2006 M35x for $4k. Too good to be true?

[nater414]

As the title states, I found a 2006 M35x complete with everything, 136k on the odo, for $4k. Viewing the CarFax, the vehicle was meticulously maintained by the first owner to 36k, regularly maintained by the second owner to 104k, and no records from the third owner to 129k. The third owner had 3 (according to CarFax) minor accidents in the 4 months after purchase in 2014, with the next entry at current mileage for sale.

My thinking is that the vehicle was repaired after the minor accidents, and then driven for another 2 years before trade in. The pictures all look solid. Other cars at the dealer (non-Infiniti/Nissan, used car dealer) are similarly underpriced, for example a 2008 QX56 with 100k miles for $11k and a 2007 M45 with 86k for $7k. Too good to be true? What kind of issues should I be looking for besides the obvious signs of body/frame damage? I have not yet been to see it since it's over an hour away. I'm thinking even if there are a couple of minor issues it would be worth buying and fixing at that price and mileage. TIA for your help!

[Ilya]

Welcome to the forum.

The dealer gave me $8k trade for my 07 M35x with 142kmi on it...so, you may be right in saying that even if you buy it at $4k and need to put $2k into it as a surprise, you're still coming out decent as, technically, my car was worth like $9-9,500 but dealer has to make money too.

[chairmankaga]

Get a PPI, but an EXTENSIVE PPI. Not your basic $100 gooing through the visual checklist. Get it on a lift. Check every component possible. Test everything. Even if it costs a few hundred bucks. Because that's salvage title money, so either Carfax is missing something, someone is doing something shady, or there's something wrong with it. Almost never does someone sell something for less than it's worth.

[EdBwoy]

The cynic in me says that's too damn good a deal, and not only will people avoid selling a good item below value, but they will also try to sell you a bad item at above fair value.
However, I've bought many cars at ridiculously low relative prices with decent success. Go check it out and if the car doesn't give you the warm fuzzies, trust your gut and run. If you like it, pay good money to have the inspection done and even if you choose not to keep the car, I would rather loose $200 bucks than buy a $4,000 lawn ornament that I have to pay taxes for.

But for the price, I'd buy it even with cosmetic damage. Pretty damn reliable and ample features in the M combined with very good driving dynamics.

Maybe the dealer bought it for $1,500 at auction. Maybe they shafted whoever traded it in for another car over there. Or they actually have damn near asking price in the car but need to move it and create space... or financial trouble. It's a good deal, but not too good to be true for a 10 year old car.

[nater414]

Well, as it turns out, that one WAS too good to be true. The dealer was super sketchy and tried to more than double the price with "dealer prep" and documentation fees. NYC area dealers all try to add on crap like dealer prep or advertise with tiny disclaimers that advertised prices reflect financing and $5k down payment. Be wary when shopping in NYC/North Jersey area.

But on a positive note, I did put a deposit on a 2007 M35x today with 157k miles in good condition for $6400 from a private seller. Pictures will be up next week after I pick it up Monday!

[Ilya]

Congrats!

[airmanhoward]

I love my m35x all my future infiniti's will be awd!

[nater414]

Congrats!

TYVM!

[EdBwoy]

Heh, glad you dodged that bullet. Congratulations on your pending purchase, and welcome aboard.

[nater414]

Heh, glad you dodged that bullet. Congratulations on your pending purchase, and welcome aboard.

I am nothing if not an experienced bullet dodger!