[fast1]

Still recommending a detailed inspection my an independent mechanic not affiliated w/ the dealership. See my post above...

Why not have the Nissan dealership inspect it? I'm not purchasing the truck from a Nissan dealership, I'm purchasing it through a little mom and pops independent dealership. From my experience, the manufacturer's dealership usually gives the best inspection. If I were buying it from a Nissan dealership I would not have them inspect it because they are trying to make the sale.

 

[fast1]

Wish those pics you posted would show up!
It sounds like a decent deal! Really low miles for that year!

I put some pictures in the first post, you cannot see them?I'll post lower resolution pics and maybe they'll show up better.

 

[Clint]

I'm looking at purchasing a 1 owner 2008 Frontier SE 4X4 V6 Ext Cab that has 172k miles. I pulled the carfax and it verifies that it is a 1 owner truck and maintenance was done at the Nissan dealership just about every 4k miles since it was bought brand new. The report shows it did have one minor accident about 13 years back, the left side was damaged but minor. The frame is clean no rust and is clean in and out. It had good acceleration and pretty smooth, idle seemed a tad elevated tho. Should I be concerned buying this truck with such high mileage? I understand with this model year the radiator can leak coolant in the transmission? I'm having the truck checked over by a Nissan dealership. I'm buying it at a local small mom and pops dealership. He is asking $6k obo. I was looking at getting an older Toyota Tacoma 4x4 V6 but they want a lot of money for those, nearly double of what you can get a Frontier for. Any advice would be appreciated. This will be a third vehicle just used to haul my motorcycles and golf cart occasionally, just an extra vehicle. I will probably get basic insurance.
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I’m really surprised that nobody bothered to give the engine a quick detail with a soft brush and a rinse at a minimum.

Clint

 

[fast1]

I’m really surprised that nobody bothered to give the engine a quick detail with a soft brush and a rinse at a minimum.

Clint

Also, the dealer didn't pull the Carfax, if he did he would have seen it was dealership maintained 1 owner car which would have bolstered his ad appeal. The interior looks brand new, whoever owned it before kept the interior immaculate but not the engine bay. If I were the dealer selling this I would have cleaned that engine bay for sure.

 

[trasko]

I can't see your pictures, so I can't comment on that.

Rust free, 175k miles on an '08 for $6k with all that service history / 1-owner is a good deal. So you are starting at a good place. I've got an '08 with 250k miles on it and it is wonderful. I'd verify two things:
1) listen for any timing chain noise (or look through history to see if work was performed)
2) make sure SMOD was dealt with.

That said: know that you're getting into an older car and it will need work. Even if it was a "legendary" Toyota or anything else, it'll need work. Everything on it is old, aging and probably covered in crud. That's life. For the price it looks like a good deal. Almost too good of a deal to be getting from a dealer!

 

[fast1]

I can't see your pictures, so I can't comment on that.

Rust free, 175k miles on an '08 for $6k with all that service history / 1-owner is a good deal. So you are starting at a good place. I've got an '08 with 250k miles on it and it is wonderful. I'd verify two things:
1) listen for any timing chain noise (or look through history to see if work was performed)
2) make sure SMOD was dealt with.

That said: know that you're getting into an older car and it will need work. Even if it was a "legendary" Toyota or anything else, it'll need work. Everything on it is old, aging and probably covered in crud. That's life. For the price it looks like a good deal. Almost too good of a deal to be getting from a dealer!

I re-uploaded the pics, refreash and check again.

I didn't hear any odd noises with hood and truck running. I will be taking the truck to a Nissan dealership for a pre-purchase inspection and recall work. I'm buying it from a small mom and pops dealership.

I have a 2005 Lexus RX330 AWD with 101k miles, it was purchased in 2007 with 35k miles, zero issues and still drives like brand new. This Nissan truck won't be driven that much so I can't see too much going bad, it will mostly be used to haul motorcycles, golf cart and get mulch for all the ridiculous amount of landscaping it has.

I've had three Nissan trucks in the past. First one was a rust bucket 1990 hardbody king cab 4 cylinder I got back in 1998, I loved driving that truck but my ex gf destroyed the transmission and the gas tank rusted out and was leaking and I had to scrape it. I bought a brand new 2000 Frontier king cab 4 cylinder and it was a dog going up Colorado mountain roads and got 12 mpg so I traded it in and got a 1998 Pathfinder v6 4x4 and loved that suv. I actually like the Frontier's interior more than the Tacoma's interior. I don't understand why Tacomas are so dang expensive because they seem pretty budget for the high price .

