What to ask when responding to car ad?

[wiredspider]

I'm looking at this ad for a 92 Ford Escort for $500, also says new tires. It says $500 firm so I guess no haggling? What are questions I should ask about the car? Would it be odd or rude to ask for the VIN#? Thanks

 

[RossMAN]

Ask for the VIN, if they ask why tell them so you can run a CarFax title report on it.

Is it a salvage title? The guy I bought my 94 Toyota Corolla from did NOT tell me that until I met him and brought it to my mechanic to have it checked out.

It's probably already been replaced but ask if/when the timing belt was replaced.

Those are the major things I can think of.

 

[creedog]

is it running?

Thats a good start

 

[RossMAN]

BTW the older Ford Escort's are a major POS.

If you want something affordable and reliable check out the Geo Prizm which is a rebadged Toyota Corolla. They were built side by side at a plant in California. I've seen 92 Geo Prizm's for under $900 in our local newspaper's classifieds section.

 

[vi edit]

Damage disclosure. Check with your state to see what amount of damage is required to necessitate the seller to disclose it. In Iowa it's like $3,000. So, if I'm selling a vehicle that's had $3,000 in damage done to it, I'm legally entitled to tell you that it's had $3,000 or more in damage done to it.

 

[vi edit]

BTW the older Ford Escort's are a major POS.

Uh, no they weren't. I personally know of AT LEAST 10 different escorts that have rolled on over 150,000 miles with very, very minimal amounts invested in them. They weren't flashy or luxurious, but they were reliable and economical means of transportation.

 

[Entity]

Read This Site

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

BTW the older Ford Escort's are a major POS.

Uh, no they weren't. I personally know of AT LEAST 10 different escorts that have rolled on over 150,000 miles with very, very minimal amounts invested in them. They weren't flashy or luxurious, but they were reliable and economical means of transportation.

Ok maybe the old old older Escort's are a POS, not sure when they changed their design but my grandmother had a late 80's Escort which was the biggest POS on wheels (maybe not, the Yugo has that title but it was a close contender).

When they changed they radically changed the Escort, I think they made huge improvements which is probably sometime in the 90's.

I still say go for a Geo Prizm and regardless of which car you choose have a mechanic thoroughly check it out.

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

BTW the older Ford Escort's are a major POS.

Uh, no they weren't. I personally know of AT LEAST 10 different escorts that have rolled on over 150,000 miles with very, very minimal amounts invested in them. They weren't flashy or luxurious, but they were reliable and economical means of transportation.

Make it 11. Kate and I gave ours away to one of our friends' kids when we bought our Soob, but it was running great, and still is. 1991 Escort.

Rob

 

[Confused]

It was 1991 that they "radically changed" the Escort, moving from the Mk4 (square shaped body) to the Mk5 (rounded body) tho they changed to the Mk6 shortly after the Mk5 (couple of years)

The Escort has 3 different "radically changed" styles:

Firstly, was Mk1 and Mk2, from 1969 (when they phased out the Anglia) until 1980 (ish) when they moved to the Mk3/4 on a squarer body shape, then in 1991 they went to the Mk5/6 which is the shape of the 3/4 but more rounded.

 

[RossMAN]

Ok then I should have said pre-91 Escort's suck but IMHO they all suck compared to Civic/Corolla's

 

[J3anyus]

Originally posted by: Entity
Read This Site

Wow, nice site.

 

[Migroo]

Originally posted by: Confused
It was 1991 that they "radically changed" the Escort, moving from the Mk4 (square shaped body) to the Mk5 (rounded body) tho they changed to the Mk6 shortly after the Mk5 (couple of years)

The Escort has 3 different "radically changed" styles:

Firstly, was Mk1 and Mk2, from 1969 (when they phased out the Anglia) until 1980 (ish) when they moved to the Mk3/4 on a squarer body shape, then in 1991 they went to the Mk5/6 which is the shape of the 3/4 but more rounded.

Are the UK Escys different to the US versions Confused?

 

[wiredspider]

Yea this isn't my first car of choice would prefer an accord, civic, or maybe a prelude but none of them are even listed for sale:|, cost a bit too much for me anyhow. The ad does say it's running. I also see an ad for an 84 Jeep Cherokee for $100, maybe he meant $1,000? It also says running, but nothing else. Another car listed in my price range is a 90 cavalier for a $450+ offer, it needs a new engine, would consider it were like $50, seem like POS cars to me anyhow.

How are car auctions or even Ebay for cars? Anyone got a carfax account for me to run 1 or 2 reports on? Thanks

 

[wiredspider]

Anyone have any information on 1990 Toyota Tercels? And if someone could send me the carfax on this car JT2EL36M7L0525028. Thanks

 

[bunker]

And if someone could send me the carfax on this car JT2EL36M7L0525028. Thanks

A 1990 MR2?

 

[Confused]

Originally posted by: Migroo

Originally posted by: Confused
It was 1991 that they "radically changed" the Escort, moving from the Mk4 (square shaped body) to the Mk5 (rounded body) tho they changed to the Mk6 shortly after the Mk5 (couple of years)

The Escort has 3 different "radically changed" styles:

Firstly, was Mk1 and Mk2, from 1969 (when they phased out the Anglia) until 1980 (ish) when they moved to the Mk3/4 on a squarer body shape, then in 1991 they went to the Mk5/6 which is the shape of the 3/4 but more rounded.

Are the UK Escys different to the US versions Confused?

I'm not sure about this, tho all my experience is of the UK versions...tho i would guess that they are the same if not similar in the US...if not then i know nothing about American cars!

 

[wiredspider]

It's 1990 Toyota Tercel EZ 2 door hatchback, I guess it's the same thing? It has 152K miles on it, if it's cheap I'll get it. Should survive one winter and then I guess another cheap junky old car. It says it needs a crankshaft kit?