M-reg Celica for £1200.....too expensive?
Discussion
What do you guys reckon? I'm ditching the Omega having failed it's MOT big-time, and a local dealer has a M-reg Celica GT, silver, full leather, immaculate bodywork, only 2 owners,FSH, 100K, for £1.2K. All seems in order, and I need a runaround quickly. I don't have time to travel around or haggle privately, so this is a quick fix for my daily driver problem. I don't want to be ripped off though. He won't drop the price, the sticker price is 1.5K so I won't get it lower than 1.2K.
First the disclaimer - I'm not a Celica expert! (We're looking now, and I think my wife really REALLY wants a Gen 7 190 but isn't saying so because she knows I fancy an Impreza . . ).
BUT none-the-less at that age I'd be buying on condition so if it really is that good and you think you'll keep the car for at least a year it would - to me - be worth it.
Also, that might be the dealer's best 'hypothetical' price, but if you have decided you are happy to buy that car then walk in with cheque book or cash physically in your hand and try "If I give you £1050 NOW will you sell me that car?" . . . then shut up but be prepared to be beaten up to 1150 or 1175 if you really want it. Personally I'd leave gracefully if I failed - that gives him the chance to shout "OK, 1180!" after you . . . and if he doesn't, walk around the block, go back in with a smile and agree 1200.
BUT none-the-less at that age I'd be buying on condition so if it really is that good and you think you'll keep the car for at least a year it would - to me - be worth it.
Also, that might be the dealer's best 'hypothetical' price, but if you have decided you are happy to buy that car then walk in with cheque book or cash physically in your hand and try "If I give you £1050 NOW will you sell me that car?" . . . then shut up but be prepared to be beaten up to 1150 or 1175 if you really want it. Personally I'd leave gracefully if I failed - that gives him the chance to shout "OK, 1180!" after you . . . and if he doesn't, walk around the block, go back in with a smile and agree 1200.
I'd suggest about a grand isn't a terrible price privately, so 1100 quid from a dealer would be solid.
As above, buy on condition. No particularly common faults outside of rear suspension bushes (60 quid to sort, listen for a clunk from the back over bumps), so check the usual stuff (mayo, oil in the exhaust from cold, etc).
I would be sure it is a UK spec GT, and not an imported car. There's nothing wrong with imported cars, but if it's an SS-1, it gets a much lower power engine and you'll be disappointed. UK cars should have rectangular rear plates, a mini bonnet spoiler and headlight washers I think.
Good cars. We've had 4 between us (a 5th generation with the pop up lights, a 6th generation ST, a 6th generation GT-Four and a 7th generation 140). We still have one of them. Personally, I prefer the way the 6th generation drives, but I've always been a little bit odd.
As above, buy on condition. No particularly common faults outside of rear suspension bushes (60 quid to sort, listen for a clunk from the back over bumps), so check the usual stuff (mayo, oil in the exhaust from cold, etc).
I would be sure it is a UK spec GT, and not an imported car. There's nothing wrong with imported cars, but if it's an SS-1, it gets a much lower power engine and you'll be disappointed. UK cars should have rectangular rear plates, a mini bonnet spoiler and headlight washers I think.
Good cars. We've had 4 between us (a 5th generation with the pop up lights, a 6th generation ST, a 6th generation GT-Four and a 7th generation 140). We still have one of them. Personally, I prefer the way the 6th generation drives, but I've always been a little bit odd.
Where does this nonsense come about imports being underpowered?
The ST is less powerfull but it's only a 1.8.
An import on 97 ron will make a few more bhp than a UK car.
Best bet is just check it's not SuperStrut suspension on the car, rare on a non GT4 but they exist. I should know, i got hit with one. Should you need to replace both sides of the Superstrut suspension then you're looking at a bill of £1200 new.
The SS suspension needs rebuilt every 60-100K so if it's got them and making any noises, walk away.
If it's standard suspension though, as long as it drives nicely, batter in. Check for overheating and check everything works as normal but they are good cars. £1200 for full leathered, nice car and in a very resellable silver, sounds good to me.
Parts are generally quite cheap 2nd hand, get on Celica Club UK and you'll find everything you need in there.
Any specific questions, feel free to ask.
The ST is less powerfull but it's only a 1.8.
An import on 97 ron will make a few more bhp than a UK car.
Best bet is just check it's not SuperStrut suspension on the car, rare on a non GT4 but they exist. I should know, i got hit with one. Should you need to replace both sides of the Superstrut suspension then you're looking at a bill of £1200 new.
The SS suspension needs rebuilt every 60-100K so if it's got them and making any noises, walk away.
If it's standard suspension though, as long as it drives nicely, batter in. Check for overheating and check everything works as normal but they are good cars. £1200 for full leathered, nice car and in a very resellable silver, sounds good to me.
Parts are generally quite cheap 2nd hand, get on Celica Club UK and you'll find everything you need in there.
Any specific questions, feel free to ask.
OlberJ said:
Where does this nonsense come about imports being underpowered?
Erm, reality?The SS-I has a 3S-FE lump, which is petty insipid.
The SS-II has the 3S-GE, and are pretty much the same as as UK 'GT' cars.
SS-III's can have a BEAMS 3G-GE, and 200bhp. And superstruts.
I mentioned the SSI to the original poster as a lot of dealers will say it's the same as a UK GT "'cos it has a two litre, innit".
You would then be upset to discover this two litre produces 137 brake, rather than the 170-odd that you were expecting.
May be of interest to the OP - be sure you know what you're buying (if it's a UK car and it says "GT" on the back, this is probably more info than you need).
http://www.celica-club.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Gen_6_...
Mr E said:
OlberJ said:
Where does this nonsense come about imports being underpowered?
Erm, reality?The SS-I has a 3S-FE lump, which is petty insipid.
The SS-II has the 3S-GE, and are pretty much the same as as UK 'GT' cars.
SS-III's can have a BEAMS 3G-GE, and 200bhp. And superstruts.
I mentioned the SSI to the original poster as a lot of dealers will say it's the same as a UK GT "'cos it has a two litre, innit".
You would then be upset to discover this two litre produces 137 brake, rather than the 170-odd that you were expecting.
May be of interest to the OP - be sure you know what you're buying (if it's a UK car and it says "GT" on the back, this is probably more info than you need).
http://www.celica-club.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Gen_6_...
/crawls back under rock to contemplate his naval.
Hollywood Wheels said:
Chaps..................many thanks for the advice. I've taken the sensible (boring!) route and bought an M-reg Corsa. It'll do me for 6 months until I get something more interesting, and I reckon it will only lose 150 notes max in that time. Thanks again!
You are, of course, aware that a Corsa only qualifies as a CSO (Car Shaped Object) and that it will leach your soul out a little bit at a time every time you start it?
OlberJ said:
Appologies, i just read import and not SS-I.
/crawls back under rock to contemplate his naval.
No worries dude. My only concern with imports (and I have one) is that the buyer be clued up on what they're getting. Most dealers don't know an SS-I isn't a GT equivalent, or that a SS-III has superstuts that need checking./crawls back under rock to contemplate his naval.
At least the GT-Four is easy. They're all the same pretty much regardless of original market.
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