Considering a Used Camry

If you keep maintaining it, another 100K? I have 258K on one and 254K on
another.

--
Hachi
<higgilty@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1109192449.690666.192150@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> My sister-in-law is giving me her 1994 Camry with 170k miles on it. She
> bought it new and is very good at maintaining her cars. I know that she
> had the full maintenance done by the Toyota book, not just an oil
> change every 3k miles like I do.
>
> Anyway, given the fact that this car was well maintained, everything
> works, no accidents. Any guesses at how long it might go without any
> major repairs like auto transmission, etc...?
>
> Thanks. Phil
>[/color]

The problem is finding one that the owner can back up maintance with dealer
or a reputable tech's repair receipts.Especially when it comes to timing
belts.

Tom

"jor" <jor@jor.com> wrote in message
news:ecCdnfOxjfZJvIDfRVn-sg@giganews.com...[color=blue]
> My son had 266K on his when he traded it in. As far as maintenance went,
> he changed the oil very infrequently and as I recall, we did two brake
> jobs, replaced the rear struts and one fuel pump. It looked pretty bad at
> the end but I have to say it ran as well as ever. It still didn't use any
> oil to speak of and believe it or not, the clutch seemed just fine (5
> speed). I'd say, with that price and the car's history, you are looking
> good. Congrats.
> jor
> <higgilty@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1109192449.690666.192150@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>> My sister-in-law is giving me her 1994 Camry with 170k miles on it. She
>> bought it new and is very good at maintaining her cars. I know that she
>> had the full maintenance done by the Toyota book, not just an oil
>> change every 3k miles like I do.
>>
>> Anyway, given the fact that this car was well maintained, everything
>> works, no accidents. Any guesses at how long it might go without any
>> major repairs like auto transmission, etc...?
>>
>> Thanks. Phil
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

[email]higgilty@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
> My sister-in-law is giving me her 1994 Camry with 170k miles on it.
> She bought it new and is very good at maintaining her cars. I know
> that she had the full maintenance done by the Toyota book, not just
> an oil change every 3k miles like I do.
>
> Anyway, given the fact that this car was well maintained, everything
> works, no accidents. Any guesses at how long it might go without any
> major repairs like auto transmission, etc...?
>
> Thanks. Phil[/color]

I sold my 1994 Camry with 162K miles on it recently. It had developed
a valve cover gasket oil leak and a distributor o-ring leak. It is
possible the rear main seal was leaking too, but it was hard to tell
until the o-ring was replaced. There was a vibration between 30-50 MPH
that no one was ever able to completely pinpoint. Still, it was the
best car I ever owned, including the 1997 I have now.

If she had all the scheduled maintenance done chances are good the
major systems will last several more years. However expect CV axles or
boots, automatic antenna, dashboard lights, possibly radiator, motor
mounts, and a few other minor systems to go bad.

--
No matter what happens, someone will find a way to take it too
seriously.

I kust had it Maryland inspected, they found a couple things just like
badgolferman pronosticated.

Rear tie rod
CV Boot
Front motor mount
front brake hoses (both)
windshield
Total $935

I have a question about how it handles. The steering is sensitive. It
is almost difficult to keep in the lane. The tires are cheap model of
BR Goodrich, could this be the tires? Or something else? It rides well
and does not shake even when braking.

I know she replaced the timing belt twice, but the second receipt is
missing the date and mileage. She also has had a tune-up, left axle
replaced, radiator flush, and brakes done in Oct '04. From the notes on
the tune-up receipt it looks like the timing belt was done since Oct
'04 along with the water pump, and two other belts.

On Tue, 01 Mar 2005 18:35:24 -0800, Higglity wrote:
[color=blue]
> I kust had it Maryland inspected, they found a couple things just like
> badgolferman pronosticated.
>
> Rear tie rod
> CV Boot
> Front motor mount
> front brake hoses (both)
> windshield
> Total $935
>
> I have a question about how it handles. The steering is sensitive. It
> is almost difficult to keep in the lane. The tires are cheap model of
> BR Goodrich, could this be the tires? Or something else? It rides well
> and does not shake even when braking.
>
> I know she replaced the timing belt twice, but the second receipt is
> missing the date and mileage. She also has had a tune-up, left axle
> replaced, radiator flush, and brakes done in Oct '04. From the notes on
> the tune-up receipt it looks like the timing belt was done since Oct
> '04 along with the water pump, and two other belts.[/color]

Timing belts are good for 60-90K. If she went by the book, then she did
them around 60K. I think the '94 is an interference engine, so it is
cheap insurance to do it again.

