Nissan Altima??
It ain't me, folks. Dawnie likes the Altima and would seriously consider one to replace her beloved but aging Bonneville. I reckon since she works and earns enough to pay for her own lunches, she has a say in what she drives.
Anyhow, I saw this Altima on the side of the road between here and town, with a "For Sale" sign on it, and a phone number. So, I called.
It is a 2002. It has 180,000 miles on it. The driver's power window does not work. There is a small dent.
This is the funny part.
Asking price is $5,500!!!!!!!!!!!
At first, I thought he said $1,500, which I thought would be reasonable for such a vehicle, so I asked him to repeat it. When he said $5,500, I just thanked him and disconnected.
Car is 6 years old, mileage puts it close to either the junkyard or major repairs. It already needs semi-major repairs. And the guy prices it like it was an extra clean one on a dealer's lot.
Or did he?
Anyhow, I saw this Altima on the side of the road between here and town, with a "For Sale" sign on it, and a phone number. So, I called.
It is a 2002. It has 180,000 miles on it. The driver's power window does not work. There is a small dent.
This is the funny part.
Asking price is $5,500!!!!!!!!!!!
At first, I thought he said $1,500, which I thought would be reasonable for such a vehicle, so I asked him to repeat it. When he said $5,500, I just thanked him and disconnected.
Car is 6 years old, mileage puts it close to either the junkyard or major repairs. It already needs semi-major repairs. And the guy prices it like it was an extra clean one on a dealer's lot.
Or did he?
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all these foreign cars now are getting close to 230-250k in miles before needing major repairs. I looked at tons of altimas, civics, accords.... but i got such a good deal on my low mile saturn it dwarfed the other deals. Altimas are great, just not that one. Check out craigslist.com, look at Cars/trucks for sale, almost always a few good deals on there, especially cars. 0 -
I sure wouldn't buy anything with mileage that high.. Nada is below for wholesale.
http://www.nadaguides.com/usedcars.aspx?LI=1-21-1-5013-0-0-0&l=1&w=21&p=1&f=5014&y=2002&m=1130&d=806&c=16&mi=180000&vi=50129&da=-1&nx=10 -
http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/PricingReport.aspx?VehicleClass=UsedCar&ManufacturerId=35&YearId=2002&WebCategoryId=38&VehicleId=OC8zMS8yMDA3fDQ1MzI=&PriceType=Private+Party&ModelId=236&Mileage=180000&SelectionHistory=4532|4048|13492|0|0|&Condition=Fair&QuizConditions=
not sure if that link will work but going by Kelly Blue Book he is on the mark. now i entered the 4dr sedan base model with the milage you stated and i choose fair condition and it was around $5200 good condition was 6100 and excellent was 6800. going with the top model add 1500 to each price. there is the sedan basic --> S --> Se and SL
for that car 180k is nothing. going back about 4 -5 years i bought a 94 Altima for 3k for my wife. i forget the milage but i know it was well over 100k. it ran great until it met a light pole in a parking lot(long story) i went out and gott her a olds bravada with 60k miles for 5 times more money and had nothing but problems.
good luck in your search0 -
I will probably seek another Pontiac, it being apparent that the "values" of the Jap-crap is artificially inflated. I am also in no hurry. Getting in a hurry is how you get stung. I have cash money and am prepared to pay well under wholesale for the right car. 0 -
...That is a LOT of miles on some of the "parts" that do break and cost a LOT to replace..timing belt, etc...just walk away David, fast...[:D] 
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No WAY I'd buy a car with that kind of mileage for ANY price! 0 -
..."Cash money" you say?...[:p]...I have 1 Yugo that is "as new"...I could be talked down a tad for cash...even throw in the seats at no charge!...[;)] 0 -
I had to put an engine in the Bonny, but I got the car essentially free. It has been a great car and still is. It is just getting some miles on it, that's all.
I reckon maybe I shouldn't try to fix what ain't broke.0 -
...David, don't say that! Remember the old Marine addage..."If it ain't broke, fix it till it is"...[8D] 0 -
Why would she step down from a Pontiac to a nissan? 0 -
The Altima is a great car. Nissan makes some of the best vehicles on the road.
I wouldn't buy one with mileage that high.0 -
Have you looked at the Pontiac Vibes? I have one and love it. Good milage 34mpg average. Very roomy and peepy for a small car. Drives and handles great I can whip it in and out of traffic very easily, but it does have some serious blind spots in the rear. It has a great luggage rack, a must for mountain bikers. Mine has about 55K, but no problems what so ever.
If I had to choose another car it would be a Jetta. Volkswagon is involved in alot of Mountain bike racing so I think it would be a good way to say thanks.0 -
Very happy Altima owner here. Mines a '99 I bought in August of '98 115k miles, other than oil changes (never often enough) I've had to put $1500 into repairs - cv joints, power steering stuff, and the AC blower. Bought it because my brother in law had one that he never changed the oil on (or other maintainence) and it went 180k before dying.
The Altima can be a great car, but that many miles in just 5 years ain't right. Keep looking - they are good, but maybe not that particular one.0 -
My wife's '97 has been pretty reliable. But $5500 sounds high for such high milage. There is no reason a well maintained car can't go 250k miles these days, but at 180k, you're too close to expected break downs for my comfort. If it were my wife I'd want something a little less used.
BTW the wife's '97 just passed 65K, so she should be good to go 'til 2024. [:D]0 -
Here is one .. kinda reminds you of the Carfax commericials... ( when repaired ) New Paint..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-NISSAN-ALTIMA-REBUILDER_W0QQitemZ140150939748QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item1401509397480 -
2 or 3,000 would be more like it without all the minor damage... Nissan's are really good cars. It's so hard to believe they go to 200,000 miles plus, but that's what i hear!
We just sold a 98 maxima for 3,500.00 with 130,000 milles on it.0 -
David - I have had about 5 or 6 Nissan/Datsuns and have been very happy with the value of the cars. I still own two of them - an '83 280ZX which I bought new and babied (just 110,000 on it) and a 2004 Sentra S that now has 40,000 on it that I also bought new. My practice is to buy "new" after the new model year has come out and thus get maximum rebate, lowest interest, and lowest price. Then I keep them at least 7 years, which is when Consumer Reports says is the earliest you can get ahead of the depreciation curve. I always baby my cars - synthetic oil from the first change and a detail each spring after the purchase. I'll discuss my maintenance schedule with you,if you want.
I have seen many well maintained vehicles - foreign and domestic - exceed 300,000 miles and still be in good shape, if well maintained.
That's why we don't buy second-hand cars - one never knows how well they have been maintained, and that is the key to long life. I also usually buy in January, when the dealer's business is slowest.
If Dawnie is content with her Bonneville, I'd suggest running it until the wheels fall off.
As far as Jettas - SonDave has one and so does Son-in-Law Garry-the-Brit. Both are very happy with them. I just think they are over priced.
Good luck, and let us know what you decide to do.
Doug0 -
If you're looking at another Pontiac the G6 is a really nice car.
What price range are we talking here?0 -
I bought my adopted boy a 2000 Altima with less than 100k on it, leather, sunroof, power everything without a scratch on it and decent tires for $5,700. That included tax and tags. For $8,000-$10,000 there are a choice of 3 Lexus ES 300's with under 100k miles that all look like new cars. The guy up the street from me gets some great cars and trucks at the dealer auctions and is happy to make a couple hundred bucks on each car. He is pretty well off and is retired so just does this car lot thing to keep him out of the house. Fly up, buy one and drive it back to Texas and I bet you still make out better than buying one local. 0
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