Need Info Please! - Possibly Buying '99 Corolla

[FieroGT42]

I don't mean to just pop on here for the first time and immediately demand help ASAP, but I'm looking at a 1999 Corolla tomorrow and I'd really like to know what to look for on the car and how much to offer the guy please!

It's a '99 Corolla, gold, 1st gen ZZ engine I gathered from this forum/ 5 speed stick, 120K miles, decent options like power locks/windows/etc and in decent shape from what I hear, no sunroof and I don't think it has the touring package or alloy wheels from what I heard. Supposedly, and I'm not kidding, an "old lady" supposedly drove it!

What should I look for on the car to see if everything's in good shape? Any quirks or common problems that 1999's have or Corollas in general? Things I should ask about being fixed recently, or things I'd likely have to get taken care of sooner or later?

The guy is asking $3900 or so, and around here cars usually sell for about book value. How much should I try to talk him down to, and what would you offer him?

Sorry to impose, but I'd really love some prompt answers if anyone can help. Thanks again!

- Jason

[alldz]

Well ... it's a 99 with 120k miles ... Do you really think an old lady would drive around THAT much and in a 5 speed no less?

Personally, I think you're being fed some BS. Check autotrader.com or similar to give you a better idea of the relative price. To me, that seems like high mileage for the year but that isn't necessarily a bad thing if it's all highway mileage.

We bought our 2000 Corolla VE back in February and it's been great since. Ours had
138 000km (about 86k miles) and I thought that that was a tad high.

Good luck!

[FieroGT42]

Thanks. Yeah, mileage is higher than average but book value is adjusted for this. Anyone have or know of problems that I should look for?

[Flashmn]

Well ... it's a 99 with 120k miles ... Do you really think an old lady would drive around THAT much and in a 5 speed no less?

Yes.... My mom would, shes not that young, but they just got their first automatic few years back. IF the lady was old enough, they probably didnt have automatics back in the day she was young and she learned to drive stick.