r/Nissan • u/Immediate_Wall4196 • 2d ago
NEED HELP ASAP WITH FIRST CAR!
hey i got about 3.2k saved up (financing isn't an option) found this on marketplace. just needing something as my first car for work then i'll save up to get something nice cash in few months. 2003 nissan altima 2.5 S Sedan 4D 147K miles description says (The only reason I'm selling this car cause I got a new model car and I no longer need this. This is a great car never had a problem. I'm asking 4000 or make me a best offer) he told me he'd do $3.2k. i ask if any mechanic issues or anything needing replacement he said (No there's nothing wrong with it I had this car for 5 years and never had a problem always kept oil change regularly and just put two new rear tires on so the only thing it will need two front tires they not bad but will need eventually ac an heat works this is a clean car to be a 2003. l'm only selling cuz I just got newer car but it's a good car) OPINIONS ? please let me know. i planned on having stepdad test drive anything i look at aswell as check with the computer system. pic attached
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u/AutomobileEnjoyer 2d ago
This would be a great first car, price is good and mileage is low. Ignore the uneducated people reeeeing about a trans the car doesn’t have
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u/TheBestAussie 2d ago
Just make sure it has log book servicing
Check fluid levels
Ask for it to be cold start, make sure it doesn't make any sounds it shouldn't.
As long as people service their cars they should last ok these days.
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u/habs4thacup 2d ago
why are you guys saying the trans is a ticking bomb? CVT only started in the 2007 model for the altima… I had an 04 SE with the 3.5 and it was an amazing car… now keep in mind that its a 20 yo car and depending on where you live the rear subframe might be rotten but otherwise they’re great car… while its not a terrible deal its priced about right I think… you could get an 03-06 or 07-08 G35 sedan for 4k which would be a decent upgrade to this one but might have been a used a little bit
Id say go for it if the test drive goes well and there isn’t any code showing up on the scanner
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u/Icy-Role2321 2d ago
This literally just proves most people don't know what they are talking about and just echo
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u/psych0rag3 2d ago
My first car was a 2005 Altima same body style and the same 2.5s and I loved it so much that I spent months hunting down a 2005 Altima SER which is the rare special package Nissan only made 10k of. My 2.5 I had before my ser was both my sisters first car and mine and up until I got rid of it it was extremely reliable and I mean not a single issue and I sold it at 160k miles. Also this is a 3rd gen Altima and Nissan didn’t start putting cvts in until the 4th so don’t listen to the other people.
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u/shymadden 2d ago
Older Nissans are where it’s at honestly. My first car was a 1997 Nissan quest and it took a beating lol. I rolled it three times into a field once and all I had to do was slap a new back tire on it and it lasted me 6 more months 😂
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2d ago
[deleted]
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u/Immediate_Wall4196 2d ago
hah i’ve been hearing a lot about these cvt transmissions on auto cars i’ll have to start checking that myself
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u/OmgItsJ09 2d ago
Check the floor boards for rust. Common issue with that body style Altima. Not a terrible fix but at least you’ll know what you’re getting in to! :)
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u/Friendly_Year_6765 2d ago
This would be a pretty good buy kbb value is 3.3k and seems pretty well taken care of..... the people saying these are high miles have no clue about cars and probably lease while still not providing proper maintenance to their vehicle. It should last you another 100k if you take care of it. Watch a YouTube video on how to change your own oil and perform basic maintenance and you'll 100% be fine especially once you get more comfortable working on it can fix anything that comes up. These are very easy to work on and have a comfortable drive I would buy it no problem.
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u/Successful-Hunt-2116 2d ago
I had a 2006 Nissan Altima. Bought from new, and it went to 265k miles with no major repairs; just regular maintenance. I loved the way it drove. I may consider picking up one soon.
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u/BopBoomPow 2d ago
This is a very reliable good car. Just make sure you check the oil level every time you fill up the tank and you'll be set.
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u/TSASA73 2d ago
This is not a CVT car. Even if it was, if it was serviced like it should have been, you're would more than likely be fine. I have four CVT units that I have personally serviced and they are going strong. Also, two of them started to have issues, did a couple fluid and filter swaps, and revived them. The CVT just won't tolerate the neglect that a traditional geard unit will. All of these cars I mentioned are well past 160,000 miles. 290k, two in the high 180k, and one in the high 160k for miles.
