Trading my 199.5 for a 2001...is it worth is?

[QX22s]

So i need to seek council from my fellow QX4 owners

So here is the deal. I have a 99.5 Q with 160k miles that runs great and is in good condition for its age..better than most. Still has the wear and tear, dings, scratches, and clear coat stains that come with a 10 year old car. I am forcasting some pricey maintenance in its near future though. In the past few weeks i have decided it is time to move on before i have to put any more money into it and while i can still get a little trade out of my car. I looked at a few different options, G35, BMW 325i, FX35..and honestly none of them compared to the Qx4. THe only thing that i could find that i enjoyed as much as my current Q... was a newer Q (gotta love the bigger engine). Plus my 22's will slide on perfectly

So there are two problems..first was finding a 01-03 QX4 with decently low miles..and the second is justifying trading in my car for a car that is only a couple/few years newer!

Well after searching, i finally found a 2001 QX4 w/ 61k miles in very good condition (All Black color). After talking with the dealer, i could get out of the dealership at about 8k AFTER trade in, fees, taxes etc (got them down to $10,500 for new one..will give me about 3,500-4k for mine). The 2001 Qx4 is loaded minus the NAV (couldnt care less) and it is not 4WD (rarely used it anyways). Is this a good deal? i am having some pushback from family telling me i am being stupid for trading in a 99.5 vehicle for a 2001 (plus the added cash for purchase) even though the new one has 100k less miles. I would obviously rather get an 03, but i assume it will cost a good bit more and there doesnt seem to be much of a point holding off for an 02-03 since they seem the exact same as the 01 minus a few features i can do without (itelligent cruise control etc) What do you guys think? Is it worth it?


Modified by QX22s at 10:23 PM 4/8/2010

[Qxxx4]

I've been in your exact same position. I also have a 99.5 and considered getting the newer model...nicer interior , bigger motor, nicer front end, but mine only has 152,000kms...and I have all service records since 60k, its never broken down on me and all the money I spent on it was preventstive maintenance or stuff that should have broke long long ago. If I got a new one...I'd have to redo my subs and head unit, redo all my LED conversion, switch over the 20s, and what would I get for my q...not much and if sure as hell have to shell out a few grand for one with more kms and I have no idea if that person maintained theirs like I have. I feel I'd regret giving mine up no matter how much nicer the newer ones are. not to mention all the memories I've had in my q. I'd rather drive it to the ground. I plan on getting a 370z when they start hitting the used market and go for as cheap as the 350s go right now and use my q as a winter vehicle. I love this friggin truck its a part of me. That few grand I'd put towards a newer q is much better in the bank for rainy day cash and for my down payment on that house I plan to get in a year or two....that's my insight man

Sentimental is probly the number one thing for me. My dad gave me the q. And I've put a lot of time money and miles in it. too many memories in her

[ugharin]

4k seems good for the 99.5 with 160k. I got an 02 with 79500 miles in excellent condition for 10700 including all taxes, registration title etc this january in 2010. So your deal on the 01 sounds good too.

Not sure if I can give a correct answer for your situation on whether it would be worth it. In my opinion, it is if you could find a Q with around that mileage that you found (61k miles). I guess you could look at it this way. Among your list, what could you get for 8k? Or, if you drive the 99.5 for 2-3 yrs more what could you get then for 12-13k?

[QX22s]

I do see where u are coming from. but personally I love my Q..but it does not hold any sentimental value really. I would trade up no problem if it was a goodd deal. only thing I would need to transfer would be wiring the subs (easy) and puttin my 22s on (even easier). keep in mind my car has 160k miles and the new one has 63k..plus being an 01 with all the new features. so putting emotional attachment asside...is this a good trade up or a is it a bad deal/ not worth it? the new car has passed inspection by a independent mechanic. but I don't want to trade a reliable car for a car that is only 1 year newer if it is not worth it or if the 01s are less reliable/have more problems.

[QX22s]

yeah it has been a search to find ANY qx4with under 70k miles (which was my cutoff). and no..I could not get any of those cars on my list for 8k after trade..but its really not an issue of what I can afford..I coul buy any of those cars right out but I am trying to find that balance between quality vs price. is 8k a fair pice for the 01 qx4 2wd 61k miles after trade in?? do the 2001 models have any significant issues??

[Ubel Feuer]

My brothers QX4 is an 01 and has not had any issues so far other than normal maintenance. You should be paying 8,600 for a pristine Q (blue book), so you should negotiate down from there. Just offer the guy that in cash and he won't say no. I'd also stick with a 4wd model, it's really kind of worthless in the winter if you don't have it.

[Qxxx4]

In that case go for it. from what I've seen the 3.5L motors give way more power and burn same amount of fuel and if there's that big of a diff on mileage then why not ur 99.5 won't last as long as this one with less miles.

[QX22s]

ya I originally was set on 4wd as a must..but truth be told..I live in nashville tennessee and we see snow maybe 2-3 times a year. rarely is it over a few inches. obviously with 22s..I don't do any off roading. so while I would like 4wd as a feature..I don't need it and it seem that going with 2wd will save me money in gas,maintenance,and cost on the car. I do like havin 4wd for "just in case" situations..but I really don't need it. glad to hear your bros has ran well for him. the blue book on an 01 qx4 in good condition with 63,000 miles is between 10,500-11,500 (in US)..so I am probably looking at 7-8k after trade in and fees/taxes

[GRNMACHINE]

As long as you do your homework which sounds like you have on kbb.com or edmunds, it sounds enticing. My 99.5 is in excellent shape but I would trade it for a newer one if the price was right. The anemic 3.3 has been decent but the mileage and power is very poor. I saw a newer all blue LE recently for sale by owner. Didnt have time to stop and get number etc, I am still looking for it. As Qxxx4 said, I have owner this Path since new though, I know how it has been taken care of, etc etc. That alone means alot to me as well. Let us know what you decide to do.

[QX22s]

Figured i would give you guys an update. According to the car fax (supplied by dealer) turns out the 01 QX4 i was looking at, with 63,000miles was in a front end collision with another vehicle with "severe" damage reported. It was repaired via insurance and passed all future inspections (emissions etc) but that still raises some red flags. Guess there are two ways to look at it though, if it was properly repaired, it just means it would have a bunch of new parts (which is good). If it was not properly repaired, there could be some hidden issues that could manifest later. Front end accidents are never good. I may wait around and see what else i can find, i am not in a huge hurry anyways. decisions decisions...

[99QX4]

I've been in the same situation as you....I had a 99.5 QX4 and originally wanted to "upgrade" to a newer year. I had a really really hard time finding a Q in decent condition, and for a decent price. I searched for a long time before i decided on getting an FX. I had crazy attachment issues with my QX, it was my very first car (had it since 2000) and owned it for 9 yrs. I wasn't sure if it was really worth it to get the same car in a "younger form" but i understand where your coming from. I love my FX but it was quite the change coming from the QX. Good luck though whichever way you decide to go