Would you buy a car like this?
Discussion
I'm looking at a local car. I'm not buying either as investment or attempt to sell at a profit, I
just want to own one for a while. It's a 1991 Celica. From this photoless description, wondering
if it sounds good or a nightmare in your opinion. I plan to keep the car for 6 months only.
Pros:
No rust at all
Seats and interior all unworn, except steering wheel which is quite worn.
12 Months MOT
Looks in generally good condition, as much as I know about cars. (not a lot, mechanically)
75,000 miles. Lack of stone chips and interior condition seem about right for this.
Import which makes it more interesting. It's also not the complex 4WS or GT-4
It's only £675.
100% unmodified.
No sunroof to leak or rust.
Cons:-
Import with no Jap *or* UK service history whatsoever.
Automatic gearbox
No warranty - it's a private sale
Mileometer is in KM - 115000 (75k)
How does that sound?
just want to own one for a while. It's a 1991 Celica. From this photoless description, wondering
if it sounds good or a nightmare in your opinion. I plan to keep the car for 6 months only.
Pros:
No rust at all
Seats and interior all unworn, except steering wheel which is quite worn.
12 Months MOT
Looks in generally good condition, as much as I know about cars. (not a lot, mechanically)
75,000 miles. Lack of stone chips and interior condition seem about right for this.
Import which makes it more interesting. It's also not the complex 4WS or GT-4
It's only £675.
100% unmodified.
No sunroof to leak or rust.
Cons:-
Import with no Jap *or* UK service history whatsoever.
Automatic gearbox
No warranty - it's a private sale
Mileometer is in KM - 115000 (75k)
How does that sound?
doogz said:
MK4 Slowride said:
No history, walk away.
Really? A £675 car. There might be many reasons for walking away, but on a 20 year old snotter, that's not really one.Stoatman said:
NO history , an auto , jap import so may be more difficult to insure and to get parts (maybe ?) . Also am I right in thinking they good a good underseal when coming to the UK as the japanese do not use salt on the roads.
I am sure there are better options out there.
No history irrelevant to insurance. (Edit: realise you are not linking history/insurance)I am sure there are better options out there.
Anyhoo, majority of imports (if they are recently imported) will have no history.
Verdict: Car is cheap = buy on condition.
No I wouldn't, but that's because it's an auto not because it's got no history.
At 700 quid, I don't think you can afford to be too picky about the history - any car in this price bracket is going to be a risk, but I'd rather spend some time looking over it and get one with no history than take an objectively inferior car just for its history. Budget changing the belts into the cost of buying, though.
At 700 quid, I don't think you can afford to be too picky about the history - any car in this price bracket is going to be a risk, but I'd rather spend some time looking over it and get one with no history than take an objectively inferior car just for its history. Budget changing the belts into the cost of buying, though.
As long as its got a long MOT and runs ok I cant see the problem. Service history means nothing on something of that age as its lost all the money its going to loose in the 20 years its been on the road
I myself have had a couple of imported Toyotas (x2 Truenos and a MR2) And have had little if no history from either countries and have never had a problem
Maybe get the cambelt changed for piece of mind though
ETA- I see it has 12 months ticket on it so it obviously is going to be in reasonbly good shape.
I myself have had a couple of imported Toyotas (x2 Truenos and a MR2) And have had little if no history from either countries and have never had a problem
Maybe get the cambelt changed for piece of mind though
ETA- I see it has 12 months ticket on it so it obviously is going to be in reasonbly good shape.
Edited by TRUENOSAM on Thursday 19th May 09:55
doogz said:
MK4 Slowride said:
doogz said:
MK4 Slowride said:
No history, walk away.
Really? A £675 car. There might be many reasons for walking away, but on a 20 year old snotter, that's not really one.At that age, even things that have been serviced, maintained, changed, can still go wrong, whether or not there's a service history to go with it.
Stick to new cars mate
Can you afford to throw away £675 (less any scrap/break for parts value) if it turns out to be a complete lemon? If not, then maybe walk away. If that wouldn't be a disaster then go for it, you might find a gem.
It'll probably need some work (although if it's a runner with MOT, then maybe not too much) but it won't be worth paying someone to do it, so I'd only buy it if fairly confident I could do the work myself.
It'll probably need some work (although if it's a runner with MOT, then maybe not too much) but it won't be worth paying someone to do it, so I'd only buy it if fairly confident I could do the work myself.
doogz said:
MK4 Slowride said:
doogz said:
MK4 Slowride said:
No history, walk away.
Really? A £675 car. There might be many reasons for walking away, but on a 20 year old snotter, that's not really one.At that age, even things that have been serviced, maintained, changed, can still go wrong, whether or not there's a service history to go with it.
Stick to new cars mate
Robatr0n said:
MK4 Slowride said:
No history, walk away.
What he said!f
king hell - what else do you lot want? The moon on a stick?Personally I'd look at the condition, what it sounds like etc and take it from there.
hornetrider said:
500 cash waved in the face would probably buy it as well.
Turn up to view, pick some holes in it, scratch here, dent there, worn tyres, brakes, suck through teeth, mention no history, plenty of them about etc, 500 is the best I can do or I walk <wave bunch of readies>.
Job jobbed.
Don't pick too many holes though. It's a cheap road legal motor after all. If you complain about every little scratch the seller might turn round and so "go buy a fTurn up to view, pick some holes in it, scratch here, dent there, worn tyres, brakes, suck through teeth, mention no history, plenty of them about etc, 500 is the best I can do or I walk <wave bunch of readies>.
Job jobbed.
king new car then" or "what do you expect for this kind of money".I'd seriously consider it, it could be a bargain.
There is very, very little to go wrong on these Celicas. The engines are 'non-interference' so even if the cambelts snapped the valves wouldn't get bent and the engine would be salvageable. Check it out very thoroughly, but don't write it off for £675.
The only reason why I wouldn't be interested is the auto 'box, as it doesn't really suit the car's demeanour.
There is very, very little to go wrong on these Celicas. The engines are 'non-interference' so even if the cambelts snapped the valves wouldn't get bent and the engine would be salvageable. Check it out very thoroughly, but don't write it off for £675.
The only reason why I wouldn't be interested is the auto 'box, as it doesn't really suit the car's demeanour.
Go and look at it if you like it , then buy it, for that money go in your feeligns rather than a bag of paper that may or may not belong to that car anyway. Imports are fine toyota will supply all parts and mostly the same as the uk one anyway but a bit better spec.
Do however take someone with you who knows a little about cars and can be devils advocate
Do however take someone with you who knows a little about cars and can be devils advocate
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