Hi Everyone, I'm new here! not yet an Xterra owner but hope to be one soon .

I am looking at a 2001 Xterra SE with 126,000 miles on it.

The asking price is 5500 or BO and according the the owner the only thing wrong with is is that the drivers seat will not slide so theres likely something stuck in the track. They are the second owner and are claiming that they have done oil changes and tune ups every 3000 miles. I will of course run a carfax.

So my questions are what is a reasonable price to offer them if I decide I want the truck. I'm looking for a deal here! I really only have 4700 to spend on a new car as of right now.

What should I look for when inspecting the vehicle? Are there common areas in this year that are likley to have something going on?

Thanks so much in advance!

Ok, first off, the TB and all the accesories in there ie: water pump and all the other belts and parts, should have been changed out by around 105k miles, you need to find out if it has been done, get proof if possible , you dont want that to break just after buying it!!!

5500 bucks???? When I bought mine , the dealer was going to give $5500 to take it as a trade in, I bought it direct from the seller instead, it only had around 81K miles on it at that time (bought it back around June of 2009). You can always get the vin, or all the options it has, and check the trade in and retail value ( www.kbb.com )of it for your area to help give you some idea as well.

Also, you didnt say if this is a 4x2 or 4x4 model, is it SC or NA (not sure if they offered the SC in that year)

Its an automatic 4x4. Is $5500 to much of an asking price in your opinion?

Is there somewhere I can print out the recommended maintenance of having the timing belt ect replaced? If its not been replaced I could use it as a bargaining tool.

Any idea the cost of the water pump ect if I do it once I purchase the vehicle?

sorry for the newbie questions!

yes, it can be used as a bargining tool, the cost for you to buy the TB kit yourself from Courtesy nissan (http://www.courtesyparts.com/xterra-parts-wd22-2000-2004-c-532.html ) would be around $300.00, that gives you several parts to replace, TB, all other belts, seals, new tensioner, waterpump, thermostat. . .. the cost to have a garage do the whole job ???? I've seen prices of around $900.00 with the hourly rates some charge.

Some place to get it in print? .... I'm sure you can find something online, I am also wondering if it is in the owners manual by chance.

Is that too much asking price? .. cant really say for sure, as I said, retail and trade in prices do differ from state to state, thats why I suggested doing the kelly blue book thing, for that age and miles, even if the whole TB Job was done, I would still try to get it down to an even 5k providing its in decent shape, and if you want it bad enough.

I just did a KBB.com review on the 2002 Xterra SE/V6 I just picked up for $5,400 with 104,480miles on it. The seller was asking $6,500. The seller also did the belts prior to the sale. I still have an Open Recall from Nissan issued in Nov 2010, for the Lower Steering Column Joint which I get fixed for FREE from the dealership.

KBB values it at $7,825.00. And that was Private Seller price. I think I did rather well. Not too many 2000-2004 Xterra's were in my price range under 100k miles.

#1 - Do you have PROOF that the timing belt was changed (i.e., RECEIPTS) or did the seller just SAY they did to get you to buy it? If they just SAID they did it, then when you hit 120k or so and the belt breaks and you then RUIN the engine, your $5,400 deal might not seem so great. Incidentally, if they DIDN'T do it, you can have it done by a dealer for less than the $1,100 difference ($6,500 - $5,400). Do I see a coincidence in the difference in the price here? Hmmm....

#2 - The lower steering column RECALL is a RECALL. Nissan will fix it for FREE for ANYONE. You're not special here. That's why they call it a RECALL, not a SERVICE BULLETIN. So you didn't SAVE ANYTHING. YOU DIDN'T GET A "GOOD DEAL" ON IT.

#3 - You just priced your truck as if it's an SE. You even claim it IS an SE, yet in your very first post on this forum (SEE THIS), you asked if it was an XE or an SE. THAT IS, YOU DIDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. Then when everyone told you that if it didn't have the SE badges (which it obviously doesn't or you would have known), IT WASN'T an SE. Yet now you're pricing it out as if it was and telling everyone it is, when we all know it's not.

#4 - I just priced an XE in your area (you give your location in your ID) in EXCELLENT condition with 105,000 miles and 4WD (and other usual options). Oddly enough it comes out to $6,375. REAL CLOSE to the $6,500 the seller originally wanted. Again, hmmm....

Sorry to be harsh, but the guys on here will all recognize your story. We've seen it before. Do your own RESEARCH before expecting others to blindly believe your story and help you when you won't help yourself first.

Have a good day.