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I'm looking for advice from all the wise guys here. 
The family hauler is a 1998 Nissan quest. It is the 3.0 L V6. It has a four speed automatic transmission. It currently has 192,000 miles on it.
I got it for free with 155,000 miles on it. It had body damage when I got it and I threw $800 at that including paint.
In 2010 we threw some decent money at it for a full tuneup, tires, windshield, fuel pump, down pipe, and I think that's about it.
Low book now is $2100.
Here's where I am now. It needs the following things.
1. Axles
2. Exhaust leaks at the manifold
3. It's never had a timing belt and it is an interference engine
4. The float in the brake master cylinder has stopped floating and It is losing brake fluid somewhere. I haven't located that yet.
5. It smells like gas outside the van often. Sometimes it smells like gas inside the van after a fill up.
6. Due to the exhaust leak I have to run the heat on recirculate or else exhaust gets in the passenger compartment. This means I can't run defrost at least while sitting still. What ends up happening is I have to run the defrost to clear the windshield and as long as I'm moving it's fine, but when I stop all the sudden it starts smelling like exhaust then i remember to switch it to recirculate. That's unsafe for my family and irritating to me.
7. Drivers side window switch sticks.
8. It has a minor oil leak. Occasionally when parked on a hill it will drip on the exhaust and smell like burnt oil. I have seen it leaking from the valve cover gasket. I would guess that's all it is.
9. When my fuel pump was changed I guess they bent the arm on the float sensor because the gas gauge reads incorrectly now. I've run out of gas twice because of it.
10. The switch messed up night before last.
11. It really needs the radiator flushed.
12. It's leaking power steering fluid I think. It got low recently and I topped it off anyway.
The good things about this van are the following.
1. It runs fantastic. It always starts, runs and drives. It gives me no strange engine noises.
2. The transmission shifts perfectly.
3. The interior looks near perfect. Seats have no wear.
4. It suits our needs just great.
5. It's very comfortable.
Here's some other pertinent information.
I've seen several with over 300,000 miles. Everybody I've talked to who owns one loves it.
This generation ran from 93 to 98.
The next-generation ran from 98 to 02 I believe. That run is reputedly just as durable. But it also has a driver side sliding door. It also has a 3.3 L engine.
Here's the rub. I'm tempted to throw almost as much money at it as it is worth. I kind of want to see how many miles I can get out of it. It's been really good to us.
I'm also tempted to find somebody with a 99 to 02 model that has around 100,000 miles on it. Those are selling around here for about four grand.
I would then sell this van for whatever I can get out of it. I would fully disclose everything it needs.
I'm looking for input.
The family hauler is a 1998 Nissan quest. It is the 3.0 L V6. It has a four speed automatic transmission. It currently has 192,000 miles on it.
I got it for free with 155,000 miles on it. It had body damage when I got it and I threw $800 at that including paint.
In 2010 we threw some decent money at it for a full tuneup, tires, windshield, fuel pump, down pipe, and I think that's about it.
Low book now is $2100.
Here's where I am now. It needs the following things.
1. Axles
2. Exhaust leaks at the manifold
3. It's never had a timing belt and it is an interference engine
4. The float in the brake master cylinder has stopped floating and It is losing brake fluid somewhere. I haven't located that yet.
5. It smells like gas outside the van often. Sometimes it smells like gas inside the van after a fill up.
6. Due to the exhaust leak I have to run the heat on recirculate or else exhaust gets in the passenger compartment. This means I can't run defrost at least while sitting still. What ends up happening is I have to run the defrost to clear the windshield and as long as I'm moving it's fine, but when I stop all the sudden it starts smelling like exhaust then i remember to switch it to recirculate. That's unsafe for my family and irritating to me.
7. Drivers side window switch sticks.
8. It has a minor oil leak. Occasionally when parked on a hill it will drip on the exhaust and smell like burnt oil. I have seen it leaking from the valve cover gasket. I would guess that's all it is.
9. When my fuel pump was changed I guess they bent the arm on the float sensor because the gas gauge reads incorrectly now. I've run out of gas twice because of it.
10. The switch messed up night before last.
11. It really needs the radiator flushed.
12. It's leaking power steering fluid I think. It got low recently and I topped it off anyway.
The good things about this van are the following.
1. It runs fantastic. It always starts, runs and drives. It gives me no strange engine noises.
2. The transmission shifts perfectly.
3. The interior looks near perfect. Seats have no wear.
4. It suits our needs just great.
5. It's very comfortable.
Here's some other pertinent information.
I've seen several with over 300,000 miles. Everybody I've talked to who owns one loves it.
This generation ran from 93 to 98.
The next-generation ran from 98 to 02 I believe. That run is reputedly just as durable. But it also has a driver side sliding door. It also has a 3.3 L engine.
Here's the rub. I'm tempted to throw almost as much money at it as it is worth. I kind of want to see how many miles I can get out of it. It's been really good to us.
I'm also tempted to find somebody with a 99 to 02 model that has around 100,000 miles on it. Those are selling around here for about four grand.
I would then sell this van for whatever I can get out of it. I would fully disclose everything it needs.
I'm looking for input.
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