I return

[Eikon]

If I were you I'd find a 02 or 03 Maxima SE.

That's a damn fine car.. the last good Maxima. 02 to 03 got the 3.5L V6. You can get a 6 speed, but they are hard to find, and I wouldn't want one in NYC. I'm sure you can find one for under $3k. They are mildly customizable as well, so they make a decent project car. very reliable!

[Ace2cool]

If I were going to get a car based on the 3.5, it'd be the Altima, not the Maxima.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

If I were you I'd find a 02 or 03 Maxima SE.

That's a damn fine car.. the last good Maxima. 02 to 03 got the 3.5L V6. You can get a 6 speed, but they are hard to find, and I wouldn't want one in NYC. I'm sure you can find one for under $3k. They are mildly customizable as well, so they make a decent project car. very reliable!

The wise Sethster hath spoken, and it is good.

SO LET IT BE WRITTEN. SO LET IT BE DONE!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

If I were going to get a car based on the 3.5, it'd be the Altima, not the Maxima.

Not in 2002/2003.

Those Maximas are indeed the s***. No maxima (or Altima) has since (or ever) been made quite like them.

Powerful, agile, luxurious, roomy, reliable as f*** (hell, they don't even have an EGR system), stylish. What more do you want?!

[Kompresshun]

I agree completely with James. If you're trying to compare a 3.5 Altima to the 02-03 Maxima then you're drunk. It's not even in the same zip code. Nissan seriously got something right with those cars that they haven't since. Don't forget the Infiniti I35 either though. It couldn't be had with a manual transmission but they were great cars too.

[AZhitman]

If I were you I'd find a 02 or 03 Maxima SE.

Truth. All day long, truth.

An '01 Maxima SE is, ultimately, the reason we're ALL here. I fell in love with one in late '01 on a test drive. Sadly, I couldn't get qualified for the deal, and I decided to look at used cars, buying a '95 Q45t. Less than a year later, having gotten involved in the forums, I took the helm of this pirate ship and never looked back.

I still look at the A32 Max very, very fondly.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I agree completely with James. If you're trying to compare a 3.5 Altima to the 02-03 Maxima then you're drunk.

Oddly enough, I was drunk when I wrote that last night.

[Xdisaster240sX]

[BusyBadger]

If I were you I'd find a 02 or 03 Maxima SE.

That's a damn fine car.. the last good Maxima. 02 to 03 got the 3.5L V6. You can get a 6 speed, but they are hard to find, and I wouldn't want one in NYC. I'm sure you can find one for under $3k. They are mildly customizable as well, so they make a decent project car. very reliable!

Here's a well-sorted blast from the past.

[Ace2cool]

Guys, he's just gonna ignore our advice anyways.

[Bubba1]

Guys, he's just gonna ignore our advice anyways.

I'll be nice and start with some common sense here. As far as recommending a 13 yr old Maxima or a 25 yr old 240sx or Miata to a naiive 21(?) yr old kid, these are vehicles that are very likely gonna need a lotta repairs to make them reliable. Far more than an upgraded stereo, window tint, altezza lights, and gobs of instant detailer . Face it, they're now old cars and he's located in a very rust prone area. No question that they are fun cars when they run well, but probably not a wise choice for a kid that can't drive a stick, is parentally funded, and is not good with a wrench. I agree with Ace, like every other "what should I buy" thread he's ever begun, he'll ignore our advice and end up with whatever his parents give him. That's why he's driving a Ridgeline now. And since he's totalled every vehicle he's been given thus far, one can't blame his parents for giving him something new, big, with a warranty, boring, reliable and safe. And his complaining about the Ridgeline, makes me think his parents made a smart choice.

[dasoupdude]

get another j30t

[sx moneypit]

[Heavy]

get the maxima. also.... why has nobody else questioned the authenticity of that woman actually being his gf?

[Bubba1]

get the maxima. also.... why has nobody else questioned the authenticity of that woman actually being his gf?

I was kinda waiting for you to post pre-op pics when her name was Bruce.

[numbnuts240]

Bruce

[sx moneypit]

[Rogue One]

Frak numbnuts240! Warn a brother before posting NSFW stuff!

[Bubba1]

[Heavy]

gold

[timay]

Hello all of NICO Club; past, current, and post members since my demise as a previous member

Some of you may remember me, others not.

Previously know has "naladude911" I was a past member of NICO club and haven't been active for over 4 years.

Why do I return?

