Any reasons NOT to try flipping GEN 3's? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

malayan · 01-29-2009, 08:10 PM

"I have done a lot of Gen2's over the years as a Home Dealer and I love em"

Question for the professors....

Any reason I should not start "flipping"(Buy & Sell) Gen 3-4?

"Just trying to learn by listening"

Thank you in advance

disregard · 01-30-2009, 03:45 PM

What do you mean ''flipping Gen 3-4'' Taking beat up cars and fixing them up and selling them ?

If you can do it and make a profit off it why not ? I don't think there's any reasons not too.

kesando · 01-30-2009, 11:24 PM

Yeah why not? We should keep these older Camrys on the road for as long as possible. Aren't the 5sfe powered Camrys not much different than the Gen2s with 3sfe? BTW no market for gen 1's? Also do you do V6's?

malayan · 01-31-2009, 10:22 AM

Always a market for TOYOTA CAMRY

Easy to sell 4 cyl automatics. BEST CAR EVER MADE!

I Buy & sell (flip) CAMRY ONLY ...4 cyl ONLY....

V6 are too hard to fix(no room), too many bugs, abused more from the horsepower and no body want them unless you have a wagon, SUV or pickup. Last but not least harder to sell because people are affraid off the fuel consumption.

I am a licensed used car dealer near Portland Oregon. Up here they call me "The Cam Man". I work out of my home and flip maybe 1 car a week. I have been doing this for a few years now.

Since I live near a big city ad have a large audiance as well as a good U Puull Yard it works very well.

I buy cars off of craigslist for maybe $1000 or private party only ....auctions are bad=

(ripoffs)....Then I do my own labor in my nice shop and might put $500 or so in the car fixing it up. The I flip it for $2500. Done this for years now. Try to do 1-4 a month.

I usually do Gen2's because I love em. dependable

, easy to work on, I find them for cheap and 88-91 ALL FIT so when I go to the U Pull I have a large selection of parts. I AM A ONE MAN SHOW. This helps keeps costs down.

The reason I asked the above question is because I wanted to know if there was anything on the Gen3 & Gen4 that are common problems I should be aware of.

Up here they call me "The Cam Man". I currently hve 2 people waiting for me to find them a decent Camry. Oh Yeah they paid $2500 Cash UP FRONT.

I am actually changing the name of my company when my license comes up for renewal.
Ever heard that song by "The Candy Man"? I would change the lyrics and make a jingle like this.

Who can make your car shine?
A sprinkle it a new
Get you moving forward seeing other envy you...The Camry Man can...The Camry Man can
The Camry Man can cause he mixes it with love and makes it run real good!

Mike Morris · 01-31-2009, 01:07 PM

"The reason I asked the above question is because I wanted to know if there was anything on the Gen3 & Gen4 that are common problems I should be aware of"

Common problems with the 3rd gens are bad pick ups,ignitors,map sensors,busted climate control knobs,fragil outside door handles,bad power antennas-just minor crap.

Avoid V6s-they blow headgaskets and eat trans above 150K if driven hard.

If you get a donor car that runs well for 1k go for it

disregard · 02-01-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malayan

Always a market for TOYOTA CAMRY

Easy to sell 4 cyl automatics. BEST CAR EVER MADE!

I Buy & sell (flip) CAMRY ONLY ...4 cyl ONLY....

V6 are too hard to fix(no room), too many bugs, abused more from the horsepower and no body want them unless you have a wagon, SUV or pickup. Last but not least harder to sell because people are affraid off the fuel consumption.

I am a licensed used car dealer near Portland Oregon. Up here they call me "The Cam Man". I work out of my home and flip maybe 1 car a week. I have been doing this for a few years now.

I beg to differ for the V6's especially in the early 3rd generation.
The 3rd gen cars were pretty much made for the 3vzfe and the 1mz
they have bigger engine bays to accommodate them along with bigger
body's to accommodate us

The transmissions will last over 200,000 miles if flushed every 100,000. Also when your looking for a V6 car you know that
your trading fuel economy for power so you should expect the mileage to be lower. The v6's and the 4cyl both blow headgaskets if overheated as they are cast iron block engines with aluminum heads.

Also a lot of the 3rd gens have the v6 because nowadays people demand more power out of there midsize car.Based on real world driving here in NJ 2 out of every 5 camry's have the v6 either in LE or XLE Guise But with the 2nd gen's the 4cyl was more then adequate for the compact that it is/was for the time and still to this day is pretty adequate

I gotta hand it to toyota for making these solid small reliable cars that can take alot of abuse!

