Should I buy that Solara? [UPDATE page 2]

[mig0s]

Hey all the solaraguys and solaraladies!

I live in Canada, Montreal and I think i'll buy a 2001 SE v6 manual 5 speed. It has 135 000km (84k miles). I'm a student right now so my budget is limited. The guy is asking 3900$(canadian) and it is just not negociable because the price is kinda low. Anyways, I have a Honda Accord Coupe, 4 cyl and auto (which I regret so much for buying it) that I bought 3 months ago, with 165 000km right now (102.5miles) right now. One thing is for sure, I should've not bought an automatic car. But, I think the 6th gen Accord Coupe (98-02) has the best shape/exterior/design ever. Anyways, I'm trying to sell my Accord and buy that Solara. Do you guys think it's worth it? 2001 SE v6 manual 84k miles for around $3900CND ($3650US)? The exterior is really clean but when I saw inside the hood, the engine looks old(it might be just dirty tough). And what do you guys actually think about switching my Accord for the Solara? Which one do you prefer? (I know you are solaraguys but i still want to ask the question lol so be honest please.)

Here's some pics of the Solara that I might be buying:







Thank you guys!

[toyota_mr2_91]

i think it's a great deal. especially for a manual. the miles are low also.

[DaZanY4002]

That is a f*ckn deal imo unless there's something wrong with it. But that's just me. $3650 with a 5-Speed and a V6 with only 84k?!!!. Someone on here must be wishing they'd found something like that before buying their automatic. No salvage title or CEL on it, right?

[mig0s]

That is a f*ckn deal imo unless there's something wrong with it. But that's just me. $3650 with a 5-Speed and a V6 with only 84k?!!!. Someone on here must be wishing they'd found something like that before buying their automatic. No salvage title or CEL on it, right?

Actually no salvage title. The guy seems nice and I just met him to see the car in front of his house, so he gave me his home adress so it means he's not scared of selling a bad car and ppl come back to him. But, notice on the pictures he posted, he hid his plate number..a little bit suspicious for me like what can I do with his plate number? =.=

After I saw the guy, he told me that he has to go meet up another guy who wants to buy, and then, he's going to vacation in Cuba on saturday. He'll be back in 1 week so I can sell my car and get the money. When I called him back before he leaves to Cuba, he told me that the other wants to buy too and he's a mecanic and he wants to buy after he comes back too. I initially asked him to take the car to my garage he said OK but now he said the other guy thinks the car is good and he'll buy it without going to the garage. So the seller tells me that the car is mine if I skip the garage cuz he doesn't want something like the mecanic says the car is not good and I don't buy it so he misses a sale. I got suspicious. Then, he said it's absolutely OK with him if I bring a mecanic with me...

I didn't try the car yet, that's what i'll do when he gets back. He said the motor/tranny is very good and he doesn't care how I try and stuff...

So I don't know what to do, I have a week left to decide...


BTW, what do u mean by CEL?

[toyota_mr2_91]

iffy now if it's salvage. just get it checked out by a mechanic.

CEL=check engine light.

[99BlackSandv6]

Worth it if it runs well. Definitely better than that Honda you're in right now.

[~SolaRaSpeed~]

I noticed a trailer/tow hitch on the back of the car. Do you know when the clutch was last replaced or the transmission fluid changed? (service records) He can say it is in good shape but if you buy it without having it looked at first it would be a mistake, though if there really is another guy and he is a mechanic he could fix those problems...

Have you ever owned or seriously driven (not practiced on) a manual before?

The other thing is that the car is probably due for a major servicing (the 90k mile interval).

The paint looks clean, it has a sunroof and it seems to have decent tire tread based on pics.

[mig0s]

I noticed a trailer/tow hitch on the back of the car. Do you know when the clutch was last replaced or the transmission fluid changed? (service records) He can say it is in good shape but if you buy it without having it looked at first it would be a mistake, though if there really is another guy and he is a mechanic he could fix those problems...

Have you ever owned or seriously driven (not practiced on) a manual before?

The other thing is that the car is probably due for a major servicing (the 90k mile interval).

The paint looks clean, it has a sunroof and it seems to have decent tire tread based on pics.

Seriously I never owned a manual car before as my current car is my first car. I know how to drive a manual tough..I didn't ask for the transmission fluid change but oil is changed each 7000-8000km with full synthetic oil (I would still change at 5k). Timing belt was changed tough. You think the tow hitch is bad for the transmission if towed heavy stuffs?

[ToyoSolV6]

Well either that, or since you never drove a 5spd. you probably wouldnt know if the clutch is going out or not, and if he did carry heavy loads. He may have put a lot of stress on the tranny or clutch.
you should get that looked at.

[yota]

That looks like a deal, but I'd get it checked out by a mechanic for sure before buying. I have a '99 I bought over a year ago in Vancouver. It had 117,000 kms, looks exactly the same as that one (SE V6 5 speed too!) and I paid $7500 CDN. I had it checked out by a trusted mechanic who said it looked good, and even then I ended up replacing both O2 sensors and the charcoal canister in the first 6 months of ownership (not that the mechanic could have caught those on the inspection, there was no CEL light and it didn't light up until months after I had the car). It's been cheap to run since then, but I'm suspicious of anyone selling a car who doesn't want you to take it to a mechanic. In a situation like yours I would run, not walk, away if he won't let you do so. Good luck!

[mig0s]

That looks like a deal, but I'd get it checked out by a mechanic for sure before buying. I have a '99 I bought over a year ago in Vancouver. It had 117,000 kms, looks exactly the same as that one (SE V6 5 speed too!) and I paid $7500 CDN. I had it checked out by a trusted mechanic who said it looked good, and even then I ended up replacing both O2 sensors and the charcoal canister in the first 6 months of ownership (not that the mechanic could have caught those on the inspection, there was no CEL light and it didn't light up until months after I had the car). It's been cheap to run since then, but I'm suspicious of anyone selling a car who doesn't want you to take it to a mechanic. In a situation like yours I would run, not walk, away if he won't let you do so. Good luck!

He said it's OK if I bring a mechanic with me tough... I know it's a really good deal but it's a little bit awkward. Engine seems to be running smooth.

[yota]

He said it's OK if I bring a mechanic with me tough... I know it's a really good deal but it's a little bit awkward. Engine seems to be running smooth.

Weird, it's not like it's that much more of a hassle to bring a car to a shop for an inspection vs. having a mechanic inspect it at his place. If you can get a mechanic out there great, if not I'd point out that it's not that much more skin off of his nose to have it inspected at a garage.

[Ruski]

But, notice on the pictures he posted, he hid his plate number..a little bit suspicious for me like what can I do with his plate number? =.=

A lot of people hide their plate number its just a safety thing. sounds like a good deal, get the car thoroughly inspected, look at the lines on the car, is everything even ( fender to door, hood gaps, trunk gaps) put the car up on the lift and look for frame heating and pulling marks, meaning it could be salvaged just not posted on Carfax

[Chinky420]

so far the checklist is as follows:
-carfax for salvage title and/or accident history
-check for frame wear from towing heavy loads
-drive car for about 20 miles to check for the check engine light (in case he reset it to hide a problem). if CEL occurs, find out what the code is
-check clutch

add stuff to the list if i forgot it

if it checks out alright, then it's a good deal.

[imhappy]

yes get it : )