Frankly, I missed the forums. This is a great forum to increase knowledge about the automotive industry. It is a place to learn about, news, mechanics, engineering, maintenance, and car culture. Not only that, but it's a great source of entertainment as well.

What's happened to me since I left NICO?

The QX4 is gone. It got totaled two summers ago. A carting truck (one that has the roll off dumpsters) ran a stop sign and totaled the front end of the car. We used the insurance money to lease a 2013 Honda Ridgeline Sport (as of now I hate being a Honda owner and want to be back in the Nissan crowd asap)

I just graduate college with my civil engineering degree

I have a sexy girlfriend I love and adore.

On with the pictures.

I wish that this forum gives me a positive experience and that it will help me gain more knowledge of the automotive industry.

Thank you,

Holy sh*t. Blast from the past.

[nismo212]

Hey everyone. Sorry I haven't been posting. I've been busy with work and studying for an exam....

1. Bubba you are correct. I live in a very rust prone area and most cars that people have suggested (Miatas, 240sx) are in very bad condition. It's very hard to find a RWD car around here, most are AWD or FWD.
2. I always wanted a manual car. Looking on craigslist I have found many Infiniti G20's for sale, 1/5 are manual, and are under $3,000 with like 120000 miles which is nothing. Mint condition, leather etc. Seems like a wise choice? Good on gas, good to learn stick on, somewhat customizable if I want. My mom bought then, a 1993 G20 brand new. She loved that car and said it was the best car she's driven since then. Good on gas, handled well.
3.I was also looking at the J30 again honestly. I found a couple of mint ones in my area for under $3000 with 100000 miles. Only con is that the V6 takes 93 octane gas and gets 18 MPG. Basically won't be saving gas with this thing.
4. Maximas seem like a great choice as well. I would like to find an "A33" maxima in stick. Ones past that generation are really beat up and rust buckets.

[Ace2cool]

No, you're not listening. They said A32. It's a very different car, and I forgot how much better it was when I was arguing up there.

[nismo212]

Something like this?
http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/cto/4897633627.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/cto/4897570522.html

[PapaSmurf2k3]

^Yup!
The G20 was great too. I actually learned how to drive stick (and I guess drive in general at the same time) on a '95.

You could also expand your search to include Honda Prelude's & Del Sols, Mazda MX-6 & MX-3, and Nissan 200SX.

[AZhitman]

I guess my question is this: Why do people from "rust states" not buy cars from the southwest and just ship them home?

You could buy a rust-free G20 / Miata (just examples) here for $3000 and have it shipped to that frozen armpit you live in for under $1k, and have several years of enjoyment before the rust claims yet another victim.

I've never understood spending good money on a used car in New England, KNOWING full well it's eaten up with rust. Seems idiotic.

[Bubba1]

No, not idiotic, Greg. Here are a few thoughts from a life long northeastern car buyer.

1. There are many owners here in the rusty northeast that do not drive their cars when salt gets applied, even non-collectible modest ones like a J30, Maxima, or Miata. Heck, I know of an old 350Z in PA that's seen snow just once, and it has it's undercarriage cleaned regularly anyway. And cars like that get sold all the time. The 2 keys are patience (which you have but Nala lacks), and looking underneath (something you would obviously do, but not a naiive untrained kid like Nala).

2. You're not factoring in all costs/risks for buying out of area.. Many folks want to see/test drive the cars in person before committing the money. So in addition to the cost of the vehicle and its transportation costs, you're also talking about potentially hundreds of dollars in transportation just to see the car, (airline tix, hotel, airport parking, food, car rentals, gas, incendentals). So if we're talking a cheap rust free DD in New Mexico to use in CT, you could be literally talking up to double the price to do it. Is that worth twice the price? Debateable, I suppose, but many folks would say no.

3.Now, think about if there's something significantly wrong with the car not mentioned in the ad. A car can have other issues besides rust. And if you fly out to check it out, you could be out hundreds of dollars for a wasted trip if it turns out not to be as advertised. And you're not gonna be able recoup that cost/time from the seller. So if your'e on a budget, it's far less risky to take your time and seek something locally, especially in the northeast which is densely populated, and therefore lotsa inexpensive cars around for sale. They're not all rust buckets.

Of course, if one is well connected, he/she could have someone they trust there that knows what they doing, willing to check it out closely for them. But in reality, very few people have that luxury, much less willing do that for free.


