Purchase opinions, please ??

[vtsnaab]

Finding a replacement for my '08 Rogue has been quite educational.
The prices - sources & conditions are so wide ranging.

I've concentrated on finding cars from private sellers.

Thus far what looks to be the best car is a 2011 AWD with ~115k.
The seller claims to have bought it new in 2011.
What I can see of it *looks* very good & they want ~$4000 for it.

So...
It is in NY state ~4 hours drive from my part of VT,

Call me crazy & do criticize me if you think that'll help, but If I drive all the way there in a rental car, test drive it & look it over really well - it could still have defects which I will not see.

I'm considering buying it based upon speaking with the owner, seeing the pics & checking its VIN online - then just having it 'tran-sported' to me - but with so doggone many 'tran-sport' options that alone baffles me.

Lastly - my main gripe - it comes with only 1 key & those fancy things seem to cost hundreds to duplicate.

Any helpful thoughts/comments about any/all the above will be hugely appreciated.

Thanks.

PS: This forum had changed underlined words to say transmission & I was later able to fix it with some goodness from VStar650CL !!

[VStar650CL]

That's a glitch in the website spell checker, I dunno why they don't fix it. Try a hyphen after tran, tran-sfer for example.

On older stuff like '11's you can generally get duplicate keys a lot cheaper from a smithy than you will from the dealer.

[vtsnaab]

Thanks for your helpful reply VStar650CL !!

For my '08 I was able to get a plain steel key made at HD - but in asking around all I've gotten for the electronic keys are quotes ~$300.

Hopefully there is a better way ?!?

[VStar650CL]

There are scanners which can program Nissan smart keys, but as far as I know they'll all set you back at least the same $300. On the other hand, if you bought one then future lost keys will cost a lot less.

[vtsnaab]

Yes - looks like keys may be had cheaply enough, like this offer:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/387455987468

But getting them cut & programmed could be the killer, as you said.