First Post....Need Advice

[BRAND X]

OK. I plan on seeing & possible buying a 91 Celica Conv. today. the car has around 165,000 miles, the owner replaced the head gasket about a month ago, the rear side window is broken or missing the car idles a@ around 1,500. Now, the owner wants 2 stacks. I own a 87 Cressida and 69 Caprice, this will be my first Celica. I work on all of my cars. So besides looking for obvios things: make sure oil isn't that horrible burnt smell, no leaks (oil, tranny, anti-freeze), making sure tail pipe has no oily residue, ETC. My questions are: What else should I be looking for to make sure this a in't a lemon? And being that the car has a few issues what would be a good asking price for the car?

[concealer404]

$1500.

[christine_lives!]

I like pulling spark plugs and checking them along with doing a compression test. My car ran high idle when I bought it (should be around 750-800 rpm) and it took $6 in vacuum hoses along with a $7 blow-by valve to make her run better. The grommets on the spark plug tubes always go bad on celicas so it may leak oil onto the valve cover and burn some in the engine compartment. Good luck!

[BRAND X]

I truly appreciate all the advice, I went out there with $1500 on my mind. When I got there it had an exhaust leak probally from cat. conv. the back window on the convertible top was out, there was a few hose disconnected on the engine, and the brakes wee so rock hard (pads were paper thin) I had to pull the e-brake while test driving. Talked dude down to $900. Told him I'll be back Sunday to redo the brakes and drive it home. Got the car for below what I would have paid for it and then have more than enough to fix the minor repairs LOL.

[ximporttunerx]

Originally Posted by BRAND X

I truly appreciate all the advice, I went out there with $1500 on my mind. When I got there it had an exhaust leak probally from cat. conv. the back window on the convertible top was out, there was a few hose disconnected on the engine, and the brakes wee so rock hard (pads were paper thin) I had to pull the e-brake while test driving. Talked dude down to $900. Told him I'll be back Sunday to redo the brakes and drive it home. Got the car for below what I would have paid for it and then have more than enough to fix the minor repairs LOL.

and hence another new celica owner. Great buy and you should have plenty of money to fix it all and even to make some mods.

[asphalt victory]

listen when it first starts up (cold) let it get warm then take it for a test drive listen for a slight hammering/ratteling noise i only say this beacause of the high miles other than that the cars are pretty solid