I have been looking at older pathfinders...since my flying tire post.

I've seen about 4 of them. None of them in good enough condition to consider. But I did learn I liked the SUV enough to buy one.

So, I was banking on this one I found on Craigslist and recycler.com. A 95 SE-V6 w/ 167k. 4x4, 5spd, power everything, flip up moonroof, keyless, you know the works. I was hoping this car would be the one because everything else I looked was crap, and this guy seemed really cool and from the pics it looked really clean.

He did, however, tell me it would need a new clutch soon.

Well, I was finally able to meet him today and take the car to my mechanic (my girlfriend's father.) So, I picked up the car in Burbank and drove it out to his shop in West LA. A nice drive, able to get a feel for it. Felt nice, handled well, sounded fine.....it DOES need a clutch, bad.

Get it to the shop, My girlfriend's dad give it a drive, looks around at it. Says it needs a new clutch and couple other minor wear and tear items. about $1200 in work. He said if I could buy the car for 2200-2500 I should make the deal.

The guy is asking $3300...and I was hoping to get away with $2700 cause of the clutch...

I start driving the car back to the guy, and the clutch is feeling even worse...Wow, this guy HAS to replace the clutch.

Then...

No more clutch...its gone, worn out, useless....

I was able to coast the car to a call box area (only place on the 110 with enough shoulder to really pull over.) And I call the guy. He is feeling horrible and calls AAA and comes to get me.

While we are waiting for the two truck we talk, and I tell him everything my mechanic told me (except for the price part.)

He asks, "So, I don't suppose you're still interested in even buying the car are you?"
I said, "Well, if i take care of all the work I'll pay you $2000 for the car."
"how about $2300?"
"deal"

So, I just bought a Burgundy/Grey Pathfinder...which is now at the shop waiting to get a new clutch installed.

Assuming all goes well, and nothing else is found to be wrong with the car causing me to renig the deal (which I already made mention to the owner about.) Then, I'll get the title from him when I get the money transferred out of my savings. The owner is really cool, only been in LA for a year, also a film guy. I think we just became friends out of the whole insane ordeal.

So, the CL will be up for sale shortly , as soon as I get the title from the lien holder.

I doubt I'll physically be able to get the car from the shop before the 19th...because I start a big job on Wed, and will be out of town til then. But I will post pics when I do get it.

Til then, here are the owners pics from the online ad:

 

 

Great buy! That thing should last for awhile! I hear they are built like tanks.

 

My Aunt and Uncle have one of those. I beat the piss out of it last winter. At 170k miles it still runs like a champ.

 

Nice... Sounds like you'll have a decent ride for $3500

 

Good find and the truck looks very clean as well.

 

Sweet ride. I love older pathfinders and 4runners. I kinda like the 4runners better because you can remove the back, but definitely a good deal.

 

Good find, my last maxima (98 SE) lasted me a good 230K before this jackass curbed me into the wall and blew the right side .

 

Very nice

 

nice. looks wise, 1st gen pathfinder>2+3rd gen

i love how it's a 4dr but looks like a 2dr.

 

man, thats a great deal, if that were back east here, it would have been rusted real bad