PossibleOwner
Test Drive
- Location
- Oklahoma
Hello! I have some questions about buying an Xterra. I’ve looked through some of the threads about buying, but they don’t seem to answer my questions.
First, a bit of background: I am looking for 2001-2004 xterra. My budget is $8,000. I will mainly be driving to and from work (about a mile), to the grocery store, etc. I will have access to another car (a Honda Accord) for longer trips, so gas mileage isn’t a huge concern for me. I put very few miles on my current car. Most of the driving will be in town, but it might be taken down trails on public lands, but won’t be used for serious or frequent off-roading. I really want 4WD, just in case there is a snowstorm, or a zombie apocalypse. Basically, if the Accord can’t handle the road, I want something that will.
Now for my questions:
First, a bit of background: I am looking for 2001-2004 xterra. My budget is $8,000. I will mainly be driving to and from work (about a mile), to the grocery store, etc. I will have access to another car (a Honda Accord) for longer trips, so gas mileage isn’t a huge concern for me. I put very few miles on my current car. Most of the driving will be in town, but it might be taken down trails on public lands, but won’t be used for serious or frequent off-roading. I really want 4WD, just in case there is a snowstorm, or a zombie apocalypse. Basically, if the Accord can’t handle the road, I want something that will.
Now for my questions:
- How many miles is really too many? (The lowest mileage one in my price range with 4WD has 104,xxx. The highest one I’m currently considering is 134,xxx.)
- Do I need/want one that is supercharged? I read on Edmund’s that Xterras can feel a bit underpowered so I thought a supercharged one might be good, but am I really going to notice a difference?
- If I do go with a supercharged one, are there questions I should ask? Another thread had something about scanning for a sensor. Can someone explain more fully what that mean?
- One of the Xterras that I am considering is from a dealer, and they are replacing the timing belt. I read timing belts need often need replaced around 120,xxx miles. It also seems like something that would be rather expensive. This particular Xterra has 124,xxx miles and is a 2001. It is not supercharged. The asking price is $8000. I’ve found newer models with fewer miles that are the same price or cheaper.
- 2001, 104,xxx miles, $8000
- 2002, 123,xxx miles, $7200
- 2004, 115,xxx miles, $7900
- 2004, 98,xxx miles, $8000
- Are there any other specific questions I should be asking sellers? Also, I plan to take anything I am seriously considering to my own mechanic. Is there anything I should have him specifically check?