Should I Buy It?

[Stan22490]

Curious about buying a 2005 Toyota Corolla XRS. Wondering if anyone has any experience or input on the car if its a good car.

Price 7,000

Four Door - Sedan - 4 CYL, 1.8 LITER - Front Wheel Drive - Six Speed Manual - 149830 Miles - Red Exterior - Power Door Locks - Power Windows - Power Mirrors - Air Conditioning - Moon Roof - Cruise Control - AM/FM Stereo - Compact Disc - Rear Spoiler - Alloy Wheels -

No dents or scratches and Clean title

[onemph05]

Do you have any specific questions? Make sure the gears don't grind during up shift and down shift. Its high mileage, so hope they upgraded the clutch. The OEM clutch is weak for this car, weak grab and burns easily. I rarely post since there aren't a lot of 2zz owners here.

[zerominded]

I own a 2005 xrs and love it. Mine only has 40k miles though. I agree with onemph05 though. Check the clutch cause I have a feeling I might need one soon. And onemph05, what are the chances we can get the mods to make a sub forum for our 2zz engines?

[onemph05]

Originally Posted by zerominded

I own a 2005 xrs and love it. Mine only has 40k miles though. I agree with onemph05 though. Check the clutch cause I have a feeling I might need one soon. And onemph05, what are the chances we can get the mods to make a sub forum for our 2zz engines?

A sub forum will not draw anyone here. You can find in depth technical info on model specific sites.

[Zembonez]

I would not pay 7 grand for anything with 150K miles. Keep looking. All cars wear out.

[onemph05]

Some people see "Corolla" and think, cheap parts. 2zz related parts cost money, so don't buy a rough running car and think its a cheap fixer upper.

[winkzoot]

I got an 05 XRS in March and really enjoy the car. 94k miles and paid about a thousand less. Did have a couple of problems that I have fixed now. Lots of fun to drive.

[FlawedLegacy]

$7k for 150k miles... icky!!

[SuperchargedMR2]

I almost bought an 06 XRS with 55k miles on it for $6500. It had some fender damage but I had already checked with my body shop guy I use & he said $300 for a fender, paint & install. When I went to buy pick it up after going to the bank the seller changed his mind & gave it to his daughter.

[zythr]

Originally Posted by Zembonez

I would not pay 7 grand for anything with 150K miles. Keep looking. All cars wear out.

Originally Posted by FlawedLegacy

$7k for 150k miles... icky!!

...What do you think is a fair price for a car with 150K miles?

[onemph05]

Originally Posted by SuperchargedMR2

I almost bought an 06 XRS with 55k miles on it for $6500. It had some fender damage but I had already checked with my body shop guy I use & he said $300 for a fender, paint & install. When I went to buy pick it up after going to the bank the seller changed his mind & gave it to his daughter.

LOL

To OP
Its a good drivers car with a learning curve to drive properly. You need to love shifting to drive one. Revs climb and drop quickly with this car, so people often find shifting harsh at first. The clutch and accelerator are touchy. People will bog the car or burn the clutch. The contact point of the clutch changes due to weather etc. You need to be in the right gear to get power out of it. Test drive a Mazda3 or TC, then test a 2zz. A 2zz will make you work in the driver seat. You want a Harley like cruiser or a speed bike, driving like mad to get moving? The later is the 2zz...

[FlawedLegacy]

Originally Posted by zythr

...What do you think is a fair price for a car with 150K miles?

go to kbb.com or edmunds.com and fill the info in, that will give you a good price for its value

[SuperchargedMR2]

Originally Posted by FlawedLegacy

go to kbb.com or edmunds.com and fill the info in, that will give you a good price for its value

+1 I do this for every car I look at buying.

[hardtopte72]

A few things.

1. That price is probably initial asking price. The seller most likely expects to be talked down.
2. Mileage is less an indicator of a cars true condition than age. I would much rather have a 2005 that saw highway driving for its life than one that saw 12 miles of gridlock and traffic lights for 2 hours a day 5 days a week.
3. Check out the Toyota main website and plug in the VIN. You can see a full nationwide dealer service history for it. If there are no receipts this can be a good indicator of how well the car was taken care of.
4. Have the car inspected. Every dealer is going to detail the car they have for sale. Take the car to an experienced technician and have them check under the car for leaks or damage (since the pressure washer can't reach there). Look for subtle things like mismatch or missing VIN number for body panels, slightly off body gaps for the trunk, fenders, hood, and doors, marks that show bolts have been removed, missing bolts or clips, tire choice, and aftermarket parts (like an all black replacement A/C compressor or aftermarket brake pads with no anti-rattle shims)
5. Take a good test drive and feel for any looseness, creaks, groans, or similiar issues.

If you like the car buy it. My cars have all been high mileage purchases and neither one has given me a problem.

05 Corolla 3 years old bought with 71K, 09 Camry 2 years old bought with 80K, and all still feel completely brand new and had no issues with verified histories. My Corolla already broke 100K and still drives better than some new cars and the Camry might as well have 2000 miles because you would never know it has 83K now.

[FlawedLegacy]

Originally Posted by SuperchargedMR2

+1 I do this for every car I look at buying.

great minds think alike, Jim!