zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
At $13,500, Is This 1988 Nissan Stanza MPV the Next Radwood Star?
At $13,500, Is This 1988 Nissan Stanza MPV the Next Radwood Star?-October 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:09:20

Nice Price or No Dice 1988 Nissan Stanza Wagon

With its 4WD and B-pillar-less mega-door openings, today’s Stanza has some really cool features. Let’s see what we think it should rightfully cost in cold hard cash.

It took five minutes and nine votes before anyone had a positive opinion on yesterday’s , at that point turning the results from a glorious red giant sun into an ersatz Pacman. Now, over a day later, that outcome hasn’t changed all that much, giving the hotted-up SUV a cold-shouldered 79 percent No Dice loss.

Image for article titled At $13,500, Is This 1988 Nissan Stanza MPV the Next Radwood Star?

Have you ever been in a work meeting and made a suggestion that was dismissed only to have someone else make the same suggestion moments later garnering great acclaim and flying Champagne corks? Frustrating, isn’t it?

I imagine that’s somewhat how Nissan employees felt when Chrysler was touted as having invented the minivan in 1984 seeing as Nissan (then Datsun in the U.S.) had been selling the Prairie minivan in Japan and Europe since 1981. Seeing as it didn’t arrive in the U.S. until the 1986 model year, we can cut Chrysler some slack.

When it did arrive here, Nissan’s clever MPV changed its name to Stanza, joining the company’s mid-size sedan of the same name on dealer lots and going up against competitors like the Honda Civic Space Wagon and Dodge Colt Vista. However, none of its Japanese-sourced competitors could tout the Stanza wagon’s cool sliding doors, nor the pillar-less opening afforded when all four were open.

Image for article titled At $13,500, Is This 1988 Nissan Stanza MPV the Next Radwood Star?

Opening those cool doors is just one of the party tricks this plays. It also sports a five-speed stick and the optional part-time 4WD to go along with its 97 horsepower CA20E fuel-injected 2-liter four.

Image for article titled At $13,500, Is This 1988 Nissan Stanza MPV the Next Radwood Star?

Perhaps the most amazing thing about this Stanza is its condition. According to the seller, and backed up by a picture of the odometer, there are only 29,122.9 miles on the clock. Not only that, but this 34-year-old MPV looks like a new car. There appear to be no flaws in either bodywork or paint and both the cool ‘80s rocker decals and the plastic wheel covers are still intact.

The cabin presents similarly, without even any obvious wear on the pedals or shift knob. The seller claims it to be all original down to the AM/FM/cassette stereo (check out the cool ceiling speakers in the back) and says that the A/C still works without complaint.

Image for article titled At $13,500, Is This 1988 Nissan Stanza MPV the Next Radwood Star?

No mention is made of the maintenance history or even if the car is rolling on original brake pads or other consumables. Still, seeing as it’s built out of a bunch of pretty common mechanical bits, those shouldn’t be too hard to find if they are needed. All the model-specific parts and those awesome decals would be much harder to replicate or replace, so points should be given to those being in sound condition.

Image for article titled At $13,500, Is This 1988 Nissan Stanza MPV the Next Radwood Star?

The title is clean and the seller claims:

If you are looking for an ultra cool and very unusual 80's vintage ride, THIS IS IT!

For anyone seeking such a ride, the asking price is $13,500 which, as we recently learned, could buy you a much newer and hotter—but far jankier—. I’d wager that this Stanza is a bit cooler than that Audi, at least in the ‘nerdy girl in glasses and a ponytail’ kind of coolness. The question is, would that warrant laying down $13,500 to be seen with it?

Image for article titled At $13,500, Is This 1988 Nissan Stanza MPV the Next Radwood Star?

What do you say, is this time and space capsule Stanza worth that kind of cash? Or, for that much is this an MPV that’s just not an MVP?

You decide!

out of Englewood, Colorado, or go if the ad disappears.

H/T to jimmyzzzzzzzzz for the hookup!

Help me out with NPOND. Hit me up at and send me a fixed-price tip. Remember to include your Kinja handle.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
Someone Willingly Paid $16,000 For A Maserati Ghibli On Cars & Bids. Don’t Make The Same Mistake
Someone Willingly Paid $16,000 For A Maserati Ghibli On Cars & Bids. Don’t Make The Same Mistake
Let’s cut right to the chase: buying a is not a good idea unless you have deep enough pockets for the upkeep. For those not in the know, they’re sirens. They draw you in with their premium Italian image and sweet songs of and then go in for the...
Oct 30, 2024
At $950, Would You Go All-In On This 1984 Plymouth Colt GTS Turbo Project?
At $950, Would You Go All-In On This 1984 Plymouth Colt GTS Turbo Project?
One of the calling cards of today’s Plymouth Colt is its “Twin Stick” overdrive gear change, which gives the car eight speeds going forward and two in reverse. Let’s see if this project car has anything else to offer. Just as Goldilocks discovered when appropriating Papa Bear’s lifestyle and...
Oct 30, 2024
Which One Of You Suckers Is Going To Pay Over $32,000 For A 25-Year-Old Toyota 4Runner
Which One Of You Suckers Is Going To Pay Over $32,000 For A 25-Year-Old Toyota 4Runner
The (and Tacoma) have a death grip on used values. It’s been this way for years. Go ahead, go try and buy any TRD trim that’s a couple of years old; it’ll cost you as much as a new one — not that you could buy a new one...
Oct 30, 2024
At $5,900, Is This 1984 Nissan 720 4X4 A Solid Deal?
At $5,900, Is This 1984 Nissan 720 4X4 A Solid Deal?
According to its seller, today’s Nissan 4X4 shows “pride of ownership.” Let’s see if it would take swallowing one’s pride to pay its asking price. Opinions were split on how well the design of yesterday’s has held up over the years. Some of you commented that the design still...
Oct 30, 2024
At $18,500, Would You Lean Toward Buying This 2022 Ford Mustang?
At $18,500, Would You Lean Toward Buying This 2022 Ford Mustang?
Today’s Mustang is being sold by a towing yard, which means it’s probably a lien sale. Let’s see if this clean title convertible is priced to put a new buyer on the hook. The general consensus on last Friday’s was that it would be the perfect car for someone...
Oct 30, 2024
At $8,600, Would You Go Topless In This 1994 Cadillac Eldorado?
At $8,600, Would You Go Topless In This 1994 Cadillac Eldorado?
The seller of today’s Caddy claims they should be selling it at auction but says who’s got time for that? Let’s see if we have the time for this custom convertible at its non-auction price. Many of you agreed that the $950 asked for yesterday’s was “chump change.” Even...
Oct 30, 2024
Copyright 2023-2024 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved