Not sure if for sale feelers are allowed here - they did not used to be?

I read 10% of your post - so forgive me - but if your asking about opinions on should you sell - only you can decide that.

If your asking whether 26K for a 13 year old Xterra will sell - selling price is what the buyer and seller are willing to agree upon. I wouldn't - but maybe someone else will.

However I wouldn't wait - the used car market is already slowly starting to decline a bit, and with $5.00 gas coming my guess on the overland craze will slow a little.

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

I too only read about 20% of the post. I go shooting about once a month and have gun I haven't shot in 4 years. I pull it out to sell it as I can get more than double what I paid for it and just can't part with it for some reason. Maybe I don't shoot it because bullets are $1.50 a round and .22lr is .08¢. Haha

I agree with Lowcountry as you are the only one that can make the decision. Best to sell it now.

Another side note, when I was 20 my Mom had my Grandmas 1972 Datsun 510. I told my Mom, just sell it. It is old and junk. Now I'm in my 50's and the 3rd generation owner of said Datsun and you would have to offer me $100k+ if you want it. My son will be the 4th generation owner in due time.

 

Sounds like it is more of an emotional decision than financial. As Lowcountry and Duke said, only you can make that decision. If it was purely financial, the obvious answer would be sell. You hardly use it and you have other vehicles that better fit your needs.

As for valuation, that is a tricky one. $26k would probably be a tough sell for forum members, but you might find the right buyer out there. Personally, I'd rather have a 2015 with 50k miles for that price, because rubber bushings and hoses care more about age than mileage and I wouldn't have to worry about the timing chain tensioners.

On the other hand, low mile 90s and early 2000s japanese stuff has been going for crazy prices on bringatrailer. That mostly applies to performance cars, supras, s2000s, even civic SIs, but the off road market is hot now too. This 63 mile (not 63k) 2014 FJ cruiser sold for $80k.

Closest comparable is this 2007 Xterra with 12k miles that sold for $18.5k. It is an auto and only an S, so I could see yours bringing quite a bit more.

 

I gave up and registered again as new user but I'm almost certain that I've contributed to this forum in the past as "tlthehun". The email account on record no longer exits so I couldn't reset my forgotten password and here I am as TL26.

This is a feeler, soul search on what to do with my Xterra. I almost posted it in the selling section here for $26,000 but chickened out thinking somebody would want it.

2008 Nissan Xterra Off Road, manual gearbox, every option except an obscure one that I can't remember, 100% stock and original except for Shrockworks sliders and skid plate (main one, front dif and engine), PRG 0.260 inch front shock spacers, Avalanche White with black (Dark Charcoal?) interior, 9372 miles, Redline oil in the engine from the minute that I brought it home.

I guess I'm looking for some feedback from Xterra owners and like-minded individuals rather than friends and family members who don't really know anything about Xterras nor the resultant practical and emotional significance.

I bought it used but essentially new as it was used by the Nissan dealership's owner to commute and was in new condition with around 5000 miles on it.

At the time, I was in the first 12 months of a relationship and wanted something roomier and more comfortable for long trips than my beloved Ford Ranger without giving up much if anything off road.

I think I started searching with the '95 generation Toyota Landcruiser, then the same era 4Runner (the 1st one with the DOHC V6) and then Gen2 Xterra.

I lost interest in the LC because automatic transmission, leather seat, horrendous fuel efficiency and (IIRC) underpowered.

4Runners were probably all well over 100,000 miles by this time or maybe just hard to find with a manual gearbox in decent condition and reasonable miles. I drove about 200 miles round trip to look at one at a produce packing plants parking lot in Salinas, California while the owner went MIA on me. If hadn't been a flake then I probably would have bought that thing and I wouldn't be typing this.

Next was full speed ahead on finding and buying a used 2006+ Xterra with my net cast far enough that I communicated with sellers in Arizona and Colorado, before I notionally got lucky and one came up at the Nissan dealer that is closest to me. By this time I was really tired of looking and my business had done well that year (right before the Great Recession) which all added up to me driving home with my Xterra for around $23,000 OTD cash.