(I just saaw the Oct '04. Doubt she could drive 60K since Oct.)
She only drove <17,000 miles per year (um, she the Orig. Owner?)
Belt should be good for 50,000, I'd guess.

What have you been driving beofre? Another 'Yota? First thing anyone says
(or used to until the other MFG's caught up) was how sensitive a Toyota's
steering is. Even my '74 and '78 Corolla 1200's had light, sensitive
steering.

Oh, don't ask what I have been driving, a '99 Pontiac Bonneville. It
is have and handles like the QE2 so you see why I question the light
steering. It has 120k miles on it so I am not sure which car will last
me the longest. I think I can easily get 50k from either just not sure
which will be least problematic cars with 170k miles can be just as
troublesome as a newer GM car.

I know she changed the belt at 90k, but I have two different receipts
from two different shops.

On Tue, 01 Mar 2005 19:02:57 -0800, Higglity wrote:
[color=blue]
> Oh, don't ask what I have been driving, a '99 Pontiac Bonneville. It
> is have and handles like the QE2 so you see why I question the light
> steering. It has 120k miles on it so I am not sure which car will last
> me the longest. I think I can easily get 50k from either just not sure
> which will be least problematic cars with 170k miles can be just as
> troublesome as a newer GM car.
>
> I know she changed the belt at 90k, but I have two different receipts
> from two different shops.[/color]

Gee, I wouldn't think a Bonnie with 120K would be that bad!
If she changed the belt at 90, then that was probably the first one.
If she went another 60K, that would be 150, so at 170 it would have 20k on
it, good for another 40-50. I'm betting she actually went more than 150;
she doesn't remember?

Higglity wrote:
[color=blue]
> I kust had it Maryland inspected, they found a couple things just like
> badgolferman pronosticated.
>
> Rear tie rod
> CV Boot
> Front motor mount
> front brake hoses (both)
> windshield
> Total $935
>
> I have a question about how it handles. The steering is sensitive. It
> is almost difficult to keep in the lane. The tires are cheap model of
> BR Goodrich, could this be the tires? Or something else? It rides well
> and does not shake even when braking.
>
> I know she replaced the timing belt twice, but the second receipt is
> missing the date and mileage. She also has had a tune-up, left axle
> replaced, radiator flush, and brakes done in Oct '04. From the notes
> on the tune-up receipt it looks like the timing belt was done since
> Oct '04 along with the water pump, and two other belts.[/color]

$935 sounds high. Steering is not sensitive, it is responsive. If you
buy aftermarket front motor mount is less than $100 and you can do it
yourself with a hydraulic jack and a breaker bar. A windshield is
probably $150-200. An entire CV axle replaced can be done for less
than $200 at muffler shops. The left one is not so hard, the right one
is too much for me. Rear tie rod end I don't know about, but I had a
very squeaky bushing on the rear stabilizer bar that got replaced for
free buy the selling dealer. The 94 4 cyl is non-interference engine.
Timing belt is supposed to be changed every 60K, but there are plenty
of people who push that mark. My 94 was the best car I ever had. I
sold it because I didn't want to pay for several oil leaks that had
developed around 160K and with a growing family I needed a minivan.
Expect leaks too; mine had valve cover gasket, distributor o-ring, and
possibly rear main seal. Still, the car will be worth it if you decide
to buy it.

--
No matter what happens someone will find a way to take it too seriously.

