need help: finally coming close to buying a car

[sniperruff]

ok so i've considered buying a car for a while, and i've finally found a 98' nissan maxima with 100k miles for $4000.

so this what i'll do:
1) get VIN and run carfax
2) look at the car with a mechanic
3) pay the guy?

now here's the part where i get confused... the legal stuff. from what i understand, i should...?
1) write up a receipt, stating the sale of the car and both me and seller sign and date the receipt.
2) go to DMV, and register the car?
....
4) profit?

so i guess i'll have to wait a bit until the paper process at DMV and insurance is resolved? how do i relocate the car to my house? did i miss any step on whatever i wrote above?

and in your opinion, is that a reasonable price? the high milage (slightly high for a 98' i guess?) is a bit worrying me. what should i look out for?

thanks a bunch. this experience is worse than building a computer!

 

[jadinolf]

The REAL car gurus will know better but a $4000 car with 100K miles????

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: jadinolf
The REAL car gurus will know better but a $4000 car with 100K miles????

this will be my first car ever. i don't want to take out a loan on a temp job, which i might lose any day. if it's a 100k galant or something, i wouldn't even consider it.

 

I believe Nissan has the worst reliability of all the big 3 Japanese manufacturers (Nissan, Honda, Toyota). I'd be much more willing to trust a 100K Accord than a 100K Max.

 

[Baked]

Toyota's even more dependable.

 

[Aimster]

my 1998 Nissan Maxima stock with 58,000 miles goes for $6,000-$7,000.

This better be some GLE model with every option available.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: Aimster
my 1998 Nissan Maxima stock with 58,000 miles goes for $6,000-$7,000.

This better be some GLE model with every option available.

What happened to your car, anyway?

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: Aimster
my 1998 Nissan Maxima stock with 58,000 miles goes for $6,000-$7,000.

This better be some GLE model with every option available.

well didn't you say your car was stripped or something?

anyway i think it's only a GXE with ABS and cd player.

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Aimster
my 1998 Nissan Maxima stock with 58,000 miles goes for $6,000-$7,000.

This better be some GLE model with every option available.

well didn't you say your car was stripped or something?

anyway i think it's only a GXE with ABS and cd player.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Aimster/Maxima-Ass.jpg

GXE = standard base Maxima. I am betting it doesn't even come with the bose stereo system because less than 1% of GXEs came with Bose.

If I was you I would look into a 1997 GLE or an SE (with leather).

There is no difference between a 1997 and a 1998.

 

[jagec]

draw up a sales receipt (___ agrees to sell 1998 Nissan Maxima with VIN ____ for the sum of ____, sign, sing)
Have him sign the title, sign the title yourself. Check the odometer readings, make sure it doesn't say "exempt" or anything like that.
go to DMV, get the title+registration transferred. Bring the receipt for tax purposes (depends on state).

get insurance (in my state, the seller has to have insurance on their car at all times, so you're covered on the drive back. check your local laws though).

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Oh, in response to the OP, you should probably both go to the DMV and ask how you can formally transfer the title of the car and registration between yourselves.

But do yourself a favor and don't pay $4k for a car with 100k miles on it.

 

[Aimster]

SE = 16" wheels, sunroof, sports gauge (white), sport suspension, spoiler and you can even get them in leather, heated seats, bose stereo, abs, etc.
GLE = wood trim, sunroof,leather, heated seats, alloy wheels, ABS, bose stereo speaker system, luxury suspension.

GXE = hubcaps, possible sunroof, possible ABS, standard suspension.

Maximas are cheap. Especially in the NY area you might find a good deal on maxima.org in the sale section of their forums.

Also is this car an automatic or a manual? My automatic transmission went out in my 1995 GLE maxima at 135,000 miles back when I had it.

 

[sniperruff]

thanks jagec for the details... yeah now im thinking about it, around $4k (the price is OBO) for a 100k maxima seems only an ok deal... i was all excited since it's a 98' and it's cheap.

i was considering to go into a dealer and just buy a 01' elentra for $5500 or so with 55k miles. then i saw this maxima and thought that the maxima would be a good buy

and yes i know that toyota's and honda's are nice and creme puff and all that. i just don't want to spend like $8000 for a camry or something.

and thanks aimster checking that site out. what a coincidence i live in NY too!

 

[farmercal]

You do realize the a Maximum only runs good on Super gas,don't you? My sister-in-law has one and says it pings when you run anything except super.

