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When to stop the love affair with my maxima

Hi

When & how do i stop the love affair with my max. It has about 250k now - with original engine and transmission.

Within the past year, i have done the ff semi-major maintenance repairs:

-- changed fuel lines

-- changed brake lines

-- done break job - pads/rotors

-- did transmission service (just oil change)

-- replaced starter motor

-- replaced power steering hose

-- infact, around December, it passed the Maryland State Inspection flawlessly without the need for any repairs

I know i need to change the ff in the foreseeable future:

-- timing belt and water pump

-- decide to fix my whinning steering wheel pump or cope with the noice

-- suspension problems (need to replace shocks/struts)

-- new tires (in about a year)

-- investigate an electrical problem associated with change battery light (alternator is fine and battery is new)

-- deal with increasing rust spots...some have actually began eating deep into the metal

What other major repairs do i forsee ?

Though I'm starting to build credit, I heard it would be possible for me, to get a high interest car loan to purchase a relatively newer maxima for around 6-8 grand, and do monthly payments for about $300.00.

Should I go for this, or spend about $2000.00 to fix this car within the next 6 months?

What would you advice?

cheers - Pinto

Reply to
Pinto
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we read all this the first time you posted it.

you have to ask yourself one thing

do I want a car payment for the next 3 to 5 years

next you have to balance the cost of the needed repairs versus a car payment over a 1 year period, if the repair costs are less than the total new car payment you should have your answer.

ok so we have 300 bucks a month for 12 months, that's 3600 bucks

and you have 2 k in repairs of your existing car... sounds simple math to me.

Reply to
NissTech

High interest loans suck. You'll spend your life working for a banker.

You didn't say whether the 250,000 is miles, or Km.

If it is KM, keep the car. If it is miles, I'd have to say let it go, but you already have so much invested that an engine/tranny rebuild or exchange may be worthwhile to you when it proves necessary.

JM

Reply to
JM

NissTech et al

i understand but i was only wondering because there is still a lot that can go wrong and I don't do my own repairs (i hope to learn when I eventually buy my own house, and have a car to play with). For this reason, i think I thought I should sell it.... Based on the description and the mileage (400K kilometres and 250K miles), with no AC, what do you think this car would fetch? or do you think i should sell it ASIS?

If the car would be a pittance (fetch under $700) then i would keep it, and fix the rust problem, and do an engine/tranny rebuilt when the time comes)...

If i repaint the car, would that stop the rust problem...

thanks agin, Pinto

vestigate an electrical problem associated with change battery

Reply to
Pinto

If you're thinking of selling, after 250K miles, you'll be hard pressed to find someone who loves the car as you do. It's an old car, has lots and lots of miles on it, and is now, compared to today's cars, considerably under-powered. There's so much going against it except your love for it. I don't doubt that it is a great car, 3rd Gen maximas are the most unique looking of all Maximas, but hey, it's too much of a been there done that kind of thing.

CD

Reply to
Codifus

Probably not. If you have the rusty panels repainted with a blend job (the only affordable method), it'll be under $1000 but the rust will return within a year or two.

I think you're at a decision point where buying a lightly used car wouldn't kill your budget and would probably compare in cost to maintenance. Plus you get everything 'nice' again. You won't miss your old car for very long.

Dave

Reply to
David Geesaman

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