How Many Miles Can You Put On A Nissan Altima?
The Nissan Altima is one of the most popular sedans in our exciting car lineup. Offering a bit more space than the compact Versa, the Altima is an excellent choice for a small family or a driver looking for a vehicle for the daily commute that offers some extra space for your belongings. If you’re considering purchasing a used Altima, one of the critical things you need to consider is the number of miles on the odometer. Our Nissan experts will explain why it is essential for you to have this information before you complete your pre-owned purchase.
What Is the Ideal Amount of Mileage for a Used Altima?
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You can expect a well-maintained Nissan Altima to last between 200,000 and 300,000 miles. This is a considerable distance for any sedan and translates on average to driving between 13 to 20 years.
Regular maintenance is the key to getting the most mileage out of your Altima. Your routine maintenance regime should include oil changes, tire rotations, oil filter changes, and brake pad replacements. If you rely on our Nissan service center for your maintenance, one of our Nissan-certified technicians can thoroughly inspect your vehicle each time you drop by to identify any existing or potential problems and take prompt action to deal with them.
As expected, used car buyers typically want to see considerably less mileage on the odometer than the upper limit of 200,000 or 300,000 miles. Nissan equips all its vehicles with a 60,000-mile or five-year powertrain warranty, whichever comes first. As a result, it may be a good idea for you to look into purchasing a four- to five-year-old Altima with around 50,000 miles on the odometer. That’s because, with a Nissan, the vehicle’s powertrain would still be covered by the warranty, allowing you to get any defective parts replaced at no additional cost.
One way to ensure you get only the best available used Altima is to select one that’s a certified pre-owned Nissan. To participate in the certified pre-owned program, an Altima must pass several stringent quality checks. The first is a 167-point vehicle inspection performed by one of our Nissan-trained technicians. If the inspection turns up any problems, we take care of them before putting the vehicle up for sale. All certified pre-owned Nissans receive a seven-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, starting from its original in-service date.
Why Does Mileage Matter on a Used Car?
Mileage on a used car is important because it can indicate how much working life the vehicle has left. No matter how well they’re maintained, all cars deteriorate over time. By comparing the average lifespan of a particular model to the mileage on its odometer, you can get a rough idea of how many more years you can expect to drive it before making a new purchase.
Knowing the mileage on a used vehicle can also help you determine whether major repairs will soon be required. Some auto components, such as batteries and brake pads, wear out over time and require replacements. For example, a car battery typically lasts for about four years for the average driver.
More expensive repairs can be required more often as a vehicle ages. If you intend to buy a used car that no longer has a factory warranty, one way to guard against surprise repair bills is to take out a service contract. These warranties, also known as vehicle protection plans, provide coverage for specific parts of your car so that you don’t have to pay the entire bill up-front.
Can a Used Car Have Too Little Mileage?
While it may sound counter-intuitive, a used car can have too little mileage on its odometer. The precise number of miles you should consider too little will depend on the vehicle’s age. For instance, an Altima brought into service four years ago with only 10,000 miles on the odometer could have too little mileage. A similarly aged Pathfinder with 40,000 miles would have below-average mileage, but not by a large enough amount to make it a problem. As a rough guide, the average driver covers 12,000 miles per year.
Used cars that cover substantially less than 12,000 miles a year can sometimes develop issues because they haven’t been driven frequently enough. A lack of driving can result in some components drying out or deteriorating to the point where they require repair or replacement.
The best advice to follow if you find a used car with unusually low mileage on the odometer is to take it to a professional mechanic for a thorough inspection so that they can suggest any repairs that will be required. You can then decide whether the car is a wise purchase based on the repair costs.
That being said, many used cars with unusually low mileage are in great condition and have been well looked after by their previous owners. If an initial inspection from an auto mechanic reveals no major issues, you’ve probably gotten lucky and found an affordable vehicle that still has many years of driving ahead of it.
Why Buy a Used Altima From South Park Nissan?
At South Park Nissan, we have a great range of certified used Nissan vehicles for you to choose from, including the Nissan Altima. If you find a vehicle in our San Antonio showroom that meets your needs, you can talk to our friendly finance team to secure an auto loan to fund your purchase.
Our finance department has worked with many Texas customers to help them secure their dream rides, from Altima sedans to Titan pickups. For your used car purchase, you can choose a service contract from our Nissan service center to protect you against future repair costs.
If you have questions about our selection of used cars, Nissan’s certified pre-owned program, or anything else, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Our South Park Nissan team is standing by to provide you with expert advice or arrange a test drive in San Antonio for you.