High Mileage '03 Maxima

[clhonu05]

Hello everyone:

I am new to the site and am considering purchasing a high mileage '03 Max GLE. The car has approx 165k miles. The engine runs great and the transmission shifts smoothly. The paint is in excellent condition and the tires have at least 50% tread left. The interior is immaculate with no tears or scratches. The car has all service records which show regular oil changes, tranmission services, and brake services. The car lot has the car stickered at just under $10k and the KBB is about $14k. It is silver color with black interior.

My question to you all is how many miles can a well maintained Max go w/o needing major repairs?

I know the VQ engine is very reliable but I am not so sure about the automatic transmission.

The majority of the miles are certainly highway which has to be better than all city miles.

I would love to get into a 3.5L Max but don't have a lot of money to spend. That's why I'm considering one with such high miles.

I know the decision is ultimately mine but I would like to see what current Maxima owners think of such a high mileage car. If I decide to pursue the car, I will try to knock the price down a grand or two.

Thanks for all your help!

Chris

[audtatious]

With 165k miles, the only way the paint can be in excellent condition is if it was repainted. I just turned 100k in my 2k2 and it is eaten up with rock chips. Make sure it was not in a major accident requiring the repaint.

For the most part, the VG35 is good for >200k miles. At this point, I have not heard of anyone having major issues due to miles.

[Maximus primus]

My 1995 Maxima has 410K KM which is over 256K miles on it. The engine runs great, takes no oil. The transmission started slipping a little so I added an oil treatment and it runs great since. Incredible engine!

[Maverick7687]

Wait, oil treatment for a slipping transmission?

[Jesda]

Wait, oil treatment for a slipping transmission?

Lucas trans fix works great for extending the life of a near-death transmission. I've even seen it revive dead ones. The best part about a newer car with high miles is knowing that it was most likely highway driven.

I doubt it was repainted.

[clhonu05]

Upon closer inspection the paint is not in excellent condition but is in very good condition. There are the normal rock dings on the hood. It definitely has not been repainted.

The only problem I see with it is that the engine bay is excessively dirty. The airbox is clean so I'm not that worried about it since the engine runs great.

I might be making an offer on it in the next couple of days! Wish me luck!

Thanks for the replies.

[maxhopper]

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[Maverick7687]

Lucas trans fix works great for extending the life of a near-death transmission. I've even seen it revive dead ones. The best part about a newer car with high miles is knowing that it was most likely highway driven.

I doubt it was repainted.

Oh, Trans fix.. I was thinking Engine oil.. Usually to me, Oil=Engine oil.. Trans. Fluis= Trans fluid.. haha... Guess not everyone translates things like me.

[clhonu05]

Well the best deal I could get was $9900 out the door. Not sure if I'm going to take it... The car has been very well maintained, but that doesn't change the fact that it has 165k miles. What does everyone think about that price for a Max with that many miles?

[maxhopper]

In my opinion, that just too much money for that many miles. Keep searching and I'm sure you'll find one that has less miles in the same price range. Here's a search I ran on autotrader.com for 02-03s for under $10k.http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/...7&y=9

[clhonu05]

I wonder why I can't find any lower mileage ones in that price range that are close to me. I know it's too many miles but it's easier to buy this car since I have been able to test drive and such. Oh well, I suppose I really should wait around for a better deal. I'm sure it'd be worth a long drive if I could save 50k miles for the same price as I'm looking at now. Thanks for the advice!