new carpet

Need to replace carpet but don't have $600 + Labor

 

[punjabiplaya]

you made Jules proud

looks really good

lol @ $600 for the carpet

could be, it could be mounts, or worn bushings, or the shocks or struts - you won't know until you get a closer look but at 117k with original suspension, something is definitely worn

 

[Kroze]

Because I got the car under my budgeted amount, I got money left over to order all brand new struts (front/rear), and both lower control arms, inner/outer tie rods, front sway bar bushings. 🙂 Can't wait to install it. Hopefully it'll stop the rear end from squeaking when I go over bumps.

 

[KK]

Couldn't floor mats cover up those holes in the carpet? Out of sight, out of mind.

 

[Arkaign]

Nice car 🙂 How is it mechanically? Emissions check out, etc?

 

[Kroze]

Nice car 🙂 How is it mechanically? Emissions check out, etc?

The car runs like it's in top shape. Doesn't miss a single beat, the engine is dead quiet, the car is dead quiet, no unusual noise or vibrations (signs of bad motor/engine mounts), and it JUST pass state inspection as you can see on the sticker, 8/2013. (New Jersey inspection stickers are every 2 years).

 

[Kroze]

Couldn't floor mats cover up those holes in the carpet? Out of sight, out of mind.

Yea I guess...

 

[T2urtle]

Because I got the car under my budgeted amount, I got money left over to order all brand new struts (front/rear), and both lower control arms, inner/outer tie rods, front sway bar bushings. 🙂 Can't wait to install it. Hopefully it'll stop the rear end from squeaking when I go over bumps.

should of looking into a simple lowering kit paired with adjustable shocks/struts. i lowered my 98 maxima and no one could tell because it was so high up already, but it did feel better to drive.

check out the axles and scan for faults, knock sensors go out often but don't light up the cel, its just stored

- tapatalk

 

[Doppel]

Nice car, but do not throw a nickle into it with upgrades OR that carpet. Spend ~$100 on weathertech or husky custom fitted liners (I have husky in both vehicles and recommend without hesitation) and leave them there 365 days/year (both of my cars are pretty new and have perfect carpet but I still leave the rubber mats there!). Spending $600 to repair carpet on a 12 year old car is an absolutely criminal use of money regardless of your budget. Get the husky or weathertech mats, they are truly fantastic.

 

[jlee]

Or scour the Maxima forums and find carpet out of a wrecked/parts car for cheap.

 

[Kroze]

Stuff I just ordered...

- Front Suspension Parts Kit (Lower Control arms, inner/out tie rods, and sway bar bushings) - $98.95
- Rear Struts - $207.54
- Front Struts - $203.25
- Hood Struts - $31.95
- Antenna - $13.89
- Clock - $16.50
- Front & Rear Speakers - $109.98


Done


Total Costs: $682.06

 

[Kroze]

Or scour the Maxima forums and find carpet out of a wrecked/parts car for cheap.

I think i'll do that 🙂

 

[ayabe]

Stuff I just ordered...

- Front Suspension Parts Kit (Lower Control arms, inner/out tie rods, and sway bar bushings) - $98.95
- Rear Struts - $207.54
- Front Struts - $203.25
- Hood Struts - $31.95
- Antenna - $13.89
- Clock - $16.50
- Front & Rear Speakers - $109.98


Done


Total Costs: $682.06

Car will feel like a million bucks when you get all that in place, solid choice man, hope it works out for you.

 

[kevman]

great choice! I just gave my 4th gen to my nephew with 187k miles on it. The rear spring should could be a missing / torn isolator sleeve that wraps around the spring. does the car ride well without bouncing around too much ? that is an easy diy

 

[NutBucket]

Looks solid. If you don't mind sharing how much did you spend?

 

[CraigRT]

4th gens for life. That is my favorite generation of Maxima, always will be.
No surprise it runs good, the VQ30 is an incredible engine.

 

[RKS]

spend some time here

 

[Throckmorton]

Take that gas can out of the trunk so you don't have to inhale gas fumes

 

[chin311]

looks like a good buy (not knowing the price ya paid?) lol but i agree those 3.0's are a beauty. I know plenty with well over 200k

 

[Kroze]

great choice! I just gave my 4th gen to my nephew with 187k miles on it. The rear spring should could be a missing / torn isolator sleeve that wraps around the spring. does the car ride well without bouncing around too much ? that is an easy diy

The car doesn't bounce but I can feel the suspension is getting weak. It's just too soft of a ride so I suspect the original shocks are about done with 117k miles. I went ahead and ordered all new struts assembly so the install should be pretty easy. I don't even need a spring compressor since it come preassembled.

Looks solid. If you don't mind sharing how much did you spend?

$3500 :thumbsup:

Take that gas can out of the trunk so you don't have to inhale gas fumes

The gas can is empty, I was going to get some gasoline for my lawn mower but got caught up 😀

 

[JulesMaximus]

The car doesn't bounce but I can feel the suspension is getting weak. It's just too soft of a ride so I suspect the original shocks are about done with 117k miles. I went ahead and ordered all new struts assembly so the install should be pretty easy. I don't even need a spring compressor since it come preassembled.


$3500 :thumbsup:


The gas can is empty, I was going to get some gasoline for my lawn mower but got caught up 😀

I just sold my SV650 for $3800.

Congrats on the car. I have 103,000 on my 2003 Maxima SE and it still runs and drives perfect.

 

[Kroze]

My speakers came in today and I managed to install it (Front & Rear). Before removing old speakers, I was wondering why the sound system sounded like crap and was contemplating whether it was the old headunit (Pioneer DEH-2700) that was the cause. Found out I was wrong. Upon opening up the door panels & seeing this......


I was speechless. ROFL. Whoever did this needs to be slap senseless.

Thank god Crutchfield came and saved the day. 2 Days shipping FTW.

End Results

Oh my god, the car sounds amazing!!! Highs and Lows are CRYSTAL clear no matter how loud it turn it up. I mean CRYSTAL clear! not a single noise or distortion. I LOVED IT!



Pics of rear speakers. Thank god he/she didn't have the know-how to replace the rear speakers with his wal-mart 4" speakers. The rear looks like stock/original.

Old

New

 

[mvbighead]

Lol, that crap looks like something he just found on a shelf and said, "F- it, it makes sounds don't it?"

Improvements look very nice.

 

[kevman]

The car doesn't bounce but I can feel the suspension is getting weak. It's just too soft of a ride so I suspect the original shocks are about done with 117k miles. I went ahead and ordered all new struts assembly so the install should be pretty easy. I don't even need a spring compressor since it come preassembled.

Awesome! I'd suggest replacing the front strut mounts and strut bearings while you are at it, I've done this every time I did the shocks on my 4th b/c you'll have everything apart already. and with that mileage if they havent starting making noise yet, it will.