"Money Hustard" (moneyhustard)
02/10/2014 at 20:22 • Filed to: None
0
14|
"Money Hustard" (moneyhustard)
02/10/2014 at 20:22 • Filed to: None | 0
| 14 |
My little brother is smarter than is a very few narrow and select ways. He's had the same Nissan Altima he bought right before college for the last 7 years, and before that, one other car. I myself was on ride number 8 by his age (stupid, VERY stupid amounts of money were spent feeding my habit). He's happy to keep this car for a few more years, but wants to restore the car a bit now that he has a real job.
This car has seen about 95,000 very tough college-years miles, but runs fine and has great, fresh summer tires on it. The suspension is pretty beat at this point, and there are blown speakers all around.
My question is, in his situation, with about a thousand dollars, what would Oppos do to restore this car? What is the low hanging fruit, so to speak, in restoring this car, at least in part, to its former glory? Be as specific as you'd like!
Edit: It's a 2.5S
Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
> Money Hustard
02/10/2014 at 20:24 |
|
Shocks, struts, and an alignment will make the car ride better, handle better, and make it not chew up tires every 15,000 miles.
Use the remaining $200 for some decent speakers.
promoted by the color red
> Money Hustard
02/10/2014 at 20:24 |
|
Suspension refresh (bushings, shocks/struts), address rust, and a thorough detailing.
Effef
> Money Hustard
02/10/2014 at 20:25 |
|
Shocks (especially rears), bushings, change transmission fluid, timing belt if it needs it, and keep up on oil changes.
Textured Soy Protein
> Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
02/10/2014 at 20:25 |
|
Shocks = struts
hike
> Money Hustard
02/10/2014 at 20:26 |
|
Floor mats are a must. Probably take it to a body shop to patch up whatever imperfections it has received over the years. Can't remember if this car has a timing belt or chain, but that might not be a bad thing to have done if it hasn't already.
|
Money Hustard
> Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
02/10/2014 at 20:26 |
|
Suspension is key, I agree. Any specific advice here though? I don't know much about it other that, if I have an old car, and want it to work better I bring it to the shop and the replace a lot of things. Should he stick to OEM spec stuff or is there anything after market for this sort of car that would be worth looking at?
|
Textured Soy Protein
> Money Hustard
02/10/2014 at 20:27 |
|
Fresh shocks and some new speakers would probably fit in that budget. Don'to need to do anything super fancy.
Otherwise just go over the recommended maintenance schedule in the owner's manual and make sure everything's up to date for the mileage on the car.
dogisbadob
> Money Hustard
02/10/2014 at 20:27 |
|
cold air intake Apexi exhaust 20-inch tailpipe and sponsorship decalz yo!!!!!
No really though, get some quick struts and speaker. Monroe and Gabriel will be having their semi-annual rebates next month like they always do. Other than the suspension and speakers, I can't say without more info, how well it was maintained, and/or actually seeing the car in person. V6 or 4? Manual or auto?
Really, summer tires on an Altima? :p Unless you're in Jalopnik's Favorite State haha
|
Money Hustard
> dogisbadob
02/10/2014 at 20:29 |
|
Ah yes, sorry it's a 2.5S, very well maintained.
It's in Florida.... yeah, we're floridians...
|
Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
> Money Hustard
02/10/2014 at 20:29 |
|
If he's planning on using it as a daily for the next 95,000 I would just say use OEM spec struts. It's an Altima. Just get the best he can afford and it should be fine for quite a while.
Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
> Money Hustard
02/10/2014 at 20:37 |
|
The suspension shouldn't be too expensive, a set of front struts for a 2004 Jetta cost me $300. If the speakers are gone, feel free to put some aftermarket ones in, and those depend on the brand.
|
dogisbadob
> Money Hustard
02/10/2014 at 20:39 |
|
Gotcha. So yeah, it sounds like just the struts and speakers are needed. Of course, if you can't get the old sway bar links off (which are often made with a stupid hex key that rusts and strips over time), you'll have to cut them off and of course buy new ones. I recommend the Deeza brand end links. The bushings are also worth replacing.
So just that and then just Altima-specific problems, if any.
ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> Money Hustard
02/10/2014 at 20:43 |
|
Agreed with most of the responses you've got here. Shocks, bushings, maybe bearings if they're beat. Timing belt if it has one and hasn't been replaced already.
Tranny fluid, maybe check the brakes - fresh rotors if they're warping.
Any leftover money towards niceties like new speakers help too - I recently had a Parrot bluetooth system installed into my Subaru - now I have hands free calling, bluetooth streaming of audio, and aux/USB input too....a good mount for your phone and you basically have a nav/infortainment center.
A professional detailing job inside and out to wrap it all up would be great I think.
|
dogisbadob
> Money Hustard
02/10/2014 at 23:01 |
|
To amend my previous replies, unfortunately it appears they don't make quick struts for your car :(
However, a nice performance upgrade would be to get Sachs Advantage shocks and struts.