YACT: Finally got around to getting ourselves a gas saver... pics

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Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Went in with my Dad on an '87 Toyota Camry LE.

It's white with beige(I guess) interior, automatic. 180k miles, 80% highway. Power moonroof, A/C, PS, PW, PDL, CC.. lol

Yeah, yeah.. about as boring as it gets. But this car is in VERY good condition. The interior looks BRAND NEW. No stains, rips, burns anywhere. Non smoker, no fender benders. The exterior is also in very good condition with nothing but normal wear and tear.

Probably the best part? It was bought BRAND NEW in 1987 by the previous owners mother. He had been driving it for the last couple of years. I have in my hand a goldmine; a little notebook with every oil change, scheduled and unscheduled service written down with the milage and date. Oil was changed like clockwork every 3500 miles. Tires were rotated and balanced every other oil change. Radiator was flushed and refilled every 2 years. Timing belt was changed every 60k.

The only bad thing? She used Fram oil filters. :p The son did change to genuine Toyota filters when he aquired the car, though. Another bad thing is that the tags expire next month, but that's okay.

Still a good deal, at $1500, IMO. :D

Will post pics when he gets back from driving the previous owner home.

Edit: pics.. was dark, could be better. Oh well, It's a Camry, not much to see. :p

Side

Engine Bay

You could almost eat off it...

Interior
 

Seems like quite a high price (I wouldn't have paid any more than $1000 for it), however if it's in great shape, the $1500 is worth it if you're going to be driving it for quite a while.
 
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Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: jumpr
Seems like quite a high price (I wouldn't have paid any more than $1000 for it), however if it's in great shape, the $1500 is worth it if you're going to be driving it for quite a while.
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It's in REALLY good shape.

It is difficult to find cars in nice shape for 1000$..... Trust me, we have been looking for the last couple of months. There was just nothing that was worth it. Especially that new. I guess an '87 isn't really that new, but in the 1000$ range you're much more likely to run into early-mid 80s cars.

Having the complete service records really makes the deal, as far as I'm concerned. :) Any other way, and it's a gamble.
 
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thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
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Wouldn't have been my choice and I can find newer lower mileage cars for less. Different areas are different though :). Hope that carb doesn't give you any problems.

My 89 turbo caravan was $800 and had 120k miles on it. It runs great but the paint does look like hell.
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Wouldn't have been my choice and I can find newer lower mileage cars for less. Different areas are different though :). Hope that carb doesn't give you any problems.

My 89 turbo caravan was $800 and had 120k miles on it. It runs great but the paint does look like hell.
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It is fuel injected.

The engine is REALLY clean. :Q I mean it when I say this car was very well taken care of. That's the best part. If it was just some random car that we knew nothing about, then yeah.. 1500$ isn't as good of a deal.



The exterior is in pretty nice shape. It has the normal wear and tear.. rock chips on the front, bumper scuffs.. but nothing major. The exterior looking nice compared to not can easily make the difference between wanting to pay 800$ for a car and 1500$. :)

I decided to look on Edmunds. In "Clean" condition, private party, it's worth about 1100$. Dealer retail is ~2000$.

I do still think it was a good deal, though. Cars between 1 and 2k are a dime a dozen in the paper, but the proverbial one owner, female driven, in excellend condition with all service records cars are harder to find.

That's what we had been waiting for, but either we were too late on the good ones, or we didn't like them.

Plus, we're going to save over 100$/mo on gas. ;)
 
StageLeft

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
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I have in my hand a goldmine; a little notebook with every oil change, scheduled and unscheduled service written down with the milage and date.
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That's very unusual! I got that with my most recent purchase, but neither of the other cars I've bought have had a spec of documentation.
 
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mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,804
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Nice find.

My friend has a 88 Camry 4-cyl with 325k km on it...still runs fine. The body isn't as good as it used to be but other than that its mechanically perfect. Altho A/C doesn't work anymore.

The engine is still quiet.
 
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thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
9,036
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Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Wouldn't have been my choice and I can find newer lower mileage cars for less. Different areas are different though :). Hope that carb doesn't give you any problems.

My 89 turbo caravan was $800 and had 120k miles on it. It runs great but the paint does look like hell.
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It is fuel injected.
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Thats good. I must be thinking of Honda then. One of those guys was behind and didn't go FI till 90 or so.
 
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VTEC01EX

Senior member
Mar 8, 2002
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that was Honda that went to FI starting with the 90 Accord. I believe the 89 LX-i was fuel injected, but the LX and DX were carbed (or at least my friends old 89 was).
 
AgaBoogaBoo

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
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Take care of it with regular oil changes and that car will serve you great if you treat it nicely

It's likely it's never been floored, it's a virgin car :p

My dad's 91 Accord is doing great just like you explain, interior is perfect, mechanically it's great, exterior is great, etc etc etc. Just take care of it and that car has plenty of life still left in it
 
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freebee

Diamond Member
Dec 30, 2000
4,043
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Hey, nothing wrong with fram filters. Friends have fleet cars that run them, they are fairly cheap and reliable. I wouldn't use them in a racing application, but for everyday usage (including extensive idling).... if its good for a fleet car, its good enough for me.
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: GtPrOjEcTX
Another bad thing is that the tags expire next month, but that's okay.
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I thought when car changed posession you have to change the tags anyways?
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Nope.... Not around here, at least. By tags, I mean the little stickers that tell you when the next inspection/DEQ is.

I do know inspection procedures are quite different in other states. Dunno.
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,082
455
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We just received our tags renewal with DEQ, fortunately they're open 'till 9PM on Wednesdays.

Our family has a 1990 Toyota Corolla DX which hasn't been pampered like your Camry but it's still very reliable.
 
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flot

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
3,197
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Well I disagree with those who said you overpaid - you CAN get an '87 camry for $500, but it's not quite going to be in the same condition. :) I recently looked at some 2000-2001 cars that weren't even in that kind of condition. (seriously) Looks like a good find.
 
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Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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Originally posted by: flot
Well I disagree with those who said you overpaid - you CAN get an '87 camry for $500, but it's not quite going to be in the same condition. :) I recently looked at some 2000-2001 cars that weren't even in that kind of condition. (seriously) Looks like a good find.
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Thank you. :)

I guess nobody appreciates having the complete service history of the vehicle. It's very rare. Without that, it's just another car with a questionable history. With it, you suddenly get that fresh, clean feeling. ;) A one owner vehicle is desirable enough. One owner + complete service history = golden.
 
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