First time poster here. Please be gentle.
I am looking for a comfortable and reliable daily driver under $7000. I drive 25,000 miles per year and am currently getting 29 mpg in a '10 Scion xb that my son will be taking over this fall as his first car.
I want a sedan, with leather and an engine that makes enough power to pass with authority in the pine barrens of NJ. I have owned economy cars with 4 cyl. engines all my life and now I want something.....well....more. Mid-life crisis, no doubt.
For kicks, I test drove a 2004 M45 with 89,000 on the odo. I have had a strange attraction to the styling of this car since it was new. Of course, I fell in love with the car. The asking price is $6400 and the car is very clean.
My concern is driving a limited run car. I can handle the mpg hit, I just cannot afford buying into a finicky car that needs lots of maintenance or specialized parts that are more expensive than the parts/upkeep of a Toyota Avalon (I also drove a 2008 Avalon. It is a very nice car and surprisingly quick, but a bit bland. My mom drives an Avalon)
If I could get 4 years out of the car without too much pain, I would be happy.
Your educated opinions would be appreciated.
2004 M45 as a daily driver?
Re: 2004 M45 as a daily driver?
mac here ,friend bought w/my suggestion an M35 , 2005 I believe , and they do seem to be sleepers (marketwise & performancewise) . He got it for the kid - kid got stopped doing like 115mph , kid still alive , car still runs well after 4years , 80kmi beg. to 120kmi now , maintenance-wise they're not"sticklers" - do what they have to do. 
Look at your most important priority ,coupled with- YOU need SPEED !
= Make your decision . For example here Arizona we really only like to checkout a used car in say June - August (gets 119+Deg. 
) A/C is our priority 
I like M35 , I don't see anything bad yet about m'bud's car for the kid. TIP always check the NTSA site - has TSB's Recalls complaints , & communications for virtually all vehicles under YEAR/MODEL and also VIN
Good luck GT 2/18/2018
Look at your most important priority ,coupled with- YOU need SPEED !
= Make your decision . For example here Arizona we really only like to checkout a used car in say June - August (gets 119+Deg. ) A/C is our priority I like M35 , I don't see anything bad yet about m'bud's car for the kid. TIP always check the NTSA site - has TSB's Recalls complaints , & communications for virtually all vehicles under YEAR/MODEL and also VIN
Good luck GT 2/18/2018
Re: 2004 M45 as a daily driver?
Welcome to Nicoclub.
You are looking at the Y34 M45. These are my opinions based on ownership and also having been in many other vehicles.
I am looking for a comfortable and reliable daily driver under $7000. I drive 25,000 miles per year and am currently getting 29 mpg in a '10 Scion xb that my son will be taking over this fall as his first car.
It's going to hit you in the pocket, They aren't too bad examined individually or in the class they belong to, but no matter how you cut it, 20 mpg of premium fuel is going to be a drastic change. (I know at the bottom you mention that you can take the hit, but I figure it is important enough that it was even mentioned)
Comfortable? Ehhh. Big on the outside, COZY on the inside. It shouldn't be a problem if you aren't a big guy. Not cramped, but you definitely get in contact with panels sitting in there in ways that many cars don't.
Reliable - yes. They don't surprise you with the kind of issues the German luxo brands throw at you. There are a few known items to address, but again,these are maintenance items, not headaches.
I want a sedan, with leather and an engine that makes enough power to pass with authority in the pine barrens of NJ. I have owned economy cars with 4 cyl. engines all my life and now I want something.....well....more. Mid-life crisis, no doubt.
Leather + heated and cooled seats...*if so equipped
The engine is thrusty, fast and makes beautiful sounds. These newer V6s might be able to bully you from a stop light, but you will have scoopfuls of passing power.
For kicks, I test drove a 2004 M45 with 89,000 on the odo. I have had a strange attraction to the styling of this car since it was new. Of course, I fell in love with the car. The asking price is $6400 and the car is very clean.
The price might be right, if you like it, but do you know the maintenance history of the car?
I ask this because that phenomenon that happened to the 1st gen Q45 is hitting the M45. Book values dropped and made the cars very affordable. Unfortunately (and stereotyping of me I must admit), the vast majority lowballing to buy these cars are not ready to pay the costs it takes to keep them well maintained. I have seen modestly priced examples beat to hell. I am talking bad enough I wouldn't take the car for free.
Good thing - they don't need much... Bad thing - the few things they need might be costly.
My concern is driving a limited run car. I can handle the mpg hit, I just cannot afford buying into a finicky car that needs lots of maintenance or specialized parts that are more expensive than the parts/upkeep of a Toyota Avalon (I also drove a 2008 Avalon. It is a very nice car and surprisingly quick, but a bit bland. My mom drives an Avalon)
The only things that would be considered specialized are the front suspension components. A lot of other parts are shared with other Nissan models.
