Time for a new car

[LuckyTaxi]

So someone decides to run a stop sign and crashes into my car. Insurance folks are cutting me a check for the damage, which is more than what my car is worth. So now it's time to go shopping for a new used car. I'm looking to spend no more than $16k and I'm sure I can find plenty of nice used car under that price.

I'm looking at the Nissan Maximas, Acura TL, and Toyota Highlander. We're leaning towards the Highlander due to us wanting an SUV (not the big ones i.e. Expedition and Tahoe). Maximas are pretty cheap but I keep hearing the same things over and over again. The transmission on these cars do not last that long. Is it older than a certain year that you dont want to buy, I keep hearing anything older than 2000 I should stay away from.

Any insights?

 

[mugs]

Newest TL you'll get in that price range is 2003. Old body style.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Meh, look for the lowest mileage vehicle you can find and stay away from anything that was previously a rental car.

My '03 Maxima has 60k miles on it and the transmission has been no trouble at all.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: mugs
Newest TL you'll get in that price range is 2003. Old body style.

Still a great car though. Probably a real bargain in fact.

 

[TallBill]

My wife's next used car will be a 2-3 year old Jetta. (~$12,000). Great relibability.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Hey guys, yea the TLs are a turn off due to the old body style. However, the CLs look so much better but we really dont want a 2 door.

JulesMaximus -
I was over the forums.maxima.org and there's a TSB for the 5th Generation Maximas. A lot of ppl are complaining that Maxima won't fix it due to them not finding anything wrong
with the car. A lot of folks were saying the problem is there but Maxima refuses to take care of it.

Having said that, my POS Mazda Millenia had so many problems, I really want to avoid all this. I mean, I can't expect a brand new spanking car but driving it off the lot and having it give me problems a few months later is something I am not looking for.

 

[Aimster]

02-03 Maxima

Edit: you cannot get a 03 Acura TL for 16k unless it has 100k+ miles

/thread

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: lilcam
Hey guys, yea the TLs are a turn off due to the old body style. However, the CLs look so much better but we really dont want a 2 door.

JulesMaximus -
I was over the forums.maxima.org and there's a TSB for the 5th Generation Maximas. A lot of ppl are complaining that Maxima won't fix it due to them not finding anything wrong
with the car. A lot of folks were saying the problem is there but Maxima refuses to take care of it.

Having said that, my POS Mazda Millenia had so many problems, I really want to avoid all this. I mean, I can't expect a brand new spanking car but driving it off the lot and having it give me problems a few months later is something I am not looking for.

I'm a member of Maxima.org since the day I bought my car (2003 Maxima SE-I'm the original owner). What is the TSB you're talking about? Nissan has always been pretty good about honoring warranty issues...the very few I've had anyway. Maybe those cars have been modified or raced? Just a thought.

My car is bone stock (well, except for the stereo). I drive it pretty fast some of the time and enjoy the power it has (not crazy about the torque steer but there's nothing I can do about that). I take good care of it and it has been a great car so far.

 

[BarneyFife]

A used Saturn Vue can be had for $15k with under 20k miles.

 

[dud]

I looked (and visited) Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Mazda when looking for a new car for my wife. I was most impressed with Nissan's willingness to drop the price with minimal negotiation. Toyota and Mazda would talk but forget Honda (very little wiggle room).

That being said, if I had the room to store this, I would buy it in a heartbeat:


Lexus SC400

 

[LuckyTaxi]

JulesMaximus

I'm referring to this thread.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: lilcam
JulesMaximus

I'm referring to this thread.

That thread was started in April 2001 and has 26 responses in the 6 years since? I'd hardly call that compelling evidence of a widespread problem.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: lilcam
So someone decides to run a stop sign and crashes into my car. Insurance folks are cutting me a check for the damage, which is more than what my car is worth. So now it's time to go shopping for a new used car. I'm looking to spend no more than $16k and I'm sure I can find plenty of nice used car under that price.

I'm looking at the Nissan Maximas, Acura TL, and Toyota Highlander. We're leaning towards the Highlander due to us wanting an SUV (not the big ones i.e. Expedition and Tahoe). Maximas are pretty cheap but I keep hearing the same things over and over again. The transmission on these cars do not last that long. Is it older than a certain year that you dont want to buy, I keep hearing anything older than 2000 I should stay away from.

Any insights?

It's a funny world we live in when you say that an Expedition/Tahoe are not big.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: lilcam
So someone decides to run a stop sign and crashes into my car. Insurance folks are cutting me a check for the damage, which is more than what my car is worth. So now it's time to go shopping for a new used car. I'm looking to spend no more than $16k and I'm sure I can find plenty of nice used car under that price.

I'm looking at the Nissan Maximas, Acura TL, and Toyota Highlander. We're leaning towards the Highlander due to us wanting an SUV (not the big ones i.e. Expedition and Tahoe). Maximas are pretty cheap but I keep hearing the same things over and over again. The transmission on these cars do not last that long. Is it older than a certain year that you dont want to buy, I keep hearing anything older than 2000 I should stay away from.

Any insights?

It's a funny world we live in when you say that an Expedition/Tahoe are not big.

He's saying they don't want the big ones like those.