Nissan Repair: 1994 Nissan Altima, inner boots, cv joints

Question
I'm thinking of buying the Altima from the wife of a friend of mine;  she hasn't driven (progressive dementia unfortunately) it for about 6 yrs.  Car has 80,000 mi on it.  
Took it to garage for pre-purchase check:
Cracked boots: they suggest replace boots and shaft.  Why the shaft?  Cost ~$460 for just boots;  if boots and shaft, then ~$650
I did not think to ask if this was an outer boot or both outer boots or if it was the inner boots.  Will call them on Mon.

Compression: don't have exact numbers, 135 on 2 cylinders and 145 on two (or 135 on 3 and 145 on 1)

Serpentine belt cracked and needs replacing.  Should bearings be replaced at same time, or just belt?

Nothing too much else wrong: alignment, replace plugs, air filter.

Any comments on cost of CV boot replacements and I don't understand the shaft replacement.  Only because with my van, I've replaced boots and CV joints.  Are they suggesting the drive shaft needs replacing?  Thought the price was high.

Thx, Basirah

Answer
Hi Basirah -

6 years is a long time to have a car out of commission. Was it being started regularly?

In any case, it is obviously running as you took it to the shop -

My comments - Is the $650 shaft replacement for both sides, or just one. If only one side, it is extremely high. The $450 is also high, and I am hoping it is for all 4 boots. Just to give you a comparison, when I replace the entire shaft, you can get a rebuilt one for a pretty good price, sometimes it outweighs the logic of just replacing the boot, because you need to remove the shaft anyway, and press out the CV joint to get to the boot. Sometimes it has to be hammered, which compromises the joint integrity. I usually charge $400 to replace shafts on both sides, including all parts and labor. The shaft already comes assembled with all new boots and joints. This may be the way to go. If the boot has been cracked for a while, then the joint will fail, and that would be why they are recommending the entire shaft be replaced. However I would shop around for a better price.

Unless the idler is making noise, just replace the serpentine belt.

Don't forget to change the engine and trans oil and filter -

Hope this helps -
aloha
calvin