Found a 2000 Celica GT with 50,800km - NEED ADVICE!

[celicagal56]

So I found a 2000 GT, Silver, Auto (sorry guys), with 50,800 on it. Asking price is 8995 but I've gotten it down to 8300 (best they can do) plus taxes. The car has no sunroof or cruise, has keyless entry, dual and side impact airbags, custom dark windows, ABS brakes, CD/tape player. Have priced a custom style sunroof install (a must option for me) for $900 cash (Toronto), and I would put in cruise control also (about $300?) I'm told this car was never in accident or winter driven (gonna check this with a carproof, also want to know how to get official records in Quebec to confirm odo wasn't rolled back etc?)

The car comes with a set of brand new snows, the car was brought in by an older woman who never put the snows on it or drove it in the winter, instead she had another winter car. The dealer is giving a 30-day warranty but seem okay with my having any required work done by my local dealer, since I'm in Toronto and the dealer's in Quebec.

The car is in pristine/showroom condition. Apart from a few recalls, "CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE RECESS RETAINS A RUBBER SEAL RING, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE END OF THE CYLINDER BODY, AND MAY BE CORRODED DUE TO AN IMPROPER WASHING PROCESS"..."DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER". which I have to make sure the dealer has addressed, here is my problem, I've read about the oil consumption and engine ticking of the 1zz engines in the 2000-2002 Celicas, and being the original owner of a '91 GTS, I want another 20-yr car. The oil problem, due to oversized piston rings, wasn't corrected until the 2003 engines.

Is it worth it to buy this car, for about 8700, taxes incl, and have the pain and expense ot having to swap in an 03 engine? The pistons apparently also have not enough breathing holes, causing inefficient cooling, engine oil sludge problems in 2000-2002's, and engine ticking noise while driving that gets louder.

It's a seductive situation, $8700 for an almost new Celica, never winter driven, pristine, no accidents (to be verified by me still), and I've seen 2000s with 110-150,000 on them for more money (maybe with sunroof and cruise, but a lot more mileage). The mgr at this dealership is very nice and said he priced it to sell fast (year end/commissions etc), and if it were spring I'm sure it would be at least $10,000.

Here's a link to the car, the option list isn't entirely accurate:

http://www.auto123.com/en/used-cars/...7ddb900b&idx=0

SHOULD I BUY IT?, despite the known 1zz engine problems and probable short life?

Any opinions or advice would be really appreciated. This is a rare car to find, probably only one like it in Canada, but I know there was no recall on the engine and oil consumption issue by Toyota, even though lots of people have complained, and it appears to be a common problem that I will most certainly encounter, and I would have to fight pretty hard and long to get Toyota to cover a replacement engine and not a 2003 one.