I've had my car since 2011 and it is more or a less my daily. It is great, still gets me to smile, nice to row my own gears, good sound system. It definitely has it quirks, noises, and harshness that tire me out some days, but after a few days away from it, I am happy to come back. I am fearful that major repairs are coming up and I am not sure it is worth carryout the (repairs vs junking the car.

Repairs

• clutch (120k km on this one i believe)
• transmission hates going into 1st gear when it gets hot outside or a lot of stop and go, not sure if the clutch is not fully disengaging
• rusty rear subframe, mechanic has warned me about G coupes/sedans having rusty subframes falling apart,
• gallery gasket, has never been replaced. Never checked oil pressure

Maintenance

• tires, are expensive, need winters this season, need summers next,
• evap code has been on for a few years couldn't get to the bottom of it. Vent valve was replaced
• windows leak
• slow coolant leak upper rad hose always gets crusty where it goes into the block
• a bearing has recently gone bad and I couldn't tell which one it was when i checked each wheel (should take it to the mechanic next week).
• Battery is probably time for replacement

Other

• Rust (couple spots above the windshield, difficult to fix) (around the rear wheel where the quart panel meets the bumper)
• windshield has stress cracked from rust in the top driver's side corner twice.

So the question is, when have you decided to part ways with a car?

 

Educate me as I live in CA and my chassis/subframe still looks new.

Are rusty subframes unique to 12-15 year old Gs in parts of North America with inclimate climate? I figured most cars of a similar age would have the same issues under these conditions.

 

I have seen posts in Facebook communities about peoples rear subframes rusting out. The repair is to find a replacement subframe from a junkyard and swap everything over. Usually scrapyards from warmer states are a good source.

 

The salt that is used to deice the roads eats the cheap metal. Most cars in climates that see snow are prone for this issue. Cars in southern/ arid climates are typically free from this problem. I am relatively surprised that mine is in such good shape given how the ocean/ salt air rusts just about every exposed piece of steel around.

Nissan has a long history of subframes rotting out due to these conditions. IIRC there was a issue with some Altima's in the early 2000's that required Nissan to formally address the matter. One would think they would improve things but it is Nissan after all...

 

I wasn't aware of this issue. Is it linked to the quality of steel used, or the lack of protection on the surface?

Also, aren't many cities moving away from salt and to chemical deicers like calcium chloride and magnesium chloride that lower the freezing point of water?

Found on Google AI:
There have been multiple lawsuits and campaigns related to Nissan subframes and chassis rust, particularly for the 2002-2005 Altima and 2004-2005 Maxima. A 2015 class-action lawsuit alleged these models had floorboard defects that rusted through, leading to a proposed settlement of about $18.3 million in 2022

Fords were notorious for this when I was a kid. Oxidation is still an issue in CA if you live or work near the coast. I bought my son's Ranger from a seller that lived inland but worked the docks in LA, Underside is pretty rough compared to my other cars. Point being, don't assume because the car is located in CA that its rust free. AZ is the rust free zone, but the excessive temps lead to other types of issues (overheating, interior materials cracking, etc.).

 

Likely both.
I am literally 10min. driving from the ocean or a 5-minute walk to the river bank. Everything rusts that is exposed and not protected. Salt- either via air or roadway- it is going to get you one way or the other.

On a side note, after almost 27-years and 252K miles I am retiring the Ranger. Either the CMC or CSC (or both) are crapping out and I am just not in the position to deal with all that hassle AGAIN dropping the gearbox and such. I did all that 4 years ago and with only 10K miles on this clutch- no more. Plus the truck is developing other issues as am I so... Jaguar F-Pace here I come... maybe.

 

I live 15 mins from the ocean, no rust. I've been looking to purchase a Nismo Z h-pipe and mid, but I keep finding ones locally that are closer to the ocean, so they look pretty rusted.

Someone will buy the Ranger and replace the CSC as those trucks have a loyal following. I replaced the automatic trans in mine at 190K because the replacement driveshaft (don't ask, my son caused the damage "off roading") did not seal properly with the old transmission and eventually tore it apart. Found one used a few states away with only 90K miles on it and the truck runs great again.

Jaguar F-Pace's look nice and can be had for a song a few years old. How do they hold up? Co-worker is from the UK and he swears by Jag and thinks they have an unwarranted reputation for being unreliable.

 

Still in the early stages of research. As many are coming out of the 5-year complimentary service window that Jaguar offered there are plenty of CPO deals floating about. Ideally I'd get a 4Runner but those are ridiculously overpriced and are a dime a dozen around here. Same for the Tacoma's. smh

I do not know what direction I'll take at this point. It is with growing resignation that I admit my 2-door days are numbered and logically a C/SUV would be more practical at this juncture for many reasons.

OK... Back to topic.

 

It's nuts what one can pull on the used market for a Tacoma, even one that had been poorly modded and is beat to hell. There is one in my neighborhood listed for 15K and it has to be 15 years old, high mileage, tacky mods with decals, and they want 15K. Those trucks literally lose almost no value.

If in the market for a truck, thoughts on the Frontier Pro-4X? The design is long in the tooth, but its a good looking and capable body on frame truck with a real transmission and proven power plant (VQ38DD, enlarged G35 version - Direct injection unfortunately) that that can be had for a song now that the future of Nissan is in question and dealers are offering 2018 style below invoice pricing.

As for me, I drift around. There isn't a better deal on the market than a 2-3 year old Redsport as those cars are selling at almost have their sticker price new.

I also like the Integra Type-S minus the inherent FWD and goofy looking rear exhaust: https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2...te-2-road-trip

Pictures don't do that car justice.

I have also recently discovered BAT, and that site is addictive: https://bringatrailer.com/auctions/

I looked at this one yesterday and it sold this morning: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...-chevelle-120/

SS conversion, so it's 1/3 the cost of a matching numbers SS with a big block, but that would be a fun car to own again.




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