Jump ahead 13 years and I have literally driven the Xterra less than 30 times, two Oregon road trips, one Tahoe trip, maybe 6 day trips and an occasional meeting with a prospective new customer, drives so that the ECM can complete the emissions readiness tests after a disconnected or dead battery and, honestly, after clearing the CEL for P0455 which turned out to be the (brand new) gas cap. Aside from the Xterra, I have two Honda Civics ('95 EJ1 and '92 EG8), the Ranger ('89 LWB, 4x4, V6, 5M), my work van and my GF has a Honda CR-V which we use and I can use if I wanted to so the Xterra mostly sleeps in the garage with its rear wheels on dollies so that I can push it as close as possible to the right wall of our garage.

The thought of selling has been with me since GF bought the CR-V which made the Xterra redundant and not the best tool for any use that I have for it.

The CR-V works for most of our outdoor activities while getting 27-30 mpg.

A game changer was pulling the engine out of the Ranger four years ago for new gaskets, seals, timing components, clutch and slave cylinder (diabolically concentric with the input shaft), hoses, belts, etc. No more oil or DOT 3 brake fluid (clutch) leaks It has a 7' bed, has and will go anywhere that I've wanted and foreseeably will off road with no worries whatsoever about scratches, dents, Pig Pen dust plumes when hitting the seats AFTER leaf blower and vacuuming, 16-23 mpg and it makes good noises with headers, mid pipe and side-dump exhaust. Selling it has never been a thought and it's increasing in value.

The '95 Civic has evolved over the 15 years that I've had it into a really fun car that is quick and grippy enough, comfortable, dead reliable, perfect stance, makes good noises and 40+ mpg freeway efficient. Never sell.

I inherited the '92 Civic recently. 100% stock and original. I've been using it for local errands. Feel like it's not mine to sell, not sure how to make peace with that, may eventually be a problem, just too many cars at our house.

I figured that the first good opportunity window to sell the Xterra closed when its warranty expired.

The next might have been when the Xterra was discontinued by Nissan.

Now seems like another good opportunity, possibly the best. Dirt worthy vehicles seems to be very desirable at the moment, Xterra is the same basic idea as the coveted 2022 (?) Ford Bronco and, of course, the global events that have led to the current valuation of used vehicles.

Odds are pretty good that this is the cleanest and lowest mileage Xterra in the USA and you can't buy a new one.

You can infer most of the pros of selling but I should add that my garage would be much more useful minus a vehicle that gets driven once or twice a year.

The biggest drawback to selling are that because I wrote off its cost when I bought it, the revenue from selling it would count as income, so deduct about 25% unless I buy something 6700 GVWR or bigger to offset and the whole point here is that I need fewer vehicles not more and that based on my history, I'll never own a four wheeled vehicle this close to new again.

Keeping it means actually using it but to my mind, that equals no longer being able to claim perfect condition. It's going to get dirty where it'll never be completely clean again. I'll doing everything that I can to avoid dings and scratches. The odometer will obviously gain miles but I doubt more than 5000 per year.

Neither insurance (turn full coverage on for 30 days at a time if I'm going to drive it) nor DMV fees are too bad (well California DMV fees are high but the Xterra is about bottomed out and only about $50 more than the stupifying $100+ that they want annually for a 40 year old 50cc scooter that I bought for $200) .The fuel consumption annoys me a little if let it but considering that the Ranger pings/knocks occasionally unless I use 91 octane fuel so fuel cost for the Xterra on 87 octane is probably about the same. I prefer an exhaust that I can hear so budget $400 and an afternoon for that, could hopefully help a little with the fuel consumption, too.

What would you do?

I've been in your shoes man. I inheirited my father's 1977 F250 Highboy after he passed. It had been freshly painted, was rust free, had a killer exhaust and brand new shinny wheels and 35's. Highboys are highly sought after and are rapidly increasing in value. I'd say I averaged about once a month someone would leave their phone number and an offer to by on the widnshield. Hell, I even had people knock on the door just to ask me about it.

