Looking at a rarely driven 2008 Camry. Pitfalls?

[amddude]

My grandma wants to sell me her 08 Camry. It only has 11k miles on it and has been driven less than one tank of gas's worth in the past year.

I'm figuring some stuff like belts and fluids, at the minimum, will need to be replaced. Are there any other areas of concern? It's been stored in a Midwestern climate, nothing super hot or humid.

It's in very good shape and I figure it's worth around 12500. I was going to offer her 11500, factoring in the flight to go retrieve it, drive it across the universe, etc.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Yes, it is likely to kill you with boredom within two blocks .

Other than that they are pretty solid.

 

[dabuddha]

Its your grandma man! Offer her the full value!

 

[iamwiz82]

Its your grandma man! Offer her the full value!

Glad I am not the only one who caught that.

 

[amddude]

Glad I am not the only one who caught that.

I'm not trying to rob her. She lives a long ways away. It will involve a flight, probably a hotel stay, meals, gas. Plus when it gets here I'll have to replace a couple hundred dollars worth of shit and maybe tires too.

 

[pcgeek11]

I'm not trying to rob her. She lives a long ways away. It will involve a flight, probably a hotel stay, meals, gas. Plus when it gets here I'll have to replace a couple hundred dollars worth of shit and maybe tires too.

So. Don't buy the car then. Don't screw your Grandmother over, really!

 

[theeedude]

No need to be emo about it. Unless your grandma is senile, I don't see a problem offering whatever you want to offer. Grandma can decide to accept it or not.

 

[amddude]

She already knows what it's worth or she wouldn't have breached the conversation.

I was concerned about mechnical, car shit, that might be in need of attention.

 

[T2urtle]

Its your grandma man! Offer her the full value!

Seriously man.


Its your family, pay the asking.

Flight, meal, hotel and gas? How far are you driving? I wouldn't iron butt it back. You go visit your grandma and check up on her and etc. You cant put a real price on that. Your meals and gas are of only concern. I did NYC to chicago overnight only restroom breaks, gas and one fast food meal. Gas ran me $500 in a 23mpg car. This camry should be least 26-30mpg.


The car could use new rubber parts but honestly it probaly doesn't need it and can be driven. I know many people who would just drive as it. I would do the brake fluid myself but i've seen cars with 15+ year old brake fluid, darker then oil

 

[monkeydelmagico]

All it needs is a trunk full of cookies. Thanks granny!

 

[MagickMan]

Don't let these guys give you any shit. It's a tank of a car, boring but completely reliable. If I were looking for such a thing, it would be between the Camry and the Accord (and maybe a Volvo), you can't fault their durability. $12,500 for that mileage is fantastic, just pay grandma her asking price.

 

[Fritzo]

Camry owners are 98.63% more likely to fall asleep at the wheel.

"This car is soooooo ddddduuuuulllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...."

 

[Jimzz]

The tires might be dry rotted, if they show any signs then play it safe and replace them.

Change all the fluids (brake, coolant, oil, trans fluid, etc...)

 

[WilliamM2]

My Camry isn't nearly as boring as the Mazda it replaced. It actually has enough power to pass other cars! It also has a much better ride, is way better in the snow, and much more reliable.

Not sure why you think anything on it will need replacement, it's not like it's been sitting in a barn for 20 years.

 

[WilliamM2]

The tires might be dry rotted, if they show any signs then play it safe and replace them.

Change all the fluids (brake, coolant, oil, trans fluid, etc...)

2008 Camry's have 100K coolant, lifetime trans fluid, etc. I'm sure it's okay after a year, and it has actually been driven. What a waste of resources.

 

[amddude]

My Camry isn't nearly as boring as the Mazda it replaced. It actually has enough power to pass other cars! It also has a much better ride, is way better in the snow, and much more reliable.

Not sure why you think anything on it will need replacement, it's not like it's been sitting in a barn for 20 years.

I asked because I don't know that much about cars.

Yeah it's a tad boring, but that's ok.

 

[cbrsurfr]

Change the oil, top off the gas, and inspect the tires. That's all I'd do.

 

[Jimzz]

2008 Camry's have 100K coolant, lifetime trans fluid, etc. I'm sure it's okay after a year, and it has actually been driven. What a waste of resources.

"100K coolant" actual its mileage OR time in years/months. Since the car probably was driven very little and did not warm up as much I would play it safe if he wants to keep the car a long time.

"lifetime trans fluid" Hahahahahahaha.... Hahahahahhaa... yea tell that to Mercedes and many other makers that tried that BS. Look at them now and all of them now tell you to change it and "updated" their previous specs as well. Most Toyota have a drain plug so just open and drain and refill. Holds about 3-4 qts usually. again with little warm ups and age etc... cheap and do it every 30k.

 

[mmntech]

Well, it's a kitchen appliance pretending to be a car. Dull and uninspired but it does the job. As far as bland, conformist vehicles go, just be glad it's not a 7-seater SUV. Or god forbid, a Sienna.

It's not my favourite car to drive, though that's more a handling thing. Personally I would look at a Lexus ES instead. They can be had for around the same price for that model year though you may baulk at paying for premium gas. Aside from that, Camrys are bullet proof cars. I'd just do a quick inspection of the fluids, belts and tires, then change the oil and that's it.

 

[ElFenix]

She already knows what it's worth or she wouldn't have breached the conversation.

I was concerned about mechnical, car shit, that might be in need of attention.

broached

 

[SandEagle]

So. Don't buy the car then. Don't screw your Grandmother over, really!

really? i would have expected a grandma to just gift the car without asking for any money. OP, sounds like you got family issues man.

 

[dbk]

It won't die for a long time so you'd be stuck with it... lol

 

[Carson Dyle]

Seriously man.

Its your family, pay the asking.

And on the flip side, he's family, too. Maybe Gramma wants to help the kid out and give him a deal.

There's not much sense in traveling hundreds of miles to buy a car unless you get a really great deal or it's a rare find. He may not find another 08 with 11k miles on it, but I'm sure there are plenty of similar cars that he can buy at book value right where he is.

 

[amddude]

broached

Yes my mistake, you're correct.

 

[BUTCH1]

"100K coolant" actual its mileage OR time in years/months. Since the car probably was driven very little and did not warm up as much I would play it safe if he wants to keep the car a long time.

"lifetime trans fluid" Hahahahahahaha.... Hahahahahhaa... yea tell that to Mercedes and many other makers that tried that BS. Look at them now and all of them now tell you to change it and "updated" their previous specs as well. Most Toyota have a drain plug so just open and drain and refill. Holds about 3-4 qts usually. again with little warm ups and age etc... cheap and do it every 30k.

I'd change brake fluid as well, 5 years is time for a change, tranny fluid should be OK for now but 30K change intervals is a very good idea, coolant change defiantly, why risk gaskets, hoses, pumps for a $20 change even if it's got low mileage it's been in there for 5 years, get it out..