Should I buy this car?

[Mage]

Need to ditch my 89 Tercel soon for a reliable car that will last me at least 5-6 years, as I'm starting med school this fall. There's an ad for a 97 Celica ST w/ 92K miles for ~$7500. That's about the bluebook price for it, so I would try negotiating it down to $7000 or so because of the high mileage.

A civic is my only alternative, pretty much, since my budget is only around $8000.

 

[Mage]

Bump

 

[Noirish]

or you can get yourself a hyundai backed up by 10-year warranty.

 

[Danman]

Originally posted by: orangel
or you can get yourself a hyundai backed up by 10-year warranty.

I can't believe you said that. :Q Hyundais is SUCK.

 

[NutBucket]

Too many miles. Look for something else.

 

[BigFatCow]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Too many miles. Look for something else.

yea i agree...

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: cashman

Originally posted by: orangel
or you can get yourself a hyundai backed up by 10-year warranty.

I can't believe you said that. :Q Hyundais is SUCK.

Not the new ones.

Find an early 90s Maxima!

 

[Atrail]

You can get a much better deal for $8,000.
Keep shopping and you will find something 40-60K no more!

 

[Eli]

Bah.. the Honda should just be getting broke in at 92k..

What's wrong with your Tercel?

 

[yakko]

Originally posted by: cashman

Originally posted by: orangel
or you can get yourself a hyundai backed up by 10-year warranty.

I can't believe you said that. :Q Hyundais is SUCK.

Actually Hyundai has come a long way with the quality and reliability of their vehicles.

 

[Mage]

Well, this is the first Celica in my price-range that I've seen for 3 months, and I can't really afford to wait another month or two on a chance that another will be for sale in the same price-range...

The reason the high mileage isn't turning off is that Toyota engines are well reputed to be in excellent condition up to 150k miles and longer... my Tercel's up to 170K miles and it's had nary a problem, except that the clutch needed to be replaced. I need to ditch it because of a slight accident (hitting a curb when I was 16, dumb, and unused to stickshift) that kinda damaged the frame...it's been 4 years, and the alignment's been getting worse and worse ever since a year or two back. If I go above 55 mph, it starts to shake like nuts and feels like it'll fall apart It's not easily fixed though, because of the issue w/ the frame.

 

[ZeroBurn]

what are your prefernces ? import/domestic ? sedan, coupe, something you want to have fun throwing around or just going to get groceries and get to class with ?

i was looking at a celica when i was in that price range too, decided at the last minute to snag a '95 integra and didn't regret it. i've since sold (for more than i bought it for, actually ) for a '98 prelude. my parents asked me about a civic, but i just wanted something that distinguished me from something my mom would drive

 

[Mage]

I've been looking exactly for Integras/Preludes for the past 3 months too Only 2 ads were let out with Integras worth buying, but they were around $11-12K or higher. There was one nice prelude, but the price was around $16K. I really want a prelude, but they're just too expensive. Basically I've been browsing the classifieds for acura integras, honda preludes, mitsubishi eclipses, and toyota celicas for the past 3 months.

 

[ZeroBurn]

you can totally get a fourth gen prelude for that price range. 92-96. nice ride, peppy and fun to throw around.

check autotrader, cars.com, cars.yahoo.com, and thepartstrader. you can also check the classifieds on more specialized import sites like honda-tech.com, superhonda.org, hondaprelude.com