 

[Colt45]

" X agrees to purchase Y model car, 100000000mi, S/N: xxxxxxxxx from Z, for the sum of 1 million dollars.

the one million has been paid in full

signatures: X, Z,
"

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: farmercal
You do realize the a Maximum only runs good on Super gas,don't you? My sister-in-law has one and says it pings when you run anything except super.

no i did not even think of what gas it uses... it doesn't take anything lower than 91 octane?

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: farmercal
You do realize the a Maximum only runs good on Super gas,don't you? My sister-in-law has one and says it pings when you run anything except super.

no i did not even think of what gas it uses... it doesn't take anything lower than 91 octane?

only 91+.

 

[farmercal]

When you put lower octane gas in it she said it pings. That's all I know.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Aimster
my 1998 Nissan Maxima stock with 58,000 miles goes for $6,000-$7,000.

This better be some GLE model with every option available.

well didn't you say your car was stripped or something?

anyway i think it's only a GXE with ABS and cd player.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Aimster/Maxima-Ass.jpg

GXE = standard base Maxima. I am betting it doesn't even come with the bose stereo system because less than 1% of GXEs came with Bose.

If I was you I would look into a 1997 GLE or an SE (with leather).

There is no difference between a 1997 and a 1998.

i thought your wheels got stolen?

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: farmercal
When you put lower octane gas in it she said it pings. That's all I know.

Yep, It will ping if you put anything lower than 91.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: farmercal
When you put lower octane gas in it she said it pings. That's all I know.

Yep, It will ping if you put anything lower than 91.

damn that is bad news for me. 91 is 25cents more per gallon for me... making it about $2.2x for me...

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: farmercal
When you put lower octane gas in it she said it pings. That's all I know.

Yep, It will ping if you put anything lower than 91.

damn that is bad news for me. 91 is 25cents more per gallon for me... making it about $2.2x for me...

unfortunately 4 grand isnt going to buy you a whole lot -- perhaps you could look for an older civic or corolla... the older models seem to hold up well. As much as it pains me to say it - i dont think that maxima is a good deal, nor the right car for you anyhow.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Some states require that the bill of sale be notarized, check with your local title bureau. The title bureau is _not_ the same as the DMV, you'll need to double check where the title bureau is.

You need to transfer the title (which should have the seller's notarized signature) before you can get plates for the car in your name. I do not remember how much time you legally have to do this, I've always done it on the same day, or the next business day after the deal.

The title bureau in Ohio takes about 5 minutes once you get to the counter, it's almost no waiting unless there's a huge line. Same with the DMV.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: jagec
draw up a sales receipt (___ agrees to sell 1998 Nissan Maxima with VIN ____ for the sum of ____, sign, sing)
Have him sign the title, sign the title yourself. Check the odometer readings, make sure it doesn't say "exempt" or anything like that.
go to DMV, get the title+registration transferred. Bring the receipt for tax purposes (depends on state).

get insurance (in my state, the seller has to have insurance on their car at all times, so you're covered on the drive back. check your local laws though).

Not "agrees to sell". You want it to be like this:

_________, registered owner of 1998 Nissan Maxima with VIN ___________, asserts that he (or she) _has sold_ said vehicle to ___________, for $_____.

Make sure that it says the car has been sold, otherwise it's just an agreement to sell the car at some unspecified future time.

ZV

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: jagec
draw up a sales receipt (___ agrees to sell 1998 Nissan Maxima with VIN ____ for the sum of ____, sign, sing)
Have him sign the title, sign the title yourself. Check the odometer readings, make sure it doesn't say "exempt" or anything like that.
go to DMV, get the title+registration transferred. Bring the receipt for tax purposes (depends on state).

get insurance (in my state, the seller has to have insurance on their car at all times, so you're covered on the drive back. check your local laws though).

Not "agrees to sell". You want it to be like this:

_________, registered owner of 1998 Nissan Maxima with VIN ___________, asserts that he (or she) _has sold_ said vehicle to ___________, for $_____.

Make sure that it says the car has been sold, otherwise it's just an agreement to sell the car at some unspecified future time.

ZV

thanks man. i'll save a copy of that if i buy something privately

as for teh maxima... i guess i'll banish the thought of it. the milage bothers me a bit but i thin it shoule be a fairly new car that's 7 years old. the 91-octane thing turns me off. too bad.