Should I get rid of my 99 Solara (193k miles) and buy a 2010 Camry? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

99ToyotaSolara · 08-21-2010, 06:58 PM

I am going to inherit some money and was thinking of buying a slightly used 2010 Toyota Camry SE for about $15k to replace my 1999 Toyota Solara with 193,000 miles. I figure I will buy it around Christmas which is typically the best time to negotiate and buy one with less then 15k miles.

Here are the anticipated costs of keeping the 99 going...
Timing Belt at 220k - $500
New Tires at 200k- $400

The shocks, catalytic converter, starter, PCV valve, icv valve, spark plugs, wires and a few other typical items have been replaced within the last 50k miles. The car starts and idles very well. There are no obvious issues with the car. It has a few dents and scratches.

The reason I want to replace it is because I feel I've gotten enough miles out of it and there may be unforeseen repairs. Any money sunk into the car at this point for repairs could probably be better used towards a 2010 car.

What are your thoughts? If you were me, would you replace the 10 year old high mileage vehicle with something that is almost new? I would like to go the most economical route and could probably sell the car for about $2-3k. What would you do and why?

tayunz · 08-21-2010, 07:50 PM

Personally, I would trade my 99 LE V6 4-door in for a 2010 SE. I just like the styling a lot better and it's a bigger and more powerful engine. That's just me though. I mean I love my Camry but it's getting old and it would be cool to have a newer car.

99ToyotaSolara · 08-21-2010, 08:21 PM

From an aesthetic value, yeah I would enjoy having a 2010. However, my concern is saving money. Im wondering if I should just sell it for what I can right now or sink a few grand into it getting it tires, brakes, timing belt and whatever else it needs. It right now needs a new set of tires.

I would like to do the most cost concious thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tayunz

Personally, I would trade my 99 LE V6 4-door in for a 2010 SE. I just like the styling a lot better and it's a bigger and more powerful engine. That's just me though. I mean I love my Camry but it's getting old and it would be cool to have a newer car.

***fenixus*** · 08-21-2010, 08:30 PM

well if the tires are your only concern for next 20k miles (and t-belt in around 30k miles) then i would think about keeping it for one more year. i learned the hard way that it is VERY hard to find low mileage V6 camry which is still covered by a manufacturer warranty - close to impossible.

so unless you want a new version of 4 banger it might pay off to wait one more year until those 2008-2009 models fall out of 36mo/36k mile warranty (some people sell cars then).

besides, i think you might get a better deal of a private person, dealer use some crazy retail pricing on used cars, usually it has nothing to do with their value (check KBB retail vs private party).

rty · 08-21-2010, 08:45 PM

I have a Camry with the same mileage and it is most economical for me to keep driving it. No doubt about it.

99ToyotaSolara · 08-21-2010, 09:03 PM

I have the 4 cylinder model. Im wondering if there are any major repairs that I will encounter in the next 50k miles. Has anyone ever heard of problems to the extent of replacing the transmission or engine?

***fenixus*** · 08-21-2010, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99ToyotaSolara

I have the 4 cylinder model. Im wondering if there are any major repairs that I will encounter in the next 50k miles. Has anyone ever heard of problems to the extent of replacing the transmission or engine?

if you keep changing fluids per book (or more often) and do a scheduled maintenance on your car and you don't abuse it too much, I doubt anything bad is coming (per major failures). too little info to say, only you know how it feels, sounds, etc.

99ToyotaSolara · 08-21-2010, 09:26 PM

One thing I have been noticing is the check engine light comes on randomly at times. I took it to autozone about 30-40k ago and replaced the emissions part. Recently, the light came on again and an independent shop that was doing an oil change said it was vapor canistor and told me that they would have to do an expensive $150 test to figure out exactly. Then the light went off as soon as I drove down the block and has stayed off for the last 1000 miles.

Im just afraid that if I keep going then eventually something might happen and it will lose any value that it has left. I think I could sell it for about $2700 in the condition its in now.

***fenixus*** · 08-21-2010, 09:32 PM

without knowing what the error code was i cannot say anything.
as before, decision is up to you, if you feel now is the good time to sell it and get something newer, then go for it

but if you decide to keep it, then you can count on this forums members helping you figure out what up

schumionbike · 08-21-2010, 11:25 PM

forget the timing belt for now, it's still a long way away. You know your car best. I would get new tires and keep the running to 220 K before worry about more spending. Tires are tires, whether it's on a new car or an old car, it's gonna cost you. If you can get 50 K out of the new set tires, great, if you can only get 30 K out of it, well, you're not losing that much money. Save wear and tear on the new car. You seem to have a bit of work done on your car recently too, you should enjoy it since the money you get for the car probably won't give you much of a profit over what you have spent. With 193 K on it, I don't think I would spend 2700 on it though, still quite risky even if fairly well maintain. Just my 2 cent.

carsrus · 08-21-2010, 11:35 PM

Do you have emission/safety inspection in your state?

If you've got some funky CEL thing going on and it'll cost alotta dough to fix the emissions I would dump it on craigslist.

If you can do all the repairs yourself I would run it till it dies, if not itll get expensive to keep it.

***LynchburgCSI*** · 08-21-2010, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99ToyotaSolara

However, my concern is saving money.

Most of the time it's cheaper to fix what you have than to buy something new.

abew330 · 08-22-2010, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carsrus

If you can do all the repairs yourself I would run it till it dies, if not itll get expensive to keep it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LynchburgCSI

Most of the time it's cheaper to fix what you have than to buy something new.

^^^ i agree...

i would rather keep the car.

i did not choose my gen3 but grew to love it.
my wife feels the same way.
always think bout trading in the gen3 for newer cam or lexus... but wouldnt.

i have been neglecting the gen3 lately but i am in the process of giving her a little long over due TLC....

grandpapa · 08-22-2010, 11:30 PM

I am kind of on the same boat. Mine is 97 with 180k mile. Just try to see if it makes sense to spend $ to keep it up or just trade/sell it for something "newer". In your case, you are looking at the 2010 or something around that time so it should be the newer model.

I guess the only thing to think about is just how much you are willing to spend. I agree that your 99 is around 2-3k for the money. But even if you have more miles, it still run about the same price on the market. I would keep driving it until Xmas but not spending any $ and get the new 2010.