Opinion on Second Vehicle

Hey everyone. I want some opinions. Might even throw a poll in here. So recently I found out that my first vehicle, a 2000 Toyota 4Runner, is coming back into my possession free of charge and running. It is in rough shape but runs and drives fine. Probably needs a few things. It's on its 3rd transmission. My thought is to just sell it. The main reason is I have a Tacoma and that is my daily driver, and a buddy wants me to buy his 5 spd. Nissan Maxima that hasn't been driven at all in 2 years (sat in the same place and not started for the same time). So what do you guys think? Any experiences you care to add with starting a vehicle that has sat or anything that you'd do to it to get it going again. He wants $200 bucks for the Nissan and I would kind of hope to get $3,000 (KBB says $3,900 in the worst condition they list) out of the 4Runner.

Other information. I plan to drive my truck all winter so I would have plenty of time to work on the car. Also I have a 3.5 car garage and plenty of room. One bay with a door is never used. The 4Runner is terrible on gas, the Tacoma is better and 4wd and overall a much nicer ride. The 4Runner serves almost no benefit to me other than 4 doors which the Nissan has.

 

Agreed... The gas in that car is ruined Also how old is this maxima? I didn't think they were putting manuals in them for many many years like pre 98?

 

Thats fair. I know it'd be a pain in the ass. On more than one level. Change fluids, filters, belts, hoses, brakes, tires, plugs and who knows what else. The Maxima is a 2003 and was parked because of what my buddy estimates was a bad fuel pump. He works on vehicles for a living but I still don't like that part.

Parts for it are pretty cheap though so thats something. The pump is like $65 from rock auto.

 

Swap 2JZ into 4runner

enter Race Wars

Profit

 

I've had great luck with 99 and down Maximas, the 3.0L (VQ30DE) is quite possibly one of the best production motors to date. I have had two Maximas with the 3.0L and both have gone past 190,000 with nothing but oil changes. One of which we sold and the other I still drive whenever my truck is down for something. However the new 3.5L in the 2000 and up Maximas is regarded as a leaky piece of junk. We are in the process of getting rid of an 02 that tends to leak and burn oil and only has 97,000. I still have a 98 with the 3.0L and it runs like new and is fun to drive, one of the only FWD cars I know of with a LSD.

So if this one falls under the 3.5L territory and is currently not running, I would suggest you run too.

 

i'd buy the nissan for $200.00 change the oil, fire it up and go from there.

 

Id buy the nissan but only to try to flip it

 

I honestly don't think it could be flipped. Good thoughts though. It will certainly need new tires, brakes and other rubber components and a new battery. Never mind all fluids flushed and changed. Even in the best condition it is worth like $3,100 and this one has quite a few little dents and dings. But it might not be a bad beater to pick up if not much is wrong with it. I did talk him down to $100 with him considering the thought of me just taking it. I rode in it while it was still in great condition. Was a really good vehicle. But if I can find a way to get it to my house it would be a good tinkering projects and I enjoy those.

I'll admit, if I were smart or looking to make a profit then I'd run. But for $100 plus towing it wouldn't be much just to see what it'd take to get running again.

 

Oh please, I routinely have motorcycles that miss a season of use, and they run fine once I put fresh gas in and charge the battery. The issue is the Maxima didn't run when parked...

Howard

 

Lol. Very fair Howard! If the car were my own then I would know that all it needed were fresh gas and a battery. But I don't know what the issue was before. Though it didn't sound serious. Just my buddy didn't have much money at the time and then shortly after got deployed and legitimately forgot about it because he had another vehicle and it was parked at his parents house. Sounds strange, I know.