2002 Maxima-113,000 miles for $8500

mshu7 said:
Glad to hear you finally got a check Scott. Have you been able to work at all with all this going on?
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I've been working, but starting an hour late due to threrapy on my back. Really cramping my days since the time change. Hopefully this coming week she cuts me back to 3 days a week. She did X-rays and a CT scan. The X-rays show my lower vertebrae are closer together than they are supposed to be, probably why I feel pressure in my lower back. The CT scans shows some disc swelling but nothing has slipped or is herniated. She said I can start riding my bike again but to take it easy until I know whether or not it will cause me any pain. She wants me to ease back into my normal routine as much as possible. Hopefully, a couple more weeks of therapy and back adjustments and everything will be normal again.



Geoff-apparently, you've missed my posts where I am b!tching about how unreliable my 626 was. ;)



Last summer, it was the alternator, coolant resevior tank, and a/c compressor. This summer, it was the crank pulley, radiator, instrument panel lights, coolant resevior tank, timing belt/water pump/tensioners. The car had turned into a money pit. It will be a long time before I consider a Mazda again.
 
Scott, you can't go wrong with a Maxima. I just sold an 02 with 82k miles for $ 5k, it was a reconstructed title. Ran like a champ. I rebuilt it myself. It was a recovered theft... needed front end parts and a motor / trans. It's been tough selling any cars lately, and i just needed to unload it. I had 3k into it so i didn't mind letting it go.



I have another 02 Maxima i drive, 6spd, 69k miles and i can't complain. My mom drives an 00 Maxima, white, auto, 160k miles i think already...she put like 100k on it in 4 years. The only things i have replaced on the 00 Maxima are: struts, starter, alternator, rotors/pads, front axles, and just regular maintenance (oil, spark plugs, filters). Mobil 1 Synthetic every 10-12k miles. Oh, i forgot to mention 2 sets of tires.



Let me just say, the reliability is unquestionable. I always plan on having a Nissan in the family.



I must say though, i do think the price is a bit on the high side.



-Greg (specvceps over on offtopic)
 
Scottwax said:
On a cold start, the car doesn't smoke at all. I'm going to pull a plug or two and look at them as well. I have heard about the problem with the HIDs and that is the first issue I plan to address if I buy the car. I had the same rotor problem with my Accord. My mechanic drilled four 1/8th" holes, 90 degrees apart in the front rotors and I never had a problem again. I'll look into the Brembo rotors if need be. Does switching to ceramic pads help at all? The car has nearly brand new Yokohama 520s, same tires I had on my Accord and they are pretty good on wet surfaces.



Oh yeah, got my insurance check for my car today. Glad it is drawn on a local bank, when my son's car was totaled, it was some obscure, one office bank in east Texas and his bank held the check for 5 days. Since Monday is a holiday, I'll just cash the check in the morning and put the cash in my bank. If I just deposit it at my bank, it will be posted Tuesday and not accessible until Wednesday. Ugh.



Hopefully, I can have another car by midweek.
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A lot of the Maxima peeps I know switch to the Hawk HPS pads. I haven't seen too much feedback in terms of ceramic pads on these cars.
 
PrinzII said:
A lot of the Maxima peeps I know switch to the Hawk HPS pads. I haven't seen too much feedback in terms of ceramic pads on these cars.
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Those will be my next pads when I switch them out in the summer.
 
I got the price down to $8000 even and I can get bank financing on the car (the bank only writes loans on cars with over 100k on Honda, Toyota and Nissan) so I am probably going to buy the car. With the huge hit I took this summer due to all the rain, I'd rather spend a bit less now and buy a small truck this spring to use for detailing than buy something more expensive and rely on one vehicle.
 
