Nissan vs. VW - Used Car Opinions

[Spiderman]

I'm looking at downsizing from the Durango, and have found 2 cars that I'm interested in: a 2000 Nissan Maxima, and a 2000 VW Passat. I am just wondering what car to go for. Both Tania & I like the Passat, but my mechaninc tells me they're (pretty much) nothing but problems after 80,000 miles.

Like I said, they're both 2000's, they're both V6's & automatic transmission, and they're both the same price. The Maxima has 100K miles and the Passat has 99K miles. The Passat is the GLX trim (fully loaded with heated leather & sunroof). The Maxima is either the GXE or SE (cloth seats) and it has the spoiler. According to the specs, the Maxima is a bit more powerful (hp & torque) than the Passat.

I know there are a few VW fans on the board, and I appreciate any input, but I don't want to buy a car then sink a bunch of money and/or time into it keeping it running.

Any opinions/experience on either car (first or second hand)?

Thanks in advance! 8)

[Ghost Rider]

The Nissan will probably cost less with both scheduled an Uscheduled maintenance in the long run. The VW is probably more fun to drive.

Nat

[Buddau]

I am a VW only nut. I know nothing about other cars, ask Dion.
A high milage car of any make will have it's issues.
If I were looking at a Passat for myself, I would look closely at the front suspension, and the rear brakes.
There are controll arm issues, tie rod issues, and the rear brakes like to warp.
I would be willing to look over the Passat for you before you buy it.

[rockets.redglare]

Cars.....

well

VWs look nice, and thats about it. The newer VWs are good cars, but a 2000??? RUN! actually Passats are nice cars, it will cost much more with that Passat than the NISSAN.

My brother HAD a VW, and unloaded it, and guess what he went with? Nissan Maxima and bought a second one.

[RYBO]

I owned a nissan pickup for a couple of years and can say that it was well built, easy to work on and easy to find parts for. My brother had a Golf with just over 100k on the clock and it was well built, but sometimes hard to work on and surely hard to find parts for (except from the dealer) It was a very good driving car and had it's merits, but if I were looking for long term reliability I would go with the Nissan.

S

[Kristian]

Nissan, hands down.

[purpgixxerdick]

Definitly go with the Nissan over the VW if you are concerned with costs. Both are good cars and will run forever, but the Nissan will cost less along the way. VW likes to eat brakes, and the tranny costs about twice as much to replace on the VW (for example).

FYI, don't hit/go over anything with the front of the Nissan...it can (and likely will) wipe out the transmission case if you hit something like a parking block.
Call me if you need/want me to look over either of the cars with you.

[Dr. Joe Siphek]

Did mel get a sex change? Or am I losing it?


Bump...i'd go w/ the nissan as well bob! :up:

[Beotch]

Me? Sex change? :lol: ummm, no...I like boobs too much. Sorry hun, that wasn't me posting that ;)

[Dr. Joe Siphek]

nevermind...i figured it out! Travis ->:slap: <- Dr. Joe

[Doron&Katie]

Bob, I had a 2000 Maxima SE for a couple of years with a 5 speed and never had a single problem with the car except for that one time when I ran into a flat bed truck stopped in the left lane of west bound I-70 in the fog. Very strong car (I walked away) and very reliable. I would recommend it.

[Wahooman]

Nissan.....very easy to answer. Get the VW if you want to spend lots of money and have headaches.
Bob you can call me at Stan's if you want more specifics and information.
I would also have either one pre-checked before you buy it!

[Canuck]

Bob, one look at my avatar would signify my vote 8)

[T-byrd]

The Passat V6s are notorious for having water pump/timing belt tensioner failure around the 80k mark. Since the water pump is driven off the timing belt, if either one goes you will most likely bend a lot of valves. They also all leak oil from the cam chain tensioner/valve covers without fail at as few as 50k miles. Both are pretty pricey fixes, esp if bend valves.

Other than those issues the 2.8V6 is a rock solid motor. :lol:

Body and suspension wise, the front 4 link setups go through ball joints (only one of the 4 links was recalled) and the tie rod end boots split open on pretty much every single car.

If you want to know more, just let me know.

This is Dub, BTW :D

[KooLaid]

Nissan.

[Beotch]

The Passat V6s are notorious for having water pump/timing belt tensioner failure around the 80k mark. Since the water pump is driven off the timing belt, if either one goes you will most likely bend a lot of valves. They also all leak oil from the cam chain tensioner/valve covers without fail at as few as 50k miles. Both are pretty pricey fixes, esp if bend valves.

Other than those issues the 2.8V6 is a rock solid motor. :lol:

Body and suspension wise, the front 4 link setups go through ball joints (only one of the 4 links was recalled) and the tie rod end boots split open on pretty much every single car.

If you want to know more, just let me know.

This is Dub, BTW :D


:spit: nice...here I read that whole thing thinkin "dayum, Tanya is on it" and then get to the bottom to find Dub. Should I follow everyone else and post a "holy shit, a post from Dub"?

[Spiderman]

:spit: nice...here I read that whole thing thinkin "dayum, Tanya is on it" and then get to the bottom to find Dub. ...................... :imwithstupid: :lol:

Should I follow everyone else and post a "holy sh!t, a post from Dub"?:yes:

Here, I'll save you the trouble:
Holy shit! A post from Dub... masquerading as T-byrd! :lol:

Thanks everybody for your input. :up:

[Buddau]

Bob, get both cars checked out by a mechanic that you know/ trust before you buy.

[Mother Goose]

Just buy both of them... sheesh!