How to trade in a car?

[2002 Maxima SE]

Honestly, how do you do it? No, no...not filling out the paperwork...but emotionally letting go.

I traded in a 97 F-150 (regular cab V8) on my now 2002 Maxima SE due to space and 18mpg. Very logical...but I miss that truck. It had great lines and was one of my all time favorite vehicles. Unfortunatley, it also had some paint problems that were going to cost a fortune to fix.

The Maxima has been flawless. Now, 4 years old, it has no dents or scratches. V6 is still quite powerful and the interior is spotless. It's a hobby to keep my car as clean as my engine. Hey, I'm a Bobistheoilguyian, what do you expect.

So, a new flame has popped up. Ever since 1997, I have wanted a Mustang GT. Had a few gripes with the 97 and chose the F-150 (new design that year). Now Ford has made the car I have been waiting for...but the Maxima is still in good shape. I have curbed myself to wait until 2007 or 2008 to get some more use of the Maxima...but its not like this thing will be a rusted out hulk then. This car could easily give me 200k+ maintenance free miles. What to do, what to do.

 

[XS650]

quote:

---

So, a new flame has popped up. Ever since 1997, I have wanted a Mustang GT. Had a few gripes with the 97 and chose the F-150 (new design that year). Now Ford has made the car I have been waiting for...but the Maxima is still in good shape. I have curbed myself to wait until 2007 or 2008 to get some more use of the Maxima...but its not like this thing will be a rusted out hulk then. This car could easily give me 200k+ maintenance free miles. What to do, what to do.

[/QB]

---

Once you have decided that the $$$ is not an issue, think about yourself driving down the road in your new Mustang a year after you get it.

Will you still have a big SEG on your face thinking "Yeah, it was worth it" or will you be thinking about the next car you are going to buy.

If the answer is SEG, go fo it.

 

[HOndaGuy]

Keep the maxima, and once your done with it, get a mustang. No sense in driving a more expensive car that costs more on insurance and sucks gas more than your maxima!!!!!!

 

[Al]

quote:

---

Originally posted by 2002 Maxima SE:
This car could easily give me 200k+ maintenance free miles. What to do, what to do.

---

Well, cars own folks. I got over the new car bug early in life. Kept them til the wheels fell off. When a new car was needed, I bought another one with cash. The money I saved over 37 years of marriage sent both my kids to college. I guess it just depends what you want in life. If a new car is it-go for it.

 

[mikemc]

My fire chief said it best. We are getting a brand new 100' ariel truck in Novemeber and will have to sell one or both of our old '72 and '74 pumpers to make room. When I asked how he felt about this, he replied " I ain't into antiques, I like new stuff." So far as your Maxima, I am in the same spot with my '02 Ranger 4x4. I have wanted a Mustang since the late 80's but I like my Ranger, its paid for, goes well in the snow and has many years of low cost service left. I am probably looking at a Mustang in '08 or '09.

[ June 04, 2005, 01:13 PM: Message edited by: mikemc ]

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

Thanks for the replies.

I've planned to wait...but stopping by the dealer every few months puts me in a real "new car bug" mood for a few days.

I guess a lot can happen in two to three years. Hopefully they won't mess this design up by then.

 

[The_Jeff]

Look at New Beetles, PT Cruisers, that Chevy pickup convertible.

All had radical, mostly positively reviewed styling for their day.

All have, IMO, passed their prime.

The 300 is next. The Mustang's on deck.

Retro only works for one body style generation, about four years.

I'd keep the maxima. The Mustang will only be "fresh" in its first year or two... but you want them to work out the bugs that pop up in the first year or two.

Incidentally, I too grow bored of my cars after a few years. What saves me is my next car will be 6-10 years old, so I don't have to swallow that much depreciation. Perhaps you'd be satisfied keeping the Maxima and picking up a used weekend driver?

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

Good point eljefino.

I've thought about picking up a used Mustang, but reliability has been pretty bad. A 97 - 98 Mustang convertible would be nice, but the HP on the V8 then was about the same as my Maxima. My wife can't drive stick and I don't want an auto Mustang. The only answer is a replacement, but not now (easier said than done).

I agree, in a year or two the bugs will be worked out and it will be a better car. I'm not one to jump on the "new styling" bandwagon. I'm just a Mustang enthusiast who hated the 99 - 2004 style (except the Cobra).

 

[XS650]

quote:

---

Originally posted by eljefino:
Look at New Beetles, PT Cruisers, that Chevy pickup convertible.

All had radical, mostly positively reviewed styling for their day.

All have, IMO, passed their prime.

The 300 is next. The Mustang's on deck.

Retro only works for one body style generation, about four years.

---

I'm not a Mustang fan, but the new semi-retro looking Mustang is agood looking car retro or not. It's got a kind o ageless look to it. It will still look good 20 years from now.

The Chrysler 300 looks like a cartoon charicature of an early 300 that had a piano dropped on it's roof, it's looks won't wear well with time. Most retro looking cars are quirky enough that it's easy to tire of them. I think the new Rustang looks cleaner, better balanced and just generally better than the original. It will still look good 20 or 50 years from now. It's not wierd looking, it's just a danm good looking car.

 

[goodoleboy]

Depends if your living in an 2 bedroom apartment with 4 kids then keep the maxima. Depends on your situation,I can justify almost anything if I want it bad enough.