Author Topic: Winter beater - car for 2 winters only (Read 3408 times)

UmroAyyar · « **on:** July 16, 2010, 10:25:02 am »

1994 Toyota Tercel
157000 kms
Auto Transmission
$800

I have been looking for a winter beater. What do I need to look into this?

This car has been on the road until May 2010. Its not e-tested, owner is selling it for $800 AS IS.

I will get it checked by a garage for sure.
Who pays for the Drive Clean test? should I make the sale offer conditional on successful e-test?

Any guidance appreciated.

EDIT : Another car to the mix
1997 Ford Escort with 175000 km - e-test and safety passed. $900

airbalancer · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2010, 11:34:35 am »

An etest is not that much, have the mechanic doing inspection do it but I would buy one that passes

Get the one you feel best in
The Tercel was rock solid

dash · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2010, 02:28:13 pm »

That's why the Toyota it is selling as is, no e-test, either current owner knows or does not want take the risk of it failing a test, if it had past, I'm sure that they could ask double. Now it is a crap shoot for you, buy it at $800, pay $35 for test, if you fail, I think if you spend up to $400 and fail again, you get a conditional pass good for one year only.

The Escort is less riskier, cost wise short term.

DKaz · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2010, 02:40:31 pm »

Passing emissions from a fail can be an easy fix or it can be a nightmare. Either way, emissions stopped me from buying a mint condition 79 Celica for $900. If it's just a winter beater, get the Escort. The 2.0L engine is surprisingly durable and reliable. Too bad no Zetec but you can't go wrong with those cars.

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2010, 08:31:48 pm »

Thanks for the responses.

Ford Escort's owner had a change of heart and is now asking for $1500.

I don't want to spend more than $1100 on a winter beater. At most I'm looking to get 2 winters out of it.

The search continues...

boz · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2010, 09:08:19 pm »

Any certified/e-tested car under a $1000 is a good deal IMO. That being said if I'm talking about the same "$1500" escort with A/C might still be a good deal at that price.

Julie · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2010, 09:20:13 pm »

Car needs to be safetied as well. Very important.

When we sold our Camry, found windshield crack that needed to be fixed. Can cost $$, depending on what needs to be fixed.

We paid for e-test and safety, but I guess those things can be negociated.

We did it for ease of sale. I would not get a used car unless e-tested and safetied already.

Julie · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2010, 09:21:47 pm »

Also Umro, I don't like it when people sell things "as is". Just personal preference of course, but that always makes me suspicious...

bridgecity · « **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2010, 10:59:25 pm »

Quote from: Julie on July 16, 2010, 09:21:47 pm

Also Umro, I don't like it when people sell things "as is". Just personal preference of course, but that always makes me suspicious...

I've always stated "as is" in a used car sales contract. Covers my bum...

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2010, 10:26:53 pm »

Got my eye on few more cars.

1. 195,000 km Owner will get Safety and E-Test done
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-1997-Chevrolet-Malibu-Sedan-W0QQAdIdZ208943125

2. 319000 km .Quite a few parts replaced, e-test done, not safetied
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-1999-Buick-Century-Sedan-W0QQAdIdZ216578904

3. 175000 km . Brakes Assembly was done recently by dealer, As Is.
http://www.autotrader.ca/used_cars_Car_details/NORTH+YORK_Ontario_1999_TOYOTA_TERCEL_2249369.html?srcID=19&frnID=2547030&prv=Ontario&r=40

airbalancer · « **Reply #10 on:** July 22, 2010, 07:03:52 am »

Thinking of a car with 315,000km, maybe you need to run a virus on your self

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #11 on:** July 22, 2010, 11:47:04 pm »

airbalancer, I had been looking at too many junkers

Anyhow, the budget is gone up to $2000 now.

There are plenty of mid 1990s cars between 150k to 170k kilometers. Safety and e-tested.

Ford Contour
Chevy Malibu
Dodge/Chrysler Neons

1998 Subaru Legacy 204k km
1996 Hyundai Elantra 220k km

Any advice appreciated.

