Topic: 1997 Nissan Patfinder vs. 2012 Honda Fit

[Snowman]

As some of you know I have moved my mother, her dog , and her 1997 Nissan Pathfinder in with us. Mom is 70 and does not drive much anymore and gone are the 4 hour trips to Thunder Bay for medical appointments and shopping once or twice a month.

She still wants to be independent and run around Oakville and up to the family cottage in the summer for a few weeks and would like to keep a vehicle. I suggested we dump the Pathfinder and buy a Honda Fit but she is insisting we look at making the old beast run five more years. 

I listened like a good boy and brought the Pathfinder in for a mechanical fitness at the local dealer and it passed with flying colours  It only required a heater fan resistor. With 137K on the clock the service guy asked me what I wanted for it as I had explained my situation to him. He mentioned that he has never seen a Pathfinder that age is such good mechanical condition and complemented my mother on keeping up with the maintenance 

Today I ran around to a number of collision repair shops and it will cost +/-$3500 to remove and replace the rusted body and rocker panels to bring the body up to the same condition as the mechanicals.

Basically for under $4k Mom can have a good vehicle for 5 years with some risk of future problems or drop big money on a brand new Honda Fit. What would you do?

[sailor723]

15 is getting pretty long in the tooth even with very low mileage. I think I 'd be worried about my Mom geting left on the side of the road on the way to the cottage if the Pathfinder decided to crap out. Does it have to be a new Fit? If she likes the whole SUV type thing why not something like a late model used CRV or Rav4 for new Fit money?

[rrocket]

15 is getting pretty long in the tooth even with very low mileage. I think I 'd be worried about my Mom geting left on the side of the road on the way to the cottage if the Pathfinder decided to crap out. Does it have to be a new Fit? If she likes the whole SUV type thing why not something like a late model used CRV or Rav4 for new Fit money?

^^You nailed it!  A couple year old Rav4/Forester/whatever would fit the bill nicely.

Unless she is emotionally attached to the Nissan.  Also, who will be footing the bill?  That would certainly make a difference...

[airbalancer]

she may not be happy with a Fit since it seats lower to the ground
take her out some dealership to have drive in some of the new cuv
at 70 she still atleast a good 10 years before she needs to retest, so I say go for a new set of wheels now
Crapping out can happen with a new car and you have cca for that

[Flinter]

From what I understand the Pathy has a great history for reliability so I think keeping it will most likely be the lower cost alternative.

However, I can understand how the fuel efficiency and smaller footprint of the Fit would be appealing for you Mother now that she is living in Oakville. Tough call, It's always great to have an older truckish SUV for general utility purposes (towing, camping etc.). However, It's always nice to have at least one highly fuel efficient hatchback in your stable too.

I think I'm with your Mother on this one. Spend a few $K on it now and commit to keep it for a few more years. If it starts costing alot of coin to maintain then move on at that time.


Then again...my opinion doesn't count for much... I just spent $2K on a 96 Corolla 

[rrocket]

I dunno...if it's his mother's money, she can spend it on anything she likes....

[The Mighty Duck]

Skip the new Fit. If she's looking for a vehicle for ~5 years, there's no point taking the hit on depreciation.

Find a nice used Fit or Yaris, preferably with some warranty remaining, and drive it for 5 years. If you're lucky, you can resell it down the road without taking too big a hit and it won't cost much more than it will to get the Pathy in shape. Obviously the initial cash outlay will be higher, but in the end it might not be much more expensive. Plus lower running costs and repair bills.

How much is the Nissan worth if you were to sell it?

[dr_spock]

How bad is the body?   Are you good with Bondo? 

[johngenx]

09/10 Forester can be had for about the same $$ as a new Fit by the time all is said and done.

Might be worth looking at.

[articsteve]

Don't put her in something as small as a  FIT  

Gas mileage is hardly a concern.  Make sure that you've got her insurance at basic liability and comp.  No collision.

Forget the body work.  Waste of money.

Just let nature take it's course on this unit.  Then when it dies, and it could at any time, get her into a used RAV Limited 4 banger.

Meantime get CCA premium.

Forget the weiner cars.

[G0dspd]

she may not be happy with a Fit since it seats lower to the ground

Skip the new Fit. If she's looking for a vehicle for ~5 years, there's no point taking the hit on depreciation.

If she likes the whole SUV type thing why not something like a late model used CRV or Rav4 for new Fit money?

That pretty much sums it up.  My mother has vowed many years ago that she will never buy a vehicle that seats lower than a minivan or CUV.  Does your mother feel safer in a CUV/SUV?  My mother went from an 2006 Equinox (SUV-ish) to a  2010 Rav4 (CUV) and she loves it.  She says it so much easier to drive around town and park.

[Snowman]

Thanks for the reply's, looks like Mom want to keep the Pathfinder and repair the rust. Looks like she will spend lots of time in Florida with friends for the winter so I get a winter beater 

[Mike]

Thanks for the reply's, looks like Mom want to keep the Pathfinder and repair the rust. Looks like she will spend lots of time in Florida with friends for the winter so I get a winter beater 

Oh yah!  Just what you need....MORE vehicles!

[tortoise]

I've heard that most rust repairs start showing more rust down the road,  not sure it's worth the cost.   But you seem to like your vehicles in perfect condition so maybe it's worth it to you (or her).

I like those Pathfinders.  Solid trucks.

[mrthompson]

09/10 Forester can be had for about the same $$ as a new Fit by the time all is said and done.

Might be worth looking at.

+1 
You know you want to bring her over to the Dark Side.   



Although the Pathy is known to be a reliable beast and it is currently in good mechanical condition, time does take a toll on parts.  Spending money on the Pathy is just briefly delaying the inevitable. 

Congrats on the winter beater.   

[ktm525]

I wouldn't put  one dime into new sheetmetal. I would either drive it as is as a hooptie OR spray the entire vehicle with truck bedliner.

[Snowman]

I wouldn't put  one dime into new sheetmetal. I would either drive it as is as a hooptie OR spray the entire vehicle with truck bedliner.

We may have been born and raised up north but...

[Mike]

Yee-Haw

[Snowman]

not that bad 

[ktm525]

OK. Cut the cancer out of the wheel arches and install some arch flares. Should be out the door for cheap.



http://www.bushwacker.com/nissan.asp