Like you I planned on keeping that thing for forever - BUT, because it was in such good condition, had incredibly low miles - I was too scared to use it like I wanted too. Scared of scratches and door dings. I drove it about 2,000 miles in the 5+ years I owned it. It got to the point where I was looking at it as more of a burden than anything. For the sake of the truck (watching it sit and deteriorate was getting hard) I decided to sell it. Told the family and they were all on board, but I still felt like I was doing the wrong thing. A few weeks later my sister and brother in law called and said they wanted it. So we struck a deal, I gave them a hefty family discount, and it was off to a new home, on the other side of the country.

That was about 18 months ago and I can honestly tell you that I have not regretted selling it one single time. Sometimes you gotta just let it go.

 

Some pictures of this ultra low mile manual Xterra would be wonderful

 

I appreciate the feedback, insight and advice, everyone. Thank you.

I'll post some pics that I have on hand as soon as I am able to upload and link so that they load faster and don't take up this forum's server space and probably a whole folder of them to Google Drive where they are a click away.

I know that a picture is worth a lot of words but the paper (I think) barcoded stickers on the rear axle and driveshaft are almost new looking

Grrr, here's a couple for now, I'll delete later.

 

That’s a beauty, start high and see what happens?
if you don’t use it and won’t miss it, yes sell.

 

It's harder than it should be to work with pics that are on my phone so I borrowed a DSLR camera and went to the spot that I scouted near home for an Xterra photoshoot. I made a couple of mistakes with settings, so I started over at least twice.

404 pics

It'll be awhile

 

Put it up for a really high price, like $35-$40k.
If it sells you will be happy. If not, well then you can re-evaluate.
You might be shocked what someone will pay for a really nice one.

 

I've got $25k burning a hole in my pocket

 

The US economy is headed into a recession. Borrowing cost increases driven by Federal Reserve monetary policy tightening will drive down the values of consumer assets and capital items like automobiles.

Sell now. Or wait and sell for much less at a later date.

Nice lookin' X.

 

Now is definitely the absolute hot time to sell. Price it right and it’ll go. Hell, you might even have a ready buyer right here in this thread.

Don’t wait too long if you like the $, because as said, we are at the top of the hill and about to head down.

 

Hard to price something like this. I feel like it's not rare enough of a vehicle to demand a really high price despite the amazing condition. And most Xterra buyers are looking to actually use the vehicle for what it's intended for, ie to get dirty.

I personally wouldn't pay a high premium for extraordinarily low miles relative to age, because I feel like it might have sat for too long and not been driven enough. I think your pool of potential buyers might be small, but there might be someone out there.

Now is probably the best time to sell, as others have mentioned.

 

I hear you, but I feel like there are people out there that would gladly pay a premium for a "new" Xterra - this is as new as it will get, except for the model year. There are a few vehicles out there that if one in condition like this one popped up, I'd be on the first flight to where ever it is.

The "problem" with this one being more than 10 years old, securing financing could be an issue for some. From what I've heard and researched, if it's 10 or more years old banks will only lend 60%, you'd have to have 40% on hand for a down payment. If this thing sold for $26k, you'd need to be able to put $10,400 down. Not a lot of people can do that these days.

 

Here's a similar thread from 2010:

FS: 2008 Xterra Off Road 6M $20,000

Sorry that this is a bit of a feeler but I need to get this off my mind. Too perfect for me 2008 Xterra Off Road, 6 speed manual transmission, Rockford Fosgate package, white with black interior, Shrockworks sliders and front dif / oil pan skidplate, 7800 miles, Redline synthetic throughout...

www.clubxterra.org

1500 miles in twelve years, wow.

@Tlrtucker yeah you're probably right that there are some buyers out there looking for "the one" with extremely low miles. I just don't see there being very many of them. On the other hand, you only need to find one.

