Is a 4th gen Maxima the answer?

In reply to btp76

I test drove a 99 almost exactly like that one when looking for a car for my daughter. It didn't have a howling throw out bearing (had a new clutch), but was almost exactly the same. It was a one-owner, 195k miles and they wanted $3900. It had a leaking radiator and the same miss, but darn that thing was fun to drive.

btp76 wrote: I bought it with a bad miss, a howling throwout bearing, bad front struts, and two bad tires for $600. $40 and two used coil packs later it runs great. I'm off to look at the C list parts cars for a seat motor, a radiator, and a decent steering wheel. Tires and struts are next. I think I can have this thing on the road for under a grand.

you win!

JB Weld didn't fix the radiator. I knew it wouldn't, but it was worth a try. Upon further inspection it only had one bad tire and my friendly neighborhood used tire shop had a like new Yokohama for $25. The drivers door handle wasn't broken, it just came unbolted. It's now fixed. The power seat didn't go forward and back, but jumper wires to the motor got it into position, so I'm calling it good for now. I'm front struts, a radiator, and a throwout bearing away from a nice car. I'm into it now for $665.

Anyone know the solution to a sloppy shifter?

If i had to take a wild guess i would say whatever bushings are attached to it..

btp76 wrote: JB Weld didn't fix the radiator. I knew it wouldn't, but it was worth a try. Upon further inspection it only had one bad tire and my friendly neighborhood used tire shop had a like new Yokohama for $25. The drivers door handle wasn't broken, it just came unbolted. It's now fixed. The power seat didn't go forward and back, but jumper wires to the motor got it into position, so I'm calling it good for now. I'm front struts, a radiator, and a throwout bearing away from a nice car. I'm into it now for $665. Anyone know the solution to a sloppy shifter?

there's a guy on maxima.org that makes (or at least used to make) urethane lower shifter bushings for the 5MT Maximas. I think he uses the OEM piece, but cuts it out and fills it with urethane, and after you install you have to send him back your OEM one as a core. It was pretty inexpensive IIRC, and a very easy install. I remember that it made a significant difference in shifter feel on my 2000.

I looked and it doesn't seem that Larry still does it (he hasn't been aroudn the site in a while), but here's his thread on it showing what he does, so that could be of use to you.

http://forums.maxima.org/group-deals-sponsors-forum/350549-urethane-5spd-shifter-bushings.html

Alternately, here's a guy who figured out how to use a $20 set of Energy suspension swaybar bushings to do the same job

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generation-maxima-1995-1999/645106-cheap-5mt-es-shifter-bushing.html

I think ES also makes a shifter bushing set specifically, but I think it costs a bit more than the swaybar bushings that he used, since it includes some other bushings too ( like linkage ones, etc)

4th gen Maxima is always the answer!

Glad to see you picked a 4th gen over a 5th gen. The 02-03's are sweet, but in my opinion the 00-01's are some of the worst Max's. I'm a Nissan tech, now an Infiniti tech, and the Max's and I30's with the most problems are 00-01s. Always need catalytic convertors, frequently need coils (more than 4th gens), and are the only ones that will fry the ECU & the IAC valve at the same time-and those are not cheap parts. Plus the 4th gens look better!

You have any recent updates on yours? I'm assuming it's on the road now...I wouldn't mind getting my hands on those 240sx rims you had on your donor car. Great buy! Enjoy your Max!