02-08-2007, 04:34 PM
well, after poring over recall/reliability data, forums, and ads for days Jen and I found a solid deal on an '03 4x4 xterra after talking the seller down a bit. we pick it up on saturday. i'm actually very excited, it's not fast or technologically advanced, but it's a neat little truck and we plan to take it over more than just speed bumps :lol: i'll give you guys my impressions when we have it, since maybe some of you may consider one someday.
this was my first time buying a car from someone outside family or friends, here's a few things i picked up:
- do mucho research and don't take anyone's "word" on anything. example: every single person i met except our eventual seller claimed to know how the 4wd system worked and could demonstrate it's operation properly, but couldn't explain how to engage/disengage the autolock front hubs when i told them the xterra had them. that's some important crap considering you can screw up the 4wd system if you leave them locked and drive at high speed.
- get dirty. poke around the engine, under the chassis, open stuff.
- don't puss out on the test drive....drive it and give it the boot if it means finding out about a kooky transmission or weird vibrations at speed.
- give everyone a chance in buying/selling as long as they look legit. i had bad presumptions about carmax but after going there Jen and I have decided to sell our truck through them because they gave us a no-questions-asked fair price. if i didn't give it a shot i'd be stuck, probably for weeks, trying to sell it privately or getting hosed if i felt i had to trade it in.
- bargain anything. if you sound commited and present a good argument you can get anyone to drop the price if you really want to haggle on it.
we also managed to do a little better on a loan after going through our local credit union -- i would definitely recommend checking one out if you have the means.
anyway. i've got an extra MM sticker and it's going on pronto!
this was my first time buying a car from someone outside family or friends, here's a few things i picked up:
- do mucho research and don't take anyone's "word" on anything. example: every single person i met except our eventual seller claimed to know how the 4wd system worked and could demonstrate it's operation properly, but couldn't explain how to engage/disengage the autolock front hubs when i told them the xterra had them. that's some important crap considering you can screw up the 4wd system if you leave them locked and drive at high speed.
- get dirty. poke around the engine, under the chassis, open stuff.
- don't puss out on the test drive....drive it and give it the boot if it means finding out about a kooky transmission or weird vibrations at speed.
- give everyone a chance in buying/selling as long as they look legit. i had bad presumptions about carmax but after going there Jen and I have decided to sell our truck through them because they gave us a no-questions-asked fair price. if i didn't give it a shot i'd be stuck, probably for weeks, trying to sell it privately or getting hosed if i felt i had to trade it in.
- bargain anything. if you sound commited and present a good argument you can get anyone to drop the price if you really want to haggle on it.
we also managed to do a little better on a loan after going through our local credit union -- i would definitely recommend checking one out if you have the means.
anyway. i've got an extra MM sticker and it's going on pronto!
2010 Civic Si
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
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Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
--------------------------
Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT