*BAIT & SWITCH*90 Celica $1,995 Only 32K miles.... too good to be true?

[bubbadu]

I am always in the market to get a new car and i saw an ad today on cars.com that is saying that a local dealer is selling a 1990 celica with only 32k miles on it for under 2 grand..... is this too good to be true or what.. only 32k on a 12 year old car seems odd to me.. hopefully its not a typo.... anyone got any opipions on this?? i was wondering because i could sell my 91 jetta with 140k on it ... thanks

UPDATE: Ok according to autotrader.com the car has 132k on it... according to cars.com is has 32k... i ran carfax on it and it acuatly has
160k as on 5/22/02... IMO thats bait & switch to get you to the dealer..

-Bubbadu

 

[Rallispec]

did they say anything about the condition of the vehcile?

 

[bubbadu]

Description ? $1,995, White 32795 miles, Stock# 5174A. Features: Auto.

thats all it says... i guess i am gonna have to check in person if i can find the place

-Bubbadu

 

[Jfur]

Is it an ST? I bought a '90 Celica a little over a year ago for ~$3k (about 45,000 miles). For our area that was a really good deal. I'd be surprised to see a well-maintained one at a dealer for that (perhaps it's a lure car?). As always, have your mechanic check it out before purchasing it -- but if it is in good condition and available it would be a great price (for any of that years Celica models),

 

[bubbadu]

yeah this place isnt a huge dealer or anything.. i am gonna be mad if it is a lure vechile.. or if it has more miles than advertised.. which i beleive is bait and switch.. i will post tomorrow before work if its any good... i would love to get a new car for college, for the 2 hour drive back and forth on the weekends.. my jetta has no shocks and it just sucks for trips.. thanks for the input

-Bubbadu

 

[andylawcc]

that is very far-fetched and impossible to have only 32k. hell, my 96 have 130 miles already.

well, you can always get the VIN number from the seller and check it at carfax.com,
yes, Carfax.com won't give you the most comprehensive history (minor accidents won't be logged) but at least they will have the DMV-record mileage. Carfax.com also tells you was the car salvaged.

btw: the ST and GT share the same gas-sipping engine, the GTS has the camry's beefier engine and it looks subtly meaner.

 

[badluck]

check carfax...

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
that is very far-fetched and impossible to have only 32k. hell, my 96 have 130 miles already.

well, you can always get the VIN number from the seller and check it at carfax.com,
yes, Carfax.com won't give you the most comprehensive history (minor accidents won't be logged) but at least they will have the DMV-record mileage. Carfax.com also tells you was the car salvaged.

btw: the ST and GT share the same gas-sipping engine, the GTS has the camry's beefier engine and it looks subtly meaner.

Checking carfax is a must for many reasons (as you point out, the possibility of odometer rollover). However, it is not impoosible to have a 32k 1990 model. I doubt a dealer would price such a prize at 2k though, unless they are using it in published ad or there is some other catch.

 

[bubbadu]

good advice andy ... yeah i thought the exact same thing.. theres no way that it only has 32K on it.. i figure it might be a typo and have 132K on it.. which is a huge difference.. yeah i will deiflty run a carfax on it.. i am gonna call first thing tomorrow to see what excuse they come up with.. if there site says 32k and it has more.. my dad will bitch them out until i get the car for free.. jk.. my dad used to sell toyotas now sells dodges and it quite the bargainer .. i'll keep you updated.. they wont be bait and switching me!! thats for sure..

-Bubbadu

 

[Sluggo]

Well buy it anyway, then go bitch and moan to the seller that there are things wrong with it, demand money.

Seems to be a growing trend here on ATOT.

 

[Alienwho]

man those bait and switches piss me off. Back when i was in the market for a car i don't know how many times i saw on autotrader a car with 60k miles, only to walk in and find out it has 140k, wtf?

 

[bubbadu]

DARNIT.. it does have 132k on it... on cars.com its clearly listed at 32k... on autotrader it has 132k listed and i now have the VIN..i know its just a typo but still, that sux.. i got my hopes up for nothing

heres the specs from autotrader..

Body Style Coupe

Price $1995

Mileage 132795

Exterior Color White

Doors Two Door

Engine 4 Cylinder

Stock No. 5174A

VIN JT2AT86F3L*******

-Bubbadu

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: bubbadu
DARNIT.. it does have 132k on it... on cars.com its clearly listed at 32k... on autotrader it has 132k listed and i now have the VIN..i know its just a typo but still, that sux.. i got my hopes up for nothing

heres the specs from autotrader..

Body Style Coupe

Price $1995

Mileage 132795

Exterior Color White

Doors Two Door

Engine 4 Cylinder

Stock No. 5174A

VIN JT2AT86F3L*******

-Bubbadu

dit it say which model? (ST, GT, GTS)

 

[bubbadu]

its an ST... and guess what??? according to a carfax it has 160K on it... now what the heck is going on here.... someone isnt telling the truth or is it just me?

-Bubbadu

 

[bubbadu]

^bump for update and title change/legal quesiton... on the dealers website that link directly to car.com showing 32k miles on it.... is there anyting legaly that i can do/say to them.. because right now i have three different readings?? i know vermont has very tough consumer rights laws and i was just wondering what can be done.. thanks

-Bubbadu

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: bubbadu
its an ST... and guess what??? according to a carfax it has 160K on it... now what the heck is going on here.... someone isnt telling the truth or is it just me?

-Bubbadu

the ad is definitely wrong.

 

[andylawcc]

J-fur, if it doesn't say, it's probably a ST.
or its an All-Trac and the dealer didn't know wtf it is.

 

[bonk102]

tha'ts bs if you ask me, i'd go and bitch them out for luring people in, even if it is a typo, it's still 30k less than the real reading, so they're still screwing the buyer, i'd go in and demand retribution!!!!!, or at least a cookie

 

[bubbadu]

lol bonk.. i want the car for cheap or i am gonna have to shut the whole opperation down.. they claim to be "honest" but they arent.. i will just have my dad take care of it.. he always seems to win in these situations.. btw the car acuatly has 164K on it... only 132K more than whats quoted on cars.com.. :roll:


-Bubbadu

 

[goodoptics]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
btw: the ST and GT share the same gas-sipping engine, the GTS has the camry's beefier engine and it looks subtly meaner.

Neagtive. ST has the 1.6-liter engine. GT and GT-S feature the 2.2-liter engine.

 

[MrCodeDude]

My grandpa buys a car every other year and puts no miles on it what-so-ever. He lives alone and my aunts is less than a mile away, other there and the grocery and where-ever he does his shopping, he doesn't use his car that much.
-- mrcodedude

 

[BatmanNate]

I had an '82 Celica GT (2.4l, 5-speed) and it was a fun little car. 240,000 miles and still going strong when I sold it. (for what else, but another Toyota gem )

 

[andylawcc]

oh, and I call myself a celica-fan... shame on me... shame on me...

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
J-fur, if it doesn't say, it's probably a ST.
or its an All-Trac and the dealer didn't know wtf it is.

I was assuming that because of the automatic It just helps when detemining the value -- but this one sounds like a lemon :Q