Should I buy a 5 spd '98 Maxima for $10k...? (poll)

psteng19

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2000
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... with 75,000 (mostly highway) miles?
The mileage is the only thing turning me off. I usually wanna stay in the <50k range.
I know the engine is bulletproof, but high mileage cars are obviously more problematic than low mileage ones.

It'sa fully loaded SE, manual, heated leather seats, moonroof, bose 6 cd changer, alloys.

KBB, Edmunds, and Nada value it at around $12-13k.

Good deal?

Try to be as unbiased as possible, for those fanboys and those who hate Nissan.

Edit: added link to car.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
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eh not a huge nissan fan, but the engines are good, 75K is alot of miles for that age tho
 

Kevin

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2002
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Roughly 18K miles a year. Thats not that bad considering some people use their car a lot. I put anywhere between 1K and 1.5K a month. Most of my miles are highway and touring...
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
I said buy it, but that's based on it being in immaculate condition. The miles worry me a bit, but the 5 speed tranny is good in case you have to repair later, and the price isn't bad for a fully loaded SE. I saw a well priced 2000 GXE with 62k miles for $12,500 the other day from a used car dealer (auto). Your car has 13k miles more and saves only $2.5k off the price, not to mention the fact that the 2000 is the 222 HP generation vs. your 190, but on the other hand the SE is otherwise a good step up from the GXE.

I would say it's a good price, but not a great price. I don't think it's too pricey, but if for some reason it doesn't work out I wouldn't lose sleep over it. It depends on what's available in your area. In Birmingham at least I think that it seems a decent price based on what I've seen.
 

smp

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2000
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That's a decent price .. I got a 99 and love it .. well, even though I can't drive it anymore.

Just remember, when you're buying a pricey car (I'm guessing this is your first buy, so a maxima is pricey) .. maintenance (parts) and stuff like that and insurance will cost you too.
For 10k you can get a car that's not as nice as a maxima but might be cheaper in the long run and newer right now.
 

joe678

Platinum Member
Jun 12, 2001
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make sure he didnt teach all of his friends to drive stick before selling the car :D ... otherwise seems like a good deal...
 

Kevin

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2002
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I forgot to mention find out how many owners its had. Ifs its a 1 owner car with 75K, then most likely it was taken care of. If its got over 3 then stay away because it was probably beat up...
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
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Originally posted by: kevin000
I forgot to mention find out how many owners its had. Ifs its a 1 owner car with 75K, then most likely it was taken care of. If its got over 3 then stay away because it was probably beat up...
Yeah that's definitely worth knowing. I bought a 93 sentra last year with 142k miles on it. It had had only one owner before and the damn thing was in sweet condition! I still drive it and have since put on another 19k. I know about maxima prices because I want to buy one in november (2000).

 

psteng19

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2000
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Originally posted by: smp
That's a decent price .. I got a 99 and love it .. well, even though I can't drive it anymore.

Just remember, when you're buying a pricey car (I'm guessing this is your first buy, so a maxima is pricey) .. maintenance (parts) and stuff like that and insurance will cost you too.
For 10k you can get a car that's not as nice as a maxima but might be cheaper in the long run and newer right now.

It's actually my 2nd car.
I currently drive a 1995 Nissan Sentra... love the car, has a reliable engine and tranny (auto), but the rest of the car isn't doing too well (2 accidents, not mine, and a ton of rust).
Will probably pass it down to my lil sis.
I've really got my eyes set on a 4th or 5th gen Max.

I do believe he's the second owner. I'll verify it tomorrow when I meet him for the test drive.
He claims it's mostly highway mileage...
I must mention that I have limited manual experience, so this will be my first manual car :p

Any trouble areas from that gen. Max that I should be aware of?
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,105
598
126
Gee, 15k doesn't seem like much when I average 20k. At this point tho I would behoove me to just keep my car until I have no use for it. (91 Accord w/ 135k miles)
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,380
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the 99s and 2000s are about the same speed, the 2000s weigh a bit more... have a mechanic take a look at it and run a carfax report on it.
 

Storm

Diamond Member
Nov 5, 1999
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Originally posted by: ElFenix
the 99s and 2000s are about the same speed, the 2000s weigh a bit more... have a mechanic take a look at it and run a carfax report on it.

Car newbie question whats a carfax report? and how much does it cost?

 

phantom309

Platinum Member
Jan 30, 2002
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The SE is a really nice car, much more so than the standard version. I don't see how you could do better for $10k. You can expect one to last for at least 150k, if you take care of it. At 75k the only thing I'd be concerned about is the clutch. I have a 2000 SE but I've driven a 98 and liked it a lot - very fast, comfortable and well made. They even handle pretty well. Just be sure to get a PPI and carfax it.