So here's the goofy thing about low mileage/ but age-old cars in my experience: Some parts might be coming up for replacement pretty soon due to age. The mileage on the one you looked at tells me it has either been a grocery getter or a garage queen. I'm not a mileage buyer, I go by condition and maintenance history, but there are a few considerations for old cars that aren't driven often.
But yet again, I'll say that these cars generally don't spill their guts just because 100,000 miles rolled over. Just watch out for the camshaft and crankshaft sensors and a noisy idler pulley.
If I could get 4 years out of the car without too much pain, I would be happy.
I see no problems taking it to another 20, honestly.
Your educated opinions would be appreciated.
Post up any further questions you might have, and maybe even the link to the car you are looking at to see if anything jumps at us.
You are looking at the Y34 M45. These are my opinions based on ownership and also having been in many other vehicles.
I am looking for a comfortable and reliable daily driver under $7000. I drive 25,000 miles per year and am currently getting 29 mpg in a '10 Scion xb that my son will be taking over this fall as his first car.
It's going to hit you in the pocket, They aren't too bad examined individually or in the class they belong to, but no matter how you cut it, 20 mpg of premium fuel is going to be a drastic change. (I know at the bottom you mention that you can take the hit, but I figure it is important enough that it was even mentioned)
Comfortable? Ehhh. Big on the outside, COZY on the inside. It shouldn't be a problem if you aren't a big guy. Not cramped, but you definitely get in contact with panels sitting in there in ways that many cars don't.
Reliable - yes. They don't surprise you with the kind of issues the German luxo brands throw at you. There are a few known items to address, but again,these are maintenance items, not headaches.
I want a sedan, with leather and an engine that makes enough power to pass with authority in the pine barrens of NJ. I have owned economy cars with 4 cyl. engines all my life and now I want something.....well....more. Mid-life crisis, no doubt.
Leather + heated and cooled seats...*if so equipped
The engine is thrusty, fast and makes beautiful sounds. These newer V6s might be able to bully you from a stop light, but you will have scoopfuls of passing power.
For kicks, I test drove a 2004 M45 with 89,000 on the odo. I have had a strange attraction to the styling of this car since it was new. Of course, I fell in love with the car. The asking price is $6400 and the car is very clean.
The price might be right, if you like it, but do you know the maintenance history of the car?
I ask this because that phenomenon that happened to the 1st gen Q45 is hitting the M45. Book values dropped and made the cars very affordable. Unfortunately (and stereotyping of me I must admit), the vast majority lowballing to buy these cars are not ready to pay the costs it takes to keep them well maintained. I have seen modestly priced examples beat to hell. I am talking bad enough I wouldn't take the car for free.
Good thing - they don't need much... Bad thing - the few things they need might be costly.
My concern is driving a limited run car. I can handle the mpg hit, I just cannot afford buying into a finicky car that needs lots of maintenance or specialized parts that are more expensive than the parts/upkeep of a Toyota Avalon (I also drove a 2008 Avalon. It is a very nice car and surprisingly quick, but a bit bland. My mom drives an Avalon)
The only things that would be considered specialized are the front suspension components. A lot of other parts are shared with other Nissan models.
So here's the goofy thing about low mileage/ but age-old cars in my experience: Some parts might be coming up for replacement pretty soon due to age. The mileage on the one you looked at tells me it has either been a grocery getter or a garage queen. I'm not a mileage buyer, I go by condition and maintenance history, but there are a few considerations for old cars that aren't driven often.
But yet again, I'll say that these cars generally don't spill their guts just because 100,000 miles rolled over. Just watch out for the camshaft and crankshaft sensors and a noisy idler pulley.
If I could get 4 years out of the car without too much pain, I would be happy.
I see no problems taking it to another 20, honestly.
Your educated opinions would be appreciated.
Post up any further questions you might have, and maybe even the link to the car you are looking at to see if anything jumps at us.
Re: 2004 M45 as a daily driver?
The only thing that chased me away from the Y34’s was the oil consumption.
Re: 2004 M45 as a daily driver?
I find that they have the same oil consumption.
Re: 2004 M45 as a daily driver?
edboy,
Thanks so much for the education. I did not even think about premium fuel, which has always been a nogo for me. I will pass on this one. The car is at World Volkswagen in Neptune, NJ. If you all want a link, lemme know.
Thanks so much for the education. I did not even think about premium fuel, which has always been a nogo for me. I will pass on this one. The car is at World Volkswagen in Neptune, NJ. If you all want a link, lemme know.
Re: 2004 M45 as a daily driver?
We don't want that rust bucket. 