Hey everyone.

My step-daughters employers have offered to sell her their 2003 G35 sedan that has 321,000 miles on it for $3000.00.

She is a nanny so she knows her employers personally and she trusts them to not screw her over on purpose.

I'm doing some research for her, since Infiniti is "foreign" to me...but I've been a car guy all my life so I know the basics to get answers to.

Problem is she and the car are over 3 hours away and I don't have time to go check it out in person.

What sorts of things should she be worried about with that many miles?
Am I correct in saying that repair costs can be fairly high with this car compared to like a Toyota Tercel, etc?
Is $3k too much for that? KBB shows about $3700 (good condition) for person to person selling...and I'd say the car is definitely in good condition.

Anyhow...thank you so much for your honest replies. She and I appreciate it!
Andy

 

just no....

I see new bushings, shocks, brakes, engine, alternator, brake master cylinder, in your future.

 

Hold on now..

This is interesting.. 300k+ miles on a G? That's awesome..

Right off the bat, I'm thinking a complete suspension overhaul. Bushings, ball joints, shocks, etc.

At that mileage (assuming it seemingly runs great) I would need a leakdown test, or at least inquire about how much oil it burns. The engines internals are obviously the areas I'd be most concerned with. Rings, and valve seals mostly. Of course if it still runs well, most of the damage that could be done has already occurred. You may be OK.

Other than that tho, I'd replace the radiator asap (its plastic, and all the heat under the hood for all those miles has indeed made it brittle) and expect a lot of sensors and smog equipment to start failing which can be quite costly. And finally get the timing chain adjusted and maybe a valve adjustment.

After all those things, it is not worth it to buy this car unless she's an enthusiast for it. They do tend to be expensive to fix even if you do your own work (of course that cuts the cost tremendously). Definitely not the car to get if she just needs a car. It just doesn't make sense. MPG is awful, premium gas, expensive tires, expensive spark plugs.

OK, I guess I agree with TeX mostly..just no.. Haha

 

Do they have a record of what's been fixed or replaced because chances are that mostly everything that will wear or brake probably have been replaced at 300k+ miles.

 

It depends. They've obviously gotta be a lot of highway miles. A lot of taxis get up to that mileage with mostly standard maintenance as long as it's driven gently and the miles come about fairly quickly. Cars aren't made like they were in 68 anymore. The 100k rule no longer applies to anything other than Hyundai or KIA (haha). But, yeah, I would be interested in what kind of work has been done.

I like that mileage tho..not cuz its a good thing to buy, but its kind of a badge of honor. Haha so many people try to keep the mileage down on these things for resale value, that we haven't had a good case study of unusually high mileage vehicles.

If it ran well I'd buy it. Of course I'd already know where to start with it.

 

Thanks all for your help...she won't be getting it.

 

That's way too many miles for me

 

I have a buddy that has a 1991 240SX that has 390K on it, but he's replaced EVERYTHING under it including the motor. It's a weekend play toy.

 

It's one thing when you own the car with high miles and know what works been done.



But buying a car with that many miles and everything unknown is a different story

 

:droool: pics or GTFO

 

Miles don't matter if the motors been replaced, man! My dad and an 83 Toyota pickup (22r) with around 500k on the first motor (a bit of guestimation cuz the ODO stopped working at around 350k), then bought a used 22r with 160k and drove that for another 150 before finally getting rid of it. We guess there was around 700k on that chassis over the 2 motors.

 

The motor is just a component, like a shock, or a caliper, or anything else on the car. Just because the motor's been replaced doesn't mean a car with 400K miles is not ragged out.



I always get a chuckle when guys list the mileage of an engine rebuild in an ad for a car for sale, but fail to mention the mileage of the body is absurdly high. Mileage follows the general chassis of the vehicle, not a replaceable component like an engine.

 

I dig that, but its like the heart. That's gonna be the most major of failures due to mileage, so its almost like a new lease on life if you get a new one.

 

Look here for the "Tourmaster's" Red 240SX

http://www.rbtexasstampede.com/stampedespast.html

 

Andy, with that kinda mileage even if they gave it to her it wouldn't be a good idea! If I lived 300 miles from my daughter would I want her driving a car with that kinda history in today's world...NO!
Gary