Um everything he said is 100% true. I just bought one for $300. I own a Slammed/modded 89' hardbody, a 79' pontiac firebird with a fully machined/balanced built sbc (I still hate american cars, but I like this car. Unfortunatly though, it's for sale due to a hike in tuition costs, anyone want a firebird?), my prized vg30e s12 200sx, and of course, the van. But of all these, the van is becoming way too much fun to leave alone.
Mine's an xe, 2wd, 5-speed, ka24e, with the two-tone light-blue/dark-blue paint job (love it, looks like the ocean).
I purchased the van as a winter-beater on the pretense that it would be a reliable cheap vehicle that I wouldn't be able to modify more than a bangin' system. Got it, drove it back from MN to MI, had too much fun. It'll spin the front wheels (actually one of them, no posi yet) all the way through first gear, the tires are crappy but it's still mad impressive. Then, on the last 5 miles before home, I outright stomped a riced-out celica gt-s. He was so pissed I swear I'd die laughing, it even handles ok. It's got four-corner MacPherson struts, so I'm designing strut-tower bars, fat swaybars, and looking for an interchange for eibach progressives so I can slam it hard. (Anybody with spring info please share, the 4wd share maxima struts up front, but I don't know about 2wd). I've already made an exhaust manifold back 2 1/2" stainless exhaust system ending in a $30 eBay bought tanabe wannabe titanium fart-can muffler. This vehicle is going to be my ultimate ricer (the people with more stickers than engine mods, I figure your spoiler height (in mm) should be less than the engines' output (in hp)) insult. I'm going all-out, 18" motegi's and all. And I'm thinking maybe even a spoiler off a superbird, or not. But a ca18det is on the way, seriously.
Other interesting things I love about this van:
Dual sliding rear doors with roll-down windows in them
Cool stock paint job
Even the most basic model I got has power locks, windows, and A/C
It's got a useable third row (5'6" and under only)
The second row is very comfortable, with separate L & R reclining seats and fold-down center armrest.
Automatic front seatbelts
Power mirrors
cruise
Oh yeah, due to some underhood cooling problems, the dealer will replace any non-functioning accessories for free, yes, free. It's covered under a recall, and if you feel the vehicle still isn't safe, nissan of america will buy it back from you, don't know how much but weeeeehhhhhh, I love this van. If you think I'm full of bull, go to autotrader.com , do used car research, look up an axxess, click safety, read the recalls, then get really jealous, or buy one and help me lead a revolution. I so want a 4wd though.
But with every vehicle, there's bad too:
Looks like a Mitsu expo stock
Brakes suck (but upgrade to 4 wheel disc via 4lug maxima hubs)
Engine sucks a$$ to work on (hardest nissan engine installation I've ever worked on)
Big A$$ windshield that has to be expensive to replace
Hard to find parts are expensive (almost as bad as a VW, but I've just started adapting maxima/stanza parts instead)
Zero aftermarket parts (Basically a stanza, but even those are pretty much left alone as well, alot of other nissan parts seem to adapt really easy though)
Oh, did I metion the engine sucks to work on (1" between left strut tower and accessories, and a engine mount sitting on top of it all, it sucks soo much.)