4. I also question whether it's that cheap to transport a vehicle from the southwest to northeast, which is traditionally considered a "front haul" market, as compared to the reverse which is normally considered a much cheaper backhaul market. Though I admit I do not know if car transportation follows the same pricing trend as general freight.

If we're talking buying a collector car, I can almost see doing something like that but only under the right set of circumstances. But remember, this case involves Nala, who (a) is much more likely to wreck a car before it succumbs to rust, (b) who can't turn a wrench or drive a clutch, and (c) can't even afford a second car in the first place, much less fix it up. Don't forget his parents are still supplying his primary transportation.

[Kompresshun]

Joel hit the nail on the head with that. The thought of getting a rust free vehicle from AZ and ect sounds great in theory, but everything Joel mentioned is a valid concern of the average buyer, including myself.

I would never pay to have something transported sight unseen unless it was some sort of collecter vehicle or a rolling shell to restore like an old Datsun. Outside of that, I would drive there so I could visually inspect the vehicle, test drive it extensively, and negotiate in person.

Sure, I could fly out and drive one home, but it still has potential to be a huge waste of my time and money. If I spent say $300 on a 1-way plane ticket, then get there and am unable to purchase said vehicle for whatever reason then immediately i've thrown away $300. Then I have to figure out a way back home, so I have to purchase another plane ticket, arrange for transportation, and maybe even a hotel room for the night. Let's say that would run me another $300 or so. So i've thrown away $600 at this point and come home empty handed. Doesn't sound like that great of a plan.

Now say everything does work out with the vehicle. I've already spent $300 on a plane ticket and it will cost me roughly $200-250 in fuel to get back home. So i'm still sitting at $500-550 spent on this whole ordeal and I risk driving the vehicle home 1,800 miles hoping nothing fails. Still doesn't sound like the greatest plan, unless it's a specific vehicle you've sought after and have been searching a long time for it.

For the average car purchase though, it makes very little sense. Especially for someone on a budget, that's likely going to invest more in the whole ordeal than the car will ever be able to resale for. Basically if I were on a $5,000 budget for a new car, i'd have to look for a car around $3,500-4,000 just to be able to cover the travel expenses, fuel, and be able to have a little extra cash left over if something were to fail on the way back home. I personally don't like wasting money either, so i'd likely avoid the whole ordeal based upon that alone.

[nismo212]

No, not idiotic, Greg. Here are a few thoughts from a life long northeastern car buyer.

1. There are many owners here in the rusty northeast that do not drive their cars when salt gets applied, even non-collectible modest ones like a J30, Maxima, or Miata. Heck, I know of an old 350Z in PA that's seen snow just once, and it has it's undercarriage cleaned regularly anyway. And cars like that get sold all the time. The 2 keys are patience (which you have but Nala lacks), and looking underneath (something you would obviously do, but not a naiive untrained kid like Nala).

Great advice everyone. Here is a prime example of what you just said:
http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/4807902253.html

I would love to purchase this car.. the J30 is a long forgotten Nissan engineering marvel. Solid, RWD 4 door sedan matted to a 210 HP v6. Back in the 90's this car was extraordinary. Only problem is it doesn't fully suit my needs. It's not manual and a gas guzzler. Plus I can't tinker with it. Lowering this thing requires lots of knowledge and retrofitting. Would be a good collector car one day to have in my garage sometime in the late future!

Looking on crags list again there seem to be some semi-stock S14's for sale in my area but again, rust becomes the issue. Plus most have been really driven in pothole prone streets in Queens, Brooklyn etc. I'm not trying to fork money into repairs, if I spend money on the car it's mainly for mild mods.

There seems to be a lot of "old school" mint hondas, modded in my area. Preludes with suspension, exhaust, wheels, JDM themed cosmetic mods etc... as well as Integras with H22A swaps etc. All clean with no rust. But again, HONDUH. HONDUHs are HONDUHS. Nissan seems to make "real" cars that actually have some substance and attention to detail to them .

[nissangirl74]

Welcome back!

Since you live in a rust-bucket state and you don't plan on keeping this car long, I'd get the most reliable, cheapest thing you can find. If you have $6K to spend, spend $3K instead, put the other half in the bank and add that towards your G or Q upgrade. I would personally stay away from anything German-made if you're on a budget. They're way too bloody expensive to fix. I'd also stay away from anything with outrageous horsepower. If you're wanting a reliable DD, don't worry about how fast it goes, just pick something that will last. Might I add the Corolla to the list? Blandmobile? Sure, but they have lots of room, get great gas mileage, and are damn near indestructible.