# This old maxima

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/this-old-maxima/49315>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** nissan, maxima\
**Created:** [May 24, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/this-old-maxima/49315 "2010-05-24T17:36:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jwells](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9a140/32.png) [@jwells](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jwells)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/this-old-maxima/49315/1 "2010-05-24T17:36:05Z")

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i have a 97 maxima with 150k miles(i bought it with 50k already on it). it has been a good car(mostly). but i have spent a lot lately keeping it going. starters here, gaskets there, o2 sensors, etc. it runs very well and handles well. no complaints about driving the car. i just replaced the valve cover gasket and realized that the intake manifold gasket and the rear main seal are leaking. i wont be able to fix myself, and having the work done will cost me a grand and change.  
  
 my question is, at what point do i say this car is worth saving, or set it on fire and ghost ride it down the hill to celebrate the 4th of july with the kids.

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**Author:** ![ignoramus9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@ignoramus9](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ignoramus9)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/this-old-maxima/49315/2 "2010-05-24T17:47:24Z")

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What will it cost you to replace it, as over against what it will cost you to maintain it?  
The math is simple.

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**Author:** ![researcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@researcher](https://community.cartalk.com/u/researcher)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/this-old-maxima/49315/3 "2010-05-24T18:13:01Z")

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My economic thermometer is to calculate the yearly cost of loan payments, repairs, gasoline, insurance, etc for the existing car and what the yearly cost would be for a new or newer car. When the cost of maintaining the existing car becomes more than moving to new car, that is when I say “bye bye” and “Hello”.

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**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/this-old-maxima/49315/4 "2010-05-24T18:22:43Z")

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I must question the accuracy of the diagnosis and the severity of the leaks on these two new problems, who says these issues must be made “perfect”?

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**Author:** ![hd72mm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9fc29f/32.png) [@hd72mm](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hd72mm)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/this-old-maxima/49315/5 "2010-05-25T02:07:48Z")

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Put cardboard under car and keep check on oil level and drive.