Regarding loans, I haven't financed a car since '03 so I hadn't really considered that. Bought both my Xterra's in the "good old days" of rapid depreciation, in the sweet spot of well taken care of, lots of miles left, but not so pristine I'd be afraid to scratch them!

 

One truck I would dump a stupid amount into if I could find one with under 10,000k miles is a 2002-2004 Tacoma extended cab. I know they're not the best and their frames rot out, but I've had a love affair with those since high school. I had a 2000 Tacoma briefly - it had hail damage, around 200k miles and football sized holes in the frame. Still loved it, but it was too dangerous to drive. Another would be a 1990-1993 Dodge Daytona. My father gave me a 1990 Daytona ES in high school and I friggin loved that thing. I always said I'd drive it until the wheels fell off, but they never did. I had 198k miles on it when it got side swiped in a parking lot and trashed the body from the front bumper to the rear. There was no saving it. A 1992 turbo popped up a few months ago with 70k miles and was spot less - they were asking $5k and I was literally speeding there with cash in hand, but was too late. That was the only potential candidate in over 15 years of searching. That one hurt.

 

That was me (tlthehun) back in 2010, lol. Nice find.

This is still taking taking up much of my spare attention so I did some income tax projections as that's a big part of the equation.

The tax burden that would result from me selling it is impossible to calculate with perfect accuracy with variables, new and changing tax laws but @ $26,000 sell price it looks like I would lose $6400 to $10,600 to Uncle Sam if I sold it in 2022. There was a special Section 179 deduction the year that I bought it so it helped me on the front end but I think that it'd hurt me more now than it helped me then.

I think that it's going to come down to imagining my life without it versus me actually using it.

 

I had to look up the Dodge Daytona, is what had an inkling that it was. Wasn't there a Shelby something that was same basic car?

Tested: 1990 Dodge Daytona ES

The back-road brawler becomes a boulevard cruiser.

www.caranddriver.com

 

There was a Shelby edition to the Daytona. I think it was a turbo charged v6 or something. They are not anything special, or sought after, but I loved that car. Except for my 1969 C10 I had in high school, that Daytona is the one I wish I still had.

Also, I don't think you'll be on the hook for paying taxes on a sold vehicle. I recently sold a 1977 F250 for $15k and when I deposited the cash I asked the bank about tax implications and they said there were none. They never reported anything and I never had to pay a dime.

 

The Xterra was a business deduction for me so by the book it is business income if I sell it.

Last I heard, deposits over $10,000 are reported to the IRS by the bank but that means nothing, selling a private party vehicle is not income.

 

@TL26 - If that’s the case you should be able to offset the sale $ by depreciation.

Have you done that in your accounting? Even with the low miles.

 

What depreciation lol. If he sells if for $26k that’s not much depreciation.

 

@zanethan, In some respects, you are correct, but if I understand correctly, that is not what Mar10 is hinting at.

Capital costs/depreciation deductions follow rules presumably so taxpaying income earners do not pull numbers out of the air. The OP can turn around and sell the vehicle for what the market will bear. I am assuming that the original purchase value will then be used to determine if there are taxable capital gains or not.

Not sure if any of this actually helps TL26 make a decision but if a tax accountant wants to leap in here and set some of us straight, please do so.

What one originally paid for an asset or vehicle (like this X in stunningly good shape) should not matter in the decision-making process. Current and forward expected benefits and opportunity costs should matter.

In the background, I believe one can safely assume that a vehicle that sits or sits most of the time is constantly and steadily losing value. It would be better to turn that idle vehicle into cash and then purchase dividend or interest paying financial instruments.

 

@zanethan - depreciation started year one and would be itemized each year thereafter.
Since the OP seems to know a bit about discounts and such and the benefit of registration to a business, I was merely mentioning the lessened sting of tax burden due to the 15 years of said depreciation. Those years added up should be a decent amount.

An attempt to aid in his decision to sell vs the pain of profit.

 

@zanethan - depreciation started year one and would be itemized each year thereafter.
Since the OP seems to know a bit about discounts and such and the benefit of registration to a business, I was merely mentioning the lessened sting of tax burden due to the 15 years of said depreciation. Those years added up should be a decent amount.

