what to ask when buying used celica

[absolute `N1]

Hi, I'm thinking about purchasing used '00 Toyota Celica GTS 6-speed manual and am wondering about what kinds of questions I should ask about it? I've heard things about lift bolts and stuff. Can anybody help and elaborate? Thanks.

[pnoygts]

There are TSBs for lift bolts, belt tensioner etc which can be found in this site!Just print it out and bring it with you!Gluck

[stein]

Aside from getting it's history if you are serious about the car I would open it up while test driving it and make sure lift kicks in. Make sure the stick moves smoothly from gear to gear when you have the clutch in all the way.

Look under the hood and ask about what mods it currently has, if any... Listen for any noises at all while it is first started and idling.

If they will let you take it over night that would be a good opertunity for you to really look it over without the sales person there.... I've done this b4 but every dealer is different...

How many miles on it?
You getting the ext wnty?

good luck!
It is not always about what to ask, b/c some dealers will tell you anything to sell cars. You have to just get into it and see for your self sometimes.

[soceur]

above and ask if its been misshifted!

[absolute `N1]

All right, I live in Oklahoma and there are maybe 2 6-speed GTSs for sale in this pos of a state. If I were to get a car for performance and preferably want to spend 12k or less on a car, what should I get? I was thinking a 3000GT, but I'm a n00b and value everybody's input.

[gnes100]

make sure the gears dont grind at hi rpms and make sure its never been misshifted

[FloWin_Celica]

Originally posted by soceur
above and ask if its been misshifted! ;) ;) ;)

[many]

if its an automatic!!!

[Tryan77]

Whats up Okie,

Not to many around here. I located my car on ebay and ended up buying it from a guy in Colorado. It was a lease car for this company than ended up folding shortly. It had 7800miles on it then I found it and he more freaky than I am about care and maintenance.

I would avoid the dealers for used cars. I nearly bought one in Tulsa from the Crow Brothers but my crook sense wouldn't let up and I bailed. They were going to sell me a GTS 6 w/ cloth for 19k. :rolleyes: It was the only one around in OK at that time.

Good Luck and avoid the Crow!! Check the car for any signs of repainting (overspray), listen to the engine, make sure the shifting is smooth, see if you can check the compression, and look at how well the body and interior was taken care of. It will tell you much about the engine care. When you buy a car from a previous owner; you are really buying into them as much as the car. Make sure they are somebody you would feel ok with driving your car around.

You really need to buy a GTS under 60k. Then at least if it has any serious problems the warrenty should cover it (at the right dealer anyway :rolleyes: ) (Don't get an Auto - you'll regret it)

[Tryan77]

Whaahooo, it looks like my post counter is moving again. It was stuck at 201.

edit: nm

[dmaxd03]

Try carmax, sounds goofy and all but i got mine from there. 2000 gts 6-spd for 16.5K clean record with 14k miles on it. I was suspicious at first but all the ones on carmax that were 2000s were that price for if they had less than 30k miles. I have had no problems other than underbody rust. Its something to check for, with mine it was only cosmetic but my endlinks didnt want to come off when ii put in coilovers.

[Lonewulf]

Originally posted by Tryan77
Whats up Okie,

Not to many around here. I located my car on ebay and ended up buying it from a guy in Colorado. It was a lease car for this company than ended up folding shortly. It had 7800miles on it then I found it and he more freaky than I am about care and maintenance.

I would avoid the dealers for used cars. I nearly bought one in Tulsa from the Crow Brothers but my crook sense wouldn't let up and I bailed. They were going to sell me a GTS 6 w/ cloth for 19k. :rolleyes: It was the only one around in OK at that time.

Good Luck and avoid the Crow!! Check the car for any signs of repainting (overspray), listen to the engine, make sure the shifting is smooth, see if you can check the compression, and look at how well the body and interior was taken care of. It will tell you much about the engine care. When you buy a car from a previous owner; you are really buying into them as much as the car. Make sure they are somebody you would feel ok with driving your car around.

You really need to buy a GTS under 60k. Then at least if it has any serious problems the warrenty should cover it (at the right dealer anyway :rolleyes: ) (Don't get an Auto - you'll regret it)

Yeah, Crow ripped me pretty good when I bought my old 2000 Tacoma from them.

[RedNOSceli]

take the car to any dealership and have them pull the record for that vin and see if its had any major engine warrentee work....about 50% of the used GT'S ive looked at (5 of around 10 or so) and took the vins down had been mis-shifted and fixed under warrentee....only 1 had me fooled. That car ran better then the rest I looked at....the other 4 that had been mis-shifted, even tho fixed didnt run as smooth..

[vannman01]

aside from checking all of the above... make sure you downshift into every gear without double clutching to make sure all sychros are still good... (be-carefull not to misshift ha ha). also.. check the brake rotors make sure it is an even smooth surface. hit lift several times after car is warm and make sure it kicks in every time you pass 6000rpm. oh yea.. make sure engaging clutch does not cause any kind of shutter (shake) feeling. signs of replaced clutch and old flywheel.

[Tryan77]

Originally posted by Lonewulf
Yeah, Crow ripped me pretty good when I bought my old 2000 Tacoma from them.

I take it your originally from OK? They tried to sell me the marketing managers GTS. I asked if it had been wrecked. Answer: No. Then I noticed over spray and some masking tape on the exhaust pipe. Answer: Let me ask my manger. Manager says, it was the marketing managed and the front was backed into by a delivery truck and replaced. Then I was like, WTF, the back and rear have been hit on a car that is owned by a manager and the sales man had told me it had never been wrecked. :wtf:

Crow Brothers = Crooks = Most Used Car Dealerships