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u/Sad-Prior-1733 2d ago
Get a mechanic to check it out! Very high miles. Check Copilot website to see the most reliable years for Altima. Go to Kelley Bluebook to see if this is a fair price on this high mileage Nissian
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u/tainoblaze 2d ago
I have an 06 3.5 as my workhorse. I abuse the shit out of it. Great car. Sometimes I forget it’s my work vehicle. And trust me it’s great for that. Take care of it and you can keep it forever. I got mine new… just never got rid of it because it outlived 3 cars I owned that were newer. One being a Benz I got brand new too.…. That should tell you something…
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u/PlasmaticGrain3 1d ago
My first car is a 2005 altima 2.5 S I got it at about 110k miles with basically no maintenance other than oil changes done to it. It's now at 170k still chugging along and after some basic Maintenance and a couple wear and tear parts it's essentially brand new. It's also the reason I work at a nissan dealership and in general makes me realize how shit the new cars are
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u/Specialist_Spray_388 1d ago
Bro are those DOOR MATS as FLOOR MATS?! I truly have seen everything now
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u/haikusbot 1d ago
Bro are those DOOR MATS
As FLOOR MATS?! I truly have
Seen everything now
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1
u/Zeet84 1d ago
That wrap is job is a little suspicious. Check for body rust coverd by it. If you see a spot that looks undeven knock on it to see if it siunds like metal or body filler. Normally nissans of this era are super tough and last forever, but be careful. Also if you live in the north east or anywhere where salt is used make sure the under side isnt rusty af.
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u/Allexa2639 1d ago
If a deal like this came up in my area id be like heading over now lol. Body and interior look clean af for a 03.
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u/JaesenMoreaux 15h ago
That generation is the last good Altima in my opinion. Even though the seller says there's nothing wrong with it I guarantee you it still needs some repairs. At that age it might need suspension work if he's never replaced anything. It definitely needs new headlights. Those look totally yellowed over. Headlights are easy to replace though and aren't super expensive.
With that many miles on it I'd check for oil leaks and make sure the transmission still shifts good. That one has a good old school automatic transmission but if he's never changed the transmission fluid with that many miles on it that's not good. I'd check the transmission fluid and make sure it's still a red/pink color. If it looks blackish then he's probably never changed it.
The biggest flaw with these cars is the pre catalyst system but I'd assume that if it's made it to 140K miles then this car doesn't have that issue. The QR25 engine is very reliable but the pre catalyst tended to fall apart, get sucked back into the engine and then destroy everything. That issue tended to happen to these cars early in their life though. A big check in regards to a potential pre catalyst problem is to try and see if the car can't hold a steady supply of oil. If there's a catalyst problem it will be burning oil because the precat material will have torn up the cylinder walls allowing oil to get through. I suppose check the tailpipe to see if it's really oily maybe because other than having the car in your possession for about a month and checking the oil level over that time you probably won't know if the pre cat is problem on this car. The inability to hold oil over a short time frame is the give away.
Overall though the QR engine is pretty reliable and I'm pretty sure this was the last generation of Altima before CVTs happened so if it's cheap enough it's worth buying and then repairing a few things.
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u/Educational_Age_1333 2d ago
You want to see pictures of the frame under the car with the rust is like and the engine bay. The interior looks fine but that's not what would be concerning about a $3,000 car.
Don't listen to these morons talking about CVT they don't know what the fuck they're talking about just parroting Reddit bullshit.
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u/taidizzle 2d ago
stay away from anything nissan 2012 or older eith a cvt transmission. Look for a 90s corolla/camry/accord/civic. thay will hold itself longer until you can get something nicer.
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u/useronreddit1 2d ago
These don’t have CVT transmissions. They have a 5 speed auto.
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u/Educational_Age_1333 2d ago
Stay away from this guy's advice he has no idea what he's talking about.
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u/x_ceej 2d ago edited 2d ago
Is it really that bad? Or is it prone to failure due to overheating and poor maintenance? Or is it belt slippage?
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u/recolations 2d ago
Poor maintenance most of the time. Most drivers think an oil change is enough, and don’t think about a transmission. Cvt transmissions need fluid changes and don’t tolerate old / used fluid like a traditional automatic
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u/cmcummins21 2d ago
My 2015 3.5 with a cvt is going to cross 200k miles this year with just regular maintenance and cvt fluid changes.
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u/FirefighterSweaty172 13m ago
Idk if you bought the car yet but you should add in a few hundred bucks for title and registration and sales tax too cause idk what state you live in but you have to go to a notary where I am anyway best of luck with the car and please make sure you keep up with fluids yes they cost a bit but it is key for keeping your car running
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u/sabre420z 2d ago
Everyones talking about the cvt but those altimas dont have a cvt. Its a regular hydraulic automatic.