An attempt to aid in his decision to sell vs the pain of profit.

Wouldn't this actually hurt him - since he has been depreciating the asset for 13 years hence his Basis is likely 100 bucks - so he would pay capital gains on the whole sale price? Obviously he has already benefited from the write off over the years so overall it would be neutral - but if he does sell its still going to be 15% for most filers - do i have that wrong. I am not a tax professional - just an idiot who does there own taxes.

 

I've run my sole proprietor business for 22 years including the accounting and tax returns not just relying on Turbo Tax but knowing the actual rules for any given tax year involving at least 5 different vehicles. I did my tax returns by hand form by form, instruction booklet by instruction booklet for at least the first three years after I started Lory Electric.

I wrote off the entire purchase price of the Xterra within the first three years due to a special Section 179 deduction that was in play at the time. It is 100% depreciated. Even the "normal" way, it would be fully depreciated now 11 years after I bought it.

I bought the Xterra for about $23,000 which reduced my business' profit by $23,000. If I sold it for $26,000 in 2022, that would be the equivalent of $26,000 of business revenue in 2022. Lory Electric will be profitable so that $26,000 of pure profit, 100% of which is added to my income total for the year.

I don't need another work vehicle but the easiest way to offset the $26,000 would be to buy a full size truck or van which are eligible for the Section 179 deduction (can fully depreciate it one year).

It could be interesting to see look at what "converting (Xterra) to personal use" might mean/do but my expectation is that whatever I sell it for will count as "excess depreciation that was deducted" which effectively equals business revenue atop profitable business operations. Maybe it would be capital gains if I "converted to personal" then sold it, makes sense as far accountability but then again tax law is full of loopholes.

SE tax is around 15% (~15.3 but 1/2 of it is a deduction) plus whatever Fed and state tax would be. Extra income also impacts Federal Premium Assistance which could be huge a liability for me. 2021 and 2022 have some special rules in place related to FPA due to the pandemic. Selling the Xterra in 2021 would have been far more favorable as far as FPA for me, the 2022 rules won't help me, IIRC.

Probably pretty close to even as far as tax benefit over the years vs tax liability if I sold in 2022 except for the wildcard-ish FPA and possibly the Republican Tax Bill which took away part of our property tax deduction and may or may not have increased the Federal income tax rate for me (I haven't spent the time to prove one way or the other; it is what it is).

I've been using Turbo Tax to crunch the numbers, simply adding $26,000 to my business revenue but I'll try it again following TT's prompts for selling a vehicle. I expect the outcome to be no different but I don't mind being proven wrong.

 

You may get it who knows, put it up for sale on Autotrader at 26k and you'll know in 3 days if your in the right area or completely out of bounces. The low miles are great for the mechanical parts, but rubber is old and will need to be replaced. I have seen a few sell in the higher range, I have 103k on a 05' 6MT S with 4 wheel drive, newer clutch, replaced all suspension and I think I could get 10k given what I see in CA. But the gas mileage was never a selling point and I try to only drive the X locally using my plug-in hybrid and Leaf for my longer runs.

 

Time may not be on my side as far as rubber parts but environment (55-80 degree F California garage), heat cycles and prevention (I removed the engine (NVH) cover and always open the hood when in the garage with a warm engine).

Fwiw, my 222,000 mile '89 Ranger and 250,000 mile '95 Civic have been outside most of their lives with tens of thousands of heat cycles. New belts and hoses once, maybe twice each. Hell, my '97 E150 is on its original serpentine belt and hoses with 143k.

The age of the chassis rubber could be a better point but high school chemistry teaches us that heat is a catalyst and the Xterra hasn't felt much heat. Direct sun is a killer of almost everything.

Not worried about the rubber bits

 

I would be interested if you are selling.........................

 

Heck, I came out of semi-retirement partly to be able to afford buying another Xterra. Unless something drastic happens I would not sell mine.