Real world value on an '02 TB LS

[Ramblin Fever]

with 110k miles?

KBB for this region states around $9k

[rodeo02]

Trade, retail or private party? I've found kbb.com to be very accurate for both trade-in and private party values. If a dealer wont give you atleast KBB for your trade, you walk. I've found several dealers in my area that go right online and offer whatever kbb says.

G/luck
Joel

[Ramblin Fever]

Not 100% sure what they're going to end up doing; most likely trading it in. The transmission is shot; they've tried babying it since almost a month after they bought it. Several pan drops/refills, changing filter, etc and it still keeps slipping and shifting hard.

They still owe $11k on it; but 2 of the dealerships around here - without driving it, are only offering $8k for it.

[rodeo02]

Probably a bad reaction shell on that 4L60E. Fairly common FWIU. It requires a teardown or trans swap. An $8K trade in allowance is really good IMO for a TB LS with 110K and a bad trans!

Joel

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted by rodeo02

An $8K trade in allowance is really good IMO for a TB LS with 110K and a bad trans!
Joel

Yeah, but the bad thing is, is they still owe close to $12K - they were not upside down before buying this TB, and unfortunately now, if they do trade it, they will be. We're just hoping that if they do trade it, that the dealership doesn't choose to drive it elsewise, believe me, they won't give even $8k for it.

Decision is still undecided as of yet; as it may just be a bit more wise to put in a new tranny i.e. $2k instead of loosing $4-5k on trade in.

All I really know of it, is the tranny fluid was REALLY dirty and burnt when they bought it, but they thought it was an incredible deal. I personally wouldn't have touched it with a 10' pole with tranny fluid as black as that was.

I'll keep u posted.

[rodeo02]

Yep, I wont touch a first year of production vehicle of any make/model. 2002's had their bugs. Looks as if they would be upside down no matter what they do, fix it or not. 4L60E's are everywhere so a repair or rebuild might be less money than you think. How long have they owned it if they still owe $12K on it?!?

Joel

[Ramblin Fever]

Just bought it about 6 mnths ago - dealership was selling used for $11,000 at 99k miles.

I didn't want them to get it; personally, I thought it was too much money on a 100k mile vehicle. I wouldn't even pay that for a Toyota with 100k, let-alone a domestic.

Is the 4L60-E the ONLY transmission they can replace it with? Is there not a GM transmission a bit sturdier built?

The 4L60-E has been around a long time, so I don't think the 1st year of production on the TB has anything to do with the actual longetivity of the 4L60-E inside the TB.

But I agree, I'm not to apt for 1st years of production either - although my 1st and only 1st year production vehicle, the '91 Rodeo, lasted a long time, problem free past the 150k mile range even. But yes, we took a chance on that.

[rodeo02]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

..Is the 4L60-E the ONLY transmission they can replace it with? Is there not a GM transmission a bit sturdier built?..

Yep, she's the only one that will bolt right up unless you want to frankenstein it. Keep in mind the 4L60E is/was used from large RWD sedans, to the corvette all the way up to light trucks/vans. Aftermarket parts are plentiful, beef-up kits, servos/accumulator pistons, machined steel reaction shells, pumps, etc... Yeah, if you buy any domestic truck/SUV used with ~100Kmi on it, you better factor in big expenses like transmissions, etc. I know how it is though. You can only 'suggest' things to family/friends. They never listen anyway!

Joel

[Ramblin Fever]

Valve body and clutch packs are what is causing the issue, per what I've just been told.

They are going to rebuild to the tune of $1600; make this next payment and then trade it in for a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. This pretty much seals their fate with GM products - they've had numerous GM cars and it's always something - headgaskets, manifold gaskets, and transmissions.

Granted this is their first GM SUV and their 1st experience with the 4L60-E, but they're pretty livid.

[rodeo02]

I hear ya, but buying anything with 100K on the ticker is a gamble, domestic or not. You just dont know how it was maintained or driven for all those miles. FWIW, I wouldn't touch a pathfinder with 100K either. Had some of those among family and friends. They are pricey buggers to maintain when they age. I'd suggest they shop around for a cheaper rebuild price if they dont plan on keeping the truck. To be honest, I wouldn't touch it at all. They still wont get squat for a trade-in value due to the miles.

Joel

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted by rodeo02

They still wont get squat for a trade-in value due to the miles.
Joel

Isn't that the truth The reality of it is, is realistically one needs to almost rid themselves of any vehicle before it hits 90k - this way, it's before any major maintenance issues (for the most part) and thus any money one does lose on trade-in or sale-out is recouped by not doing any maintenance on said vehicle.

Personally, this IS exactly what the previous owner of this TB did - he ran it REAL high on miles, mind you it's only an '02, in REAL short amount of time and then dumped it on a dealer lot.

In my opinion, anybody who buys a vehicle even remotely close to 100k from a dealer is just asking for issues.

Truly hope to goodness that any 2005 Pathfinder they look for should NOT have even close to 50k let-alone 100k in only a year. That would be truly scary!!

Some of the ones we've found so far only have 15-20k miles.

If what you say about high mileage Nissan's costing $$$ to maintain as they age, I'll be sure to off-load my Xterra by about 70k or so. My Isuzu's haven't cost me much at all past 100k, but my Toy sure has, and I'll be da$$ed if I'm gonna spend more then $1k or so to keep another vehicle running past 130k.

I'm not talking normal wear/tear costs however, i.e. tires, shocks, etc.

Per my calculations, it'll take me 10yrs to reach 100k miles on my Nissan; but my sister could easily accrue that in just 5-6yrs.

Thanks, I'll be sure to pass along the info. If it was my TB, I'd just cut my losses and be done.

[rodeo02]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

..If what you say about high mileage Nissan's costing $$$ to maintain as they age, I'll be sure to off-load my Xterra by about 70k or so...

No worries with the way you maintain them! Besides, the patchfinder and Xterra have completely different drivetrains. Xterra = truck based, New Pathfinder is more for the urban jungle.

Joel