Update: Should I buy a 1993 Toyota Tercel for $1000 when I know it will never have A/C?

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Broohaha

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Jan 4, 2001
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My dad's friend wants to sell it. He's willing to sell for $1000. I checked it out today. It's pretty nice. Sleek red exterior and black leathery interior. Two door, no power windows or locks. Dash and interior are well-designed, clean and sleek in typical Toyota fashion. Also has that Toyota reliability. Dad's friend drove it to Canada recently and said it drives well. Decent radio as well. Only problems are 1) it's stick (but that's okay since I want very badly to learn how to drive stick) and 2) AC is busted (but I think we can get it fixed for a low cost).

So, ignoring the potential cost of the AC fix, can I bother finding a better car for $1000 than a 1993 Toyota Tercel?

Update: Turns out that you can't install an AC in the car (it never had one) or else the engine will not last. As good a deal as this is, I'm kind of miffed about the lack of AC. Driving in a hot car (even with the window down) is absolute hell in the MD/DC area in the summer. Do you guys think if I put maybe 1000 more into it I could find a better deal?
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

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Oct 22, 2000
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You will probably not be able to find a more reliable and economical piece of transportation for your price.

ZV
 
geno

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
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Sleek red exterior and black leathery interior
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Heh, sleek? Sure you're talking about a Tercel? :D


buy it, you can't beat it for that price.
 
C

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
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Originally posted by: geno
Sleek red exterior and black leathery interior
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Heh, sleek? Sure you're talking about a Tercel? :D


buy it, you can't beat it for that price.
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yeah I was wondering too...
and I also thought typical Toyota was ugly but functional... meh.. it's a cheap reliable piece of transportation.
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

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Oct 22, 2000
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Just to point out, the A/C can run into the area of $600 to repair fairly easily.

ZV
 
B

Broohaha

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when i say 'sleek' i mean it looks like a typical modern car. when i heard it was 1993 i was worried it would be one of those boxy looking atrocities from back when i was younger. luckily it's not. though maybe 'sleek' is a bit too strong :)
 
B

Broohaha

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Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Just to point out, the A/C can run into the area of $600 to repair fairly easily. ZV
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yeah my dad just told me it might cost 3-400 to replace :( and then 200-250 for title, tag, etc. luckily we can just stick with third party insurance to cut costs on that (and the 'rents are payin for it :) )

oh and did i mention my dad is buyin the car too? hehe. but he wouldnt bother buying jacksh!t for me if this wasnt a hella good deal.

 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

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Oct 22, 2000
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Originally posted by: Broohaha
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Just to point out, the A/C can run into the area of $600 to repair fairly easily. ZV
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yeah my dad just told me it might cost 3-400 to replace :( and then 200-250 for title, tag, etc. luckily we can just stick with third party insurance to cut costs on that (and the 'rents are payin for it :) )

oh and did i mention my dad is buyin the car too? hehe. but he wouldnt bother buying jacksh!t for me if this wasnt a hella good deal.
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When/if you get the A/C fixed, have it switched over to R134a (if it's not already). Not for environmental reasons, just because R134a is so much cheaper than R12 (R12 = Freon) that it's often less expensive to convert to R134a than it is to refill with R12. Plus, R134a will be available in the future, whereas R12 will get harder and harder to find and become more expensive.

ZV
 
B

Broohaha

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Originally posted by: THeWorminator
i want the car
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i think the tercel is more my style... and i dont want to go to boston for a test drive (i'm in dc)....

you bostonian atotters can fight over the bonneville.
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

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Oct 22, 2000
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Originally posted by: squirrel dog
get an estimate of the ac fix.It could be 1500+
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For $1,500 I could have complete A/C systems put in two cars. You're getting ripped off.

ZV
 
T

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
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'93 Tercels don't last 153,000 miles. 143,000 is the record for that vintage. :D

But seriously, a '93 Tercel's durability is nowhere near that of, say, a '93 Corolla. The engines just aren't as good.

EDIT: Oh, Spooner was talking about his Bonne.

EDIT TWO: If the Tercel only has around 100,000 miles on it, go for it!
 
F

FrustratedUser

Lifer
Aug 16, 2001
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Originally posted by: Broohaha
Originally posted by: Spooner
I'll sell you my '95 black Pontiac Bonneville (power everything) for $1200
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quick somebody get RossMAN on this....
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I'd buy it for that price.
They run fine and it has got the 3800 V6 which is bullet proof and cheap to fix.

Good deal unless it is totally rusted out.

 
Joemonkey

Joemonkey

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Mar 3, 2001
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I had a 1993 Tercel with 120,000 miles, busted A/C, 4 speed manual, and i miss giving it up... :(

I never got the A/C repaired, cuz the car came from factory w/o A/C, previous owner put in aftermarket R134a A/C in it, and no one (out of like 10 seperate mechanics) could figure out who made the aftermarket A/C and how to go about fixing it... all they knew was there was a leak somewhere in the passenger side dash area
 
Evadman

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Originally posted by: Broohaha
Originally posted by: Spooner
I'll sell you my '95 black Pontiac Bonneville (power everything) for $1200
Click to expand...

quick somebody get RossMAN on this....
Click to expand...

I'd buy it for that price.
They run fine and it has got the 3800 V6 which is bullet proof and cheap to fix.

Good deal unless it is totally rusted out.
Click to expand...

MMmmmm... 3800...... :)

I had a Toyota Tercel Wagon from '86. Ran like a champ. Took it off-road a few times,and was pretty decent for a car :). I ran that thing into the ground. had 186k on it when I bought it. I blew a half shaft doing a neutral drop, cost $75 to replace, then went back out and beat the crap out of it some more. had 5 people in it, a huge ass stereo; it was our little groups "Party" car. The trans finaly started slipping after way too many neutral drops. (hey, I was 16, and it wa my first car. gimme a break :) ) I got my $500 worth 20x over.

I vote buy it!

 
S

Spooner

Lifer
Jan 16, 2000
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Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Originally posted by: Broohaha
Originally posted by: Spooner
I'll sell you my '95 black Pontiac Bonneville (power everything) for $1200
Click to expand...
quick somebody get RossMAN on this....
Click to expand...
I'd buy it for that price.
They run fine and it has got the 3800 V6 which is bullet proof and cheap to fix.
Good deal unless it is totally rusted out.
Click to expand...
Nope, not rusted out at all.

But, like, I said, there is body damage (all cosmetic)
and I think a speaker is blown also.

I just want to get rid of the thing, because I bought a new car in May and I've been insuring this thing for no reason
 
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