 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: ElFenix
the 99s and 2000s are about the same speed, the 2000s weigh a bit more... have a mechanic take a look at it and run a carfax report on it.
Although edmunds deceives us into thinking that the 99 se does 0-60 .1 faster than the 2000 and I know there is more to 0-60 than weight/vs horsepower, I fail to believe that the 32 horses that the 2000 produces above the 99 are not enough to negate and supercede the disadvantage it faces with a humble weight increase of 3199 vs. the lighter 3014 of the 99!

 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
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Look around and see what other 98s and 99s are going for in your area for a comparison. Also make sure you do get a 5speed if you get one. The first major thing to go on most foreign cars is the tranny.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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Originally posted by: Storm
Originally posted by: ElFenix
the 99s and 2000s are about the same speed, the 2000s weigh a bit more... have a mechanic take a look at it and run a carfax report on it.

Car newbie question whats a carfax report? and how much does it cost?

carfax.com has a nice vehicle history report from which you can figure all sorts of good stuff out about a car.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,380
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Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: ElFenix
the 99s and 2000s are about the same speed, the 2000s weigh a bit more... have a mechanic take a look at it and run a carfax report on it.
Although edmunds deceives us into thinking that the 99 se does 0-60 .1 faster than the 2000 and I know there is more to 0-60 than weight/vs horsepower, I fail to believe that the 32 horses that the 2000 produces above the 99 are not enough to negate and supercede the disadvantage it faces with a humble weight increase of 3199 vs. the lighter 3014 of the 99!

maybe its less aerodynamic or maybe the torque curve is more favorable.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: phantom309
The SE is a really nice car, much more so than the standard version. I don't see how you could do better for $10k. You can expect one to last for at least 150k, if you take care of it. At 75k the only thing I'd be concerned about is the clutch. I have a 2000 SE but I've driven a 98 and liked it a lot - very fast, comfortable and well made. They even handle pretty well. Just be sure to get a PPI and carfax it.
150k is a pessimistic estimate :) My 93 sentra just hit 160k this week and the thing is in great condition. Unless you're a dastardly fiend on your car or you like to run it through snowbanks and give it salt water baths I think any decent maxima would be worth owning past 200k...

 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: ElFenix
the 99s and 2000s are about the same speed, the 2000s weigh a bit more... have a mechanic take a look at it and run a carfax report on it.
Although edmunds deceives us into thinking that the 99 se does 0-60 .1 faster than the 2000 and I know there is more to 0-60 than weight/vs horsepower, I fail to believe that the 32 horses that the 2000 produces above the 99 are not enough to negate and supercede the disadvantage it faces with a humble weight increase of 3199 vs. the lighter 3014 of the 99!

maybe its less aerodynamic or maybe the torque curve is more favorable.
Maybe you're on a first class ticket to getting an ass whooping!!
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Look around and see what other 98s and 99s are going for in your area for a comparison. Also make sure you do get a 5speed if you get one. The first major thing to go on most foreign cars is the tranny.
Not only that but there is a very noticable different in performance between the auto and the 5-speed. The problem with maximas is most people have autos, so your only real hope to get a 5/6 speed is to get an SE, and they are not particularly common compared to the GXE or GLE. Once in a blue moon a manual GXE shows up, but not often at all. I hate the idea of an auto maxima but I may end up getting an auto because there are so freaking few manuals around :(
 

psteng19

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2000
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Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: phantom309
The SE is a really nice car, much more so than the standard version. I don't see how you could do better for $10k. You can expect one to last for at least 150k, if you take care of it. At 75k the only thing I'd be concerned about is the clutch. I have a 2000 SE but I've driven a 98 and liked it a lot - very fast, comfortable and well made. They even handle pretty well. Just be sure to get a PPI and carfax it.
150k is a pessimistic estimate :) My 93 sentra just hit 160k this week and the thing is in great condition. Unless you're a dastardly fiend on your car or you like to run it through snowbanks and give it salt water baths I think any decent maxima would be worth owning past 200k...

I agree. All 3 of my family's Nissans are at 70-100k miles and are barely at their half life.

Here's a link to the car.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
I agree. All 3 of my family's Nissans are at 70-100k miles and are barely at their half life.

Here's a link to the car.
That's a very smart looking car. No way to really know if it's been beaten on or not but for $10k I think you'd probably be driving home pretty happy. My father had a 95 maxima GXE (first model year of that gen) and although it was some years ago I absolutely loved that thing.

 

m2kewl

Diamond Member
Oct 7, 2001
8,263
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Originally posted by: psteng19
Originally posted by: smp
...
I must mention that I have limited manual experience, so this will be my first manual car :p

wait to the owner finds this out on the test drive :p

seriously, take the test drive and have a trusty mechanic look at it before you commit. also run the carfax thing.