Well, I ended up buying the car. Runs great so far and it definitely is quicker than my old 626! One owner car too, very early '02 model, build date was 06/01 so I guess for a car that is actually a little more than 6 years old, the mileage is closer to typical (at least for the Dallas area, most everyone I know drives 15,000-18,000 miles a year!). Serious power too, way more wheelspin off the line and even at a roll than I expected. :bow



Had a chance this afternoon to really clean it up. Took a ton of claying...



This was the left rear fender.



my_02_maxima_clay.jpg




Whoever detailed it last did a nice job on the interior, but left a lot of light holograms on the car...and obviously didn't clay it. Optimum Compound using a burgandy Meguiars cutting pad, Optimum Poli-Seal with a yellow Meguiars polishing pad, Opti-Sea x 2 by hand, Optimum Car Wax by hand.



I also removed the "MAXIMA" emblem from the back of the trunk but left the SE emblem.



Took some pics with my cell phone, I'll get some better shots with my other camera tomorrow when the lighting is better.



my_02_maxima_detailed1.jpg




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my_02_maxima_detailed3.jpg




my_02_maxima_detailed4.jpg




my_02_maxima_metallic.jpg
 
I don't believe the tranny was a recall-more of a service bulletin. In fact the fix isn't to install new and improved better functioning parts but to replace with rebuilt junk that lead to the problem in the first place. Both my Accord and wifes Odyssey failed. Don't hold your breath for more than 40,000 miles on a repaired unit. Some lucky people may see 100,000 but it's doubtful at best.



Buy the Maxima or look for an older LS400.



My .02.
 
Nice pickup Scott. My buddy had an '03, same body style I believe, and it went pretty good, very nice interior with the leather and sunroof. It got written off though, and he upgraded to an '04 with the A5, 2+2 loaded, and it is even nicer. They are nice cars.
 
Bigpoppa3346 said:
Congrats Scott! :)



Definitely a cooler car than the 626 :xyxthumbs
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My Cannondale road bike is cooler than my 626. ;)



mshu7 and JJ-definitely plan on tinting the windows. :hifive:



99blackSE-I could have got a 6th gen, but I like the 5.5 gen the best. Better tail lights than the '00/01, more power and HIDs are standard...plus I really don't like the new body style or the harder interior plastics. 2003 was the last year of the soft touch plastics and I think they look more upscale.



Cloth interior though, and frankly, with how poorly the leather held up in my 626, I'd rather have cloth. Plus it is warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer and grips you better in curves....and I don't have to dress cloth!



I really like the color too, not sure what it is called but looks like a graphite grey metallic to me. Dark enough to really show shine and depth but not solid black so it won't drive me crazy! Probably just keep hitting it with the new OCW every wash for the next few weeks.



Going to have to get the hood repainted, typical of a Nissan, lots of stone chips. A few etched bird bombs too. Probably wouldn't bother most people though.
 
Scott... nice car!



I have one myself.. 02 SE 6spd.



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And yes, nissan paint is horrible, especially when it comes to chips and such. I repainted the front end of mine.. i just wish the color wasn't off a shade.

It was a minor front hit when i bought it, and cost me roughly 5k total.



Nonetheless... things to watch out for, well hopefully yours is good to go. Mine threw the dreaded high idle code....im still trying to fix that one without going to the dealership. Other than some minor quirks, these cars are solid!! I beleive this is the 7th or 8th one we've had in the family.



I am not really fond of the new body style either... 02/03 is my fav... so i must say you have good taste!
 
Really nice car Scott. Glad you're back on track after that incident....No wonder I haven't seen too many of your posts on C&B.
 
Congratulations on a very nice ride. The exterior work you did just added back the $500 in value that you saved by negotiating the price down.



Yep, tint is a must here in Texas.
 
I like it. Have always like Maximas. I've driven a few but never owned one. Keep that oil changed and maybe consider a K & N air filter and your good to go
 
Before you buy, see if the owner will allow you to pull an oil sample.



Send it to Blackstone labs and for $22 they can tell you what's going on in the engine.



IMHO worth every single penny.



Edited: Just read the last post and saw you bought it.
 
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