Opinion on 88 pathfinder?

[blue109]

Any experience with 1st gen pathfinders? Guy i know selling one for $800. Looks nice on the outside. V6 4wd. Little rough inside but not bad. Bigger tires. Runs good, but says it gets hot after long highway drives.  Thinking it might make a fun toy  but i dont want to throw money away,

Edited December 4, 2015 by blue109

[planeflyer21]

My buddy had one.  Great little run-around!  If you don't mind wrenching, not too bad to work on it either.

If you do mind, with it getting hot on the highway, sounds like a pump and thermostat are in order before summer.  That could double the price if you're paying a mechanic.

[suzukiray]

If the radiator is original, it could just need replaced as they will get clogged after time, if it wasn't flushed. Could be as simple as that. Easy to test to see if it is the radiator.

Ray.

[blue109]

Cool. Owner mentioned original radiator and probably needed new one. I dont mind wrenching, and i have a guy who does my major maintenence for cheap and i bring him the parts. I just need something to get out to the shooting spots with and drive to work. Dont see many for sale so its hard to gauge the value.

[planeflyer21]

My buddy had his all over the Santa Rita mountains, among other places.  They are capable little machines.

[blue109]

Took a look today. It hasn't been moved in a few months since guy has been out of town and battery is toast, but cranked right up on jumper cables. Ran amazingly silky smooth. Purrs at idle. No smoke. No rust anywhere that I can see. Little oil sweat on the trans cooler line but no other leaks. Interior is ugly. Door panels are trashed and the door handle hardware needs to be replaced. Rear seats and plastic is ok.  Power windows work. Actually has working AC if you can believe it. Let it run with AC on for about an hour and temp gauge didn't move. Told him I'll take it and probably go grab it tomorrow. I can probably flip it easy if I decide I don't want it.

Edited October 21, 2018 by blue109

[shepp]

Nice looking up here it would be a two tone and probably be 75/100lbs lighter than the day it left the production line 

 

ps my buddy had a truck about that same vintage thing ran like a top till the day it fell apart. after the box literally fell off it he put a flat bed on it but a couple years later the cab was really bad and he sent it Down the road

Edited December 5, 2015 by shepp

[blue109]

Sad panda. This little beastie has really grown on me....And this morning some dick bag rear ended me. I was stopped behind a big truck waiting to make a left and dude just plowed me. Damage looks mostly cosmetic but I notice the right side tires seem to be sticking a little further past the fender than the left side. Hit me so hard he sheared the tow hitch off. I have to work tomorrow so I'll drive it around Sunday and see how it feels. I'm pissed though. More aggravation poured into a cup that already runneth over. 

 

On the bright side....That poor Tacoma never had a chance. 

Edited April 14, 2017 by blue109

[blue109]

The attacker

[98Z5V]

SHIIT!

[shepp]

Man you fucked that thing up!!! Did you see him coming? Rear enders SUCK!!!

[blue109]

I realized he wasn't going to stop with just enough time left to do nothing about it. Pretty surprised the glass didn't break. Rear hatch even opens and closes. Good old days when trucks had tubular steel behind the bumper and factory gas tank skid plates.

Edited April 15, 2017 by blue109

[DNP]

Almost completely finished sayin "son of a ..."  Wham. 

[Sisco]

get that baby fixed in tip top shape on his insurance!

[blue109]

Problem is they are going to try and give me jack for it.

[DNP]

It worked and drove straight before he hit it. It should work and drive straight when it's fixed. 

[DNP]

If they total it, ask them what the buyback is. 

[jtallen83]

Call his insurance and tell them it is not SAFE to drive, it is at your house and you expect to be paid a reasonable storage fee until they agree on a settlement so you can fix or scrap it. Create documentation that it is stored on your property and get a mechanic to verify it is not safe to drive. It won't get you rich but it does create leverage.

[blue109]

I'm sure they will total it, and I'll buy it back assuming it's straight. The problem is the miniscule amount of money they will offer me. An 88 4x4 isn't worth much. 

[jtallen83]

What is auto storage run per day in your area? Get some quotes to throw at them. Get them on notice right away so the meter is running. Unless Arizona has some odd ball laws that favor the insurance company you can make as much or more money for storing it than it is worth. It also makes them more amenable to a good settlement knowing the meter is running.

[sketch]

Damn that is some damage.. how far did your rig fly from impact? 

[bubbas4570]

Make damn sure a good body shop figures that frame is either true, or bent (not true)....you know.

Everything else is cosmetic on those old vehicles. Sucks, but true.....

 

One can live with alot of dents/rust/body crap....but a twisted frame can screw you up before you hit 2nd gear.

[DNP]

Whatever you do, let them pick the repairman. I opted to pick my own and that bit me. I thought my guy would do the best job for me. Any complaint I had about the repair was answered by "you picked the shop". They couldn't get my car straight. It took several attempts to get it to align. 

[blue109]

Verdict is in. Junked. They are offering me $1700 and I can buy it back for $300. Drove it around today and it feels fine. Really just needs a tail light and the rest is cosmetic so I'll do that. Maybe replace the hatch some day if I find a cheap parts truck. I'm mostly annoyed with the hassle of having to get it inspected and re-registered. 

[DNP]

Yeah, it's unfortunate that the other guys insurance never factors in the "pain and suffering" or at least "pain in the ass" of having to deal with all that crap.