TBayToyotaBoy · 02-01-2009, 11:58 PM

I have been seriously investigating the possibility of "flipping" third-gen Camrys for several years now. However, their better body design (less rust) means that there are a few things on the old "con" side of the pros vs cons list:

a) They sell for a lot more than 2nd gen Camrys--a lot more. I cannot find one here for less than $3000CAD, and that price was for a 1992.
b) As soon as the wreckers get one, it's stripped and crushed. The parts are sold before the cars come in.

So for me, the answer is still "no". I love my old V6, and I'll just stick with the task of collecting as many spare parts as I can...

disregard · 02-02-2009, 07:17 PM

I found a decent 94 Base LE for 1500. Still considering buying it, I just wish it had the V6, as that would have sold me.

kenwoodrunner · 02-09-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malayan

Always a market for TOYOTA CAMRY

Easy to sell 4 cyl automatics. BEST CAR EVER MADE!

I Buy & sell (flip) CAMRY ONLY ...4 cyl ONLY....

V6 are too hard to fix(no room), too many bugs, abused more from the horsepower and no body want them unless you have a wagon, SUV or pickup. Last but not least harder to sell because people are affraid off the fuel consumption.

I am a licensed used car dealer near Portland Oregon. Up here they call me "The Cam Man". I work out of my home and flip maybe 1 car a week. I have been doing this for a few years now.

Since I live near a big city ad have a large audiance as well as a good U Puull Yard it works very well.

I buy cars off of craigslist for maybe $1000 or private party only ....auctions are bad=

(ripoffs)....Then I do my own labor in my nice shop and might put $500 or so in the car fixing it up. The I flip it for $2500. Done this for years now. Try to do 1-4 a month.

I usually do Gen2's because I love em. dependable

, easy to work on, I find them for cheap and 88-91 ALL FIT so when I go to the U Pull I have a large selection of parts. I AM A ONE MAN SHOW. This helps keeps costs down.

The reason I asked the above question is because I wanted to know if there was anything on the Gen3 & Gen4 that are common problems I should be aware of.

Up here they call me "The Cam Man". I currently hve 2 people waiting for me to find them a decent Camry. Oh Yeah they paid $2500 Cash UP FRONT.

I am actually changing the name of my company when my license comes up for renewal.
Ever heard that song by "The Candy Man"? I would change the lyrics and make a jingle like this.

Who can make your car shine?
A sprinkle it a new
Get you moving forward seeing other envy you...The Camry Man can...The Camry Man can
The Camry Man can cause he mixes it with love and makes it run real good!

i have just flipped 2 camrys in the past 2 months. made 700 on one and 1000 on the other.

malayan do you ever worry about getting screwed with a bad automatic? that is my worst fear (not scouting the flip correctly) and getting stung with a car with a bad auto trans?

also what mileage do you NOT buy at. both of the ones i just flipped had 200,000k each on them. thanks. mike

malayan · 02-09-2009, 08:28 PM

My Name is actually ...DON

I use malayan because it is more unknown and less likely to get spammed. It is the name of my India boy that I Support monthly.

To answer your question I stay away from 200+ miles unless I can see that the tranny and or motor have been replaced.
To check the tranny I do a fluid check... If it is red and not burned you are good for test one... Then I road test for good shifting ( Not that even an improper fluid level can make for wierd shifting). I then test at a stop from D to R back and forth to see if I here any Clanking noise.

For the most part I stay at about 150k and verify with Carfax. I find that 6 out of 10 have had the speedo manipulated one way or another.

On rare occations ( with Toyota Only) I will find a high mile car that is real nice .. Been garaged.. no oil leaks.. Taken care of. And also ( In all Cars) I see low miles and the car has been trashed.

so it is all in the test drive and tire kicking.

If I find one that is nice for $500 with a blown trannyI will just swap it out for another one and sell for more still. Never lost money yet...

You can never be too careful though......

"Expect the worst and accept what comes"

Thanks... DON

kenwoodrunner · 02-10-2009, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malayan

verify with Carfax. I find that 6 out of 10 have had the speedo manipulated one way or another.

Thanks... DON

wow i better start using Carfax more often!

i also get into flipping pickup trucks, in my experience their is a huge market (like the camry) for solid lower priced (under $2500) work trucks. i have not lost money yet either, but i only buy and resell 4-5 times a year.

thanks Don for the tips! Mike