Hey everyone, I’m looking at a car that belonged to an older lady and has only 50k miles. What do you think? Worth it or not?
Even if the tires have good tread, check the date on the sidewall. If they’re 10 years old, they should be replaced, which could cost $500 or more. Plan on changing all the fluids and inspecting hoses and belts since they break down over time. Also, check the AC for leaks. Getting it in good shape might run around $1,000 if you do the work yourself. And keep in mind, a car from 1997 might not even have airbags. At $4,000, you could be in for $5,000 total. For comparison, a new bare-bones Corolla can be had for $21k if you shop around. Just my two cents, but I’d think hard about it.
Yes, go for it.
Wasn’t it only like $4,000 when it was new back in ‘97? Haha.
Jori said:
Wasn’t it only like $4,000 when it was new back in ‘97? Haha.
More like $15-18k.
Sounds like a solid deal to me.
My grandma’s Corolla looked just like that. Low miles for the age, but $4k seems high.
Maybe if you can talk them down to $2,000. Otherwise, I’d pass.
I have a 1994 Corolla I bought for $854 six years ago, and it’s still going strong at 226k miles. If you’re paying $4k, I hope it comes with a killer sound system and tinted windows.
Any more pictures? It looks more like a 1998-2002 model to me.
Not for $4,000.
Definitely! That thing’s just getting broken in.
Where are you located?
I’d say $2,500 is reasonable. $3,000 tops. Gotta negotiate!
Probably, yeah.
If you do buy it, make sure to check the passenger side engine mount under the power steering fluid reservoir. If it leaks, it can damage the mount. Also, inspect the K-frame since those can rust out and fail.
Yes, but try to get the price down to $3k. Some parts might be worn out just from age, even if the mileage is low.
BrianCopland said:
Yes, but try to get the price down to $3k. Some parts might be worn out just from age, even if the mileage is low.
My ‘94 Corolla has nearly 300k miles. It’s still going strong, though I did have to replace the front end. As long as you take care of it, these cars are tanks.
BrianCopland said:
Yes, but try to get the price down to $3k. Some parts might be worn out just from age, even if the mileage is low.
Thinking of selling my 2001 Tacoma for this since I already have two trucks and don’t need both.
@Keagan
You mean the one with the frame repairs?