Looking into low-mileage 09
 

I'm looking at a 2009 Z Touring with the 7AT. The car has less than 7k miles, which can be a good thing or a bad thing. CarFax lists it as having 2 owners (each owned it 1-1.5 years and both low mileage drivers, go figure). First thing I'll do is check the tires to see if tread wear is aligned with this kind of usage (i.e. no ODO fraud). The first owner registered it as a commercial vehicle.
Only one service entry is listed for an oil change, which is a possible red flag since the owners may have though there's no need to change it if they aren't driving it much. But it's possible the owners changed the oil somewhere that doesn't log this information.
Any recommendations regarding general and/or Z-specific things to look for?
Thanks!

With such low miles... it was probably registered as a commercial vehicle so the owner can pay insurance relative to vehicles in his small business fleet. (discount)

Get a high quality synthetic oil, consider an oil cooler(if needed?) and check for 09 tsb's in the tsb section. Steering lock, ecu whine, oil consumption etc...

I'd pass but that's just me. Machines are designed to run. If they don't run regularly, they'll get rusty. The car is probably out of the 36K/3yr warranty anyway.

I wouldn't buy it because it's an auto, not because of lack of useage in three years.

If the tires have flat spots it has not been moved, and must be deducted from price.

I just bought one same scenario a couple of weeks ago with 5808 miles on it, 7at. Been fine so far. Titled as dealer car twice. I'm not worried about it. Plus for an additional $1200 I purchased Carmax 6 year 100,000 mile pretty good warranty on it. Buy an extended warranty would be my advice.

Not always true! I have 4 car in my house with only one driveway plus I also have a truck, the other 2 are a SUV (old lady) & car (daughter).

My car is 09 and has a little over 10,000 miles. I have been 3 times to ZdayZ and plus different car events. However to get my car out of the garage I have to back up 2 car and then put then back in de driveway since I lived in a Cul-de-Sac where the parking is premium.

So most of the times I jump on my truck and go to work. I drive the car more often during the Fall, Spring and some mild Winters because they leave before me to go to work and school.

So my car is not rusty and gets regular maintenance, and at least I drive it twice a month. Is in better condition that some 10, 11 or even 12s models. :twocents:

Cars built mid 10 and on seem to have better odds with oil consumption, ecu whine and other small issues. I'd consider trying to get something past a year one car. Lots of people have 09s that are flawless but it's still a crap shoot in my opinion. Plus most 2010s have a bit of bumper to bumper left. Something you might not have with an 09.

I don't really have an opinion without knowing the price.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm currently looking into the Z-specific issues. The biggest one seems to be the oil consumption, but I guess there's no way to tell if it has this problem from a simple test drive.
Price is $26k

Low mileage, eh? 1/4 mile at a time? J/K. If drives ok and the price is right, then buy it. Any warranty left?

haha, yeah. I'm hoping the fact that its 7at means it was a cruiser. My understanding is that the powertrain warranty of Nissan is fully transferrable, so I'd have a little over a year of that.

I bought mine as a low mileage 09 and I've been driving it for nearly two years now. I have never had an issue with it... As long as it has been taken care of, I don't see what the issue would be.

My car has only had like 2-3 dealer services and none have been from me. So, I wouldn't put that has it not having the oil changed.

Ask the person that is selling the car for more information on it. If the car has never been wrecked and looks as if it's in good overall shape, I don't see what the issue is.

If you get it make sure that you pull the fuse before you have the steering lock issue (or check to see if it has been done) that alot of 09ers have so it does not leave you stranded, there is a post with a write up on how to do it.

:iagree: :tup:

Thanks for the replies. I checked the car out. It drives great. The tire wear seems in line with 7k miles worth of use (i.e. they are half bald :D). Another thing I noted is that the average MPG is at 23 MPG, which I think suggests it was driven conservatively. Haven't decided whether to get it or not yet...