Julie · « **Reply #12 on:** July 23, 2010, 01:27:24 am »

Quote from: UmroAyyar on July 22, 2010, 11:47:04 pm

airbalancer, I had been looking at too many junkers

Anyhow, the budget is gone up to $2000 now.

There are plenty of mid 1990s cars between 150k to 170k kilometers. Safety and e-tested.

Ford Contour
Chevy Malibu
Dodge/Chrysler Neons

1998 Subaru Legacy 204k km
1996 Hyundai Elantra 220k km

Any advice appreciated.

Umro, you know the Lemon-Aid Guide? By a guy called Phil Edmunston. It can scare the

out of you reading it (well, at least it did me - it seems much more negative than other used car reviews I've read), but at least it's a reference. I just personally like hearing about the worst stuff as one of my references.

I'd personally start with which cars I'd really like to own, and then eliminate the ones that have crappy reviews from guides like this or Consumer Reports. Then I'd just buy the one I liked the most, gut-wise, from the remaining choices.

It's always tough to get a decent car at 1 or 2 grand (because the depreciation curve has slowed down so much by then), so it might take a while... but if you can wait, wait for something to find something at that price that you've always liked. For instance, personally, I'd never get a Tercel, I never liked them, no matter how much they have a reputation for reliability. And I know I'm going to pay more to get less with a Tercel because it's a Tercel. But someone else may feel completely different and want something like a Tercel because it's very basic (less to go wrong in it!), and they want the statistical reliability on their side.

rrocket · « **Reply #13 on:** July 23, 2010, 01:30:45 am »

For $2k? I'd be looking for an Echo. I've found them to be amazing in the snow, bulletproof, cheap to run and repair. And I've seen them for $2K and less

articsteve · « **Reply #14 on:** July 23, 2010, 02:28:16 am »

Under NO circumstances should you buy a Ford Contour.

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #15 on:** July 23, 2010, 06:14:22 am »

Well, for the purpose stated and price range, I can't get be only looking at the cars I 'want'.

Something to get me through two winters.

Echo's are elusive in this price. Even the people with old Hyundais have smarten up and asking Honda/Toyota prices.

Search continues.

rrocket · « **Reply #16 on:** July 23, 2010, 07:05:23 am »

Quote from: UmroAyyar on July 23, 2010, 06:14:22 am

Well, for the purpose stated and price range, I can't get be only looking at the cars I 'want'.

Something to get me through two winters.

Echo's are elusive in this price. Even the people with old Hyundais have smarten up and asking Honda/Toyota prices.

Search continues.

Where do you live?

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #17 on:** July 23, 2010, 08:54:46 am »

Quote from: rrocket on July 23, 2010, 07:05:23 am

Quote from: UmroAyyar on July 23, 2010, 06:14:22 am
Well, for the purpose stated and price range, I can't get be only looking at the cars I 'want'.

Something to get me through two winters.

Echo's are elusive in this price. Even the people with old Hyundais have smarten up and asking Honda/Toyota prices.

Search continues.

Where do you live?

Its all about me town. Toronto.

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #18 on:** July 23, 2010, 10:16:51 am »

1997 Dodge Intrepid - 160k km - e-test, safety - $1800

What to check in this car? going to check this tomorrow.

Weexy · « **Reply #19 on:** July 23, 2010, 10:51:18 am »

Quote from: UmroAyyar on July 23, 2010, 10:16:51 am

1997 Dodge Intrepid - 160k km - e-test, safety - $1800

What to check in this car? going to check this tomorrow.

Private or dealer? Best bet, obviously, would be something you can see the repair history of.
For certain, if it has the 2.7 the engine has been replaced at some point. My brother has a 98 or 99 that had the engine go at around 63,000 km... cost him over $5k because he couldn't prove maintenance/oil changes etc were completed etc...so Chrysler basically told him to suck it.

He's had the car since new, and other than the engine issue, its been pretty reliable.