 

[trasko]

I don't understand why Tacomas are so dang expensive because they seem pretty budget for the high price .

It's the "Toyota tax." They make reliable cars and have built a great reputation on that (and other things). But if you do your research you can find cheaper and just-as-good alternatives. The 2nd gen Frontier is definitely one of those. But a Nissan passenger car vs. a Toyota? Pay the Toyota tax!

 

[fast1]

For comparison, here is a one owner, one minor accident 2007 Toyota Tacoma V6 4X4 Access cab with 253,289 miles that is selling for $11,995! Double more in cost and nearly double the mileage compared to the similar spec 2008 Frontier I will likely be buying. That is nuts!

 

[RamTest]

Is that rear bumper rotted through, or is that reflection?

 

[NRAJOE]

I’m really surprised that nobody bothered to give the engine a quick detail with a soft brush and a rinse at a minimum.

Clint

I was just thinking that....a super dirty engine like that has made me walk away a few times....no pride of ownership

 

[CT_Nismo]

I was just thinking that....a super dirty engine like that has made me walk away a few times....no pride of ownership

I just viewed the lower resolution pictures. That is dirt on the engine. How come there is no dirt on the bottom of the hood. The only way this quantity of dirt gets in the engine bay is by romping off road in a mud pit. I would walk away from the deal.

 

[fast1]

Is that rear bumper rotted through, or is that reflection?

It is not rot, probably a reflection. I checked the truck over.

 

[RamTest]

I'm taking it to a Nissan dealership for a pre purchase inspection which will be free because the truck has an open recall on it for the airbag/emblem.

A pre-purchase inspection has nothing to do with an airbag recall. They are not throwing in a pre-purchase inspection for free, you are misunderstanding if you think they are. I would expect a dealer would charge $150 for a proper inspection. Money well spent in any case.

 

[fast1]

I just viewed the lower resolution pictures. That is dirt on the engine. How come there is no dirt on the bottom of the hood. The only way this quantity of dirt gets in the engine bay is by romping off road in a mud pit. I would walk away from the deal.

Maybe the owner lives on a dirt road.. With an interior that immaculate and the suspension was good, I highly doubt it was beat on off-road. I don't think I even saw a ding or scratch on the body. I'm taking it to the Nissan dealership today for an inspection and recall work, the truth will come to light.

 

[RamTest]

Maybe the owner lives on a dirt road.. With an interior that immaculate and the suspension was good, I highly doubt it was beat on off-road. I don't think I even saw a ding or scratch on the body. I'm taking it to the Nissan dealership today for an inspection and recall work, the truth will come to light.

You'll be shocked at what a good detailer can do to a car. Seems they missed the engine compartment.
Good move taking it to the dealer, hopefully they will scan it. Just thinking, it might be closer to $250 these days.

 

[RamTest]

Take a look at THIS inspection checklist.

 

[fast1]

A pre-purchase inspection has nothing to do with an airbag recall. They are not throwing in a pre-purchase inspection for free, you are misunderstanding if you think they are. I would expect a dealer would charge $150 for a proper inspection. Money well spent in any case.

The service lady said an inspection required before doing recall work.She said it was free. I told her I wanted a full pre-purchase inspection. From my experience in the past it is about 1 hour service cost which is usually abut $150 or more.

 

[RamTest]

I told her I wanted a full pre-purchase inspection. From my experience in the past it is about 1 hour service cost which is usually abut $150 or more.

If they find something wrong, you can try to lower the purchase price which will at least cover the inspection cost. Some of those small lots will take the hit, some can't. They run on pretty tight profit margins, even more so now with high interest costs.

 

[fast1]

You'll be shocked at what a good detailer can do to a car. Seems they missed the engine compartment.
Good move taking it to the dealer, hopefully they will scan it. Just thinking, it might be closer to $250 these days.

I just called again, it is $165 for the full inspection. About 1 hour.

 

[fast1]

UPDATE 2/23/24: I took it to the Nissan Dealership to get a full pre-purchase inspection. It cost $176.14 total.
Needs $5,738.77 in repair with the biggest issue being it needs a rear differential at a cost of $3,823.33
The tech said numerous engine codes. Rear shocks were shot. It has the original radiator that was beginning to seep coolant but not SMOD yet. Radiator needs replacing.
he said the battery was held by a bungee cord and there was a. fair amount of bondo covering up body damage.
I included an itemized statement from the Nissan dealership.