[color=blue][color=green]
>>I have a question about how it handles. The steering is sensitive. It
>>is almost difficult to keep in the lane. The tires are cheap model of
>>BR Goodrich, could this be the tires? Or something else? It rides well
>>and does not shake even when braking.[/color][/color]

My guess is that the front suspension needs attention - the
rubber bushings on the control arms are probably loose or
clumbling. Pretty easy fix, though. It shouldn't be very
loose. Cheap nearly bald tires will make it skitter
around a bit as well - I went to America's Tire and got
the cheap store brand - but 2-3 models up(about $10 more
a tire, IIRC) - It had a tred pattern like a normal
Michellin or Goodyear - with lits of little sipes and
an all-season tread.

$250 installed, out the door.

hachiroku wrote:
[color=blue]
> Gee, I wouldn't think a Bonnie with 120K would be that bad![/color]

A friend of mine recently paid a huge sum of $ for repairs to his '95
Bonneville, which has only 90,000 miles. Engine and tranny are good, but
the rest of the car is junk.

The Bonnie runs well except for the fact that GM used a plastic intake
manifold that warps every 40k miles. I had to replace it twice so far
at $500, but the first was a warranty work. I am about due for another
intake manifold job.

$935 is a lot but the best I can find at a non-dealer mechanic is only
$835. For $100 bucks I'd rather have Toyota people do the work, this
dealer's service is pretty good.

Plus Maryland is an expensive state!

My sister-in-law is giving me her 1994 Camry with 170k miles on it. She
bought it new and is very good at maintaining her cars. I know that she
had the full maintenance done by the Toyota book, not just an oil
change every 3k miles like I do.

Anyway, given the fact that this car was well maintained, everything
works, no accidents. Any guesses at how long it might go without any
major repairs like auto transmission, etc...?

Thanks. Phil

If you keep maintaining it, another 100K? I have 258K on one and 254K on
another.

--
Hachi
<higgilty@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1109192449.690666.192150@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> My sister-in-law is giving me her 1994 Camry with 170k miles on it. She
> bought it new and is very good at maintaining her cars. I know that she
> had the full maintenance done by the Toyota book, not just an oil
> change every 3k miles like I do.
>
> Anyway, given the fact that this car was well maintained, everything
> works, no accidents. Any guesses at how long it might go without any
> major repairs like auto transmission, etc...?
>
> Thanks. Phil
>[/color]

My son had 266K on his when he traded it in. As far as maintenance went, he
changed the oil very infrequently and as I recall, we did two brake jobs,
replaced the rear struts and one fuel pump. It looked pretty bad at the end
but I have to say it ran as well as ever. It still didn't use any oil to
speak of and believe it or not, the clutch seemed just fine (5 speed). I'd
say, with that price and the car's history, you are looking good. Congrats.
jor
<higgilty@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1109192449.690666.192150@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> My sister-in-law is giving me her 1994 Camry with 170k miles on it. She
> bought it new and is very good at maintaining her cars. I know that she
> had the full maintenance done by the Toyota book, not just an oil
> change every 3k miles like I do.
>
> Anyway, given the fact that this car was well maintained, everything
> works, no accidents. Any guesses at how long it might go without any
> major repairs like auto transmission, etc...?
>
> Thanks. Phil
>[/color]

The problem is finding one that the owner can back up maintance with dealer
or a reputable tech's repair receipts.Especially when it comes to timing
belts.

Tom

"jor" <jor@jor.com> wrote in message
news:ecCdnfOxjfZJvIDfRVn-sg@giganews.com...[color=blue]
> My son had 266K on his when he traded it in. As far as maintenance went,
> he changed the oil very infrequently and as I recall, we did two brake
> jobs, replaced the rear struts and one fuel pump. It looked pretty bad at
> the end but I have to say it ran as well as ever. It still didn't use any
> oil to speak of and believe it or not, the clutch seemed just fine (5
> speed). I'd say, with that price and the car's history, you are looking
> good. Congrats.
> jor
> <higgilty@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1109192449.690666.192150@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>> My sister-in-law is giving me her 1994 Camry with 170k miles on it. She
>> bought it new and is very good at maintaining her cars. I know that she
>> had the full maintenance done by the Toyota book, not just an oil
>> change every 3k miles like I do.
>>
>> Anyway, given the fact that this car was well maintained, everything
>> works, no accidents. Any guesses at how long it might go without any
>> major repairs like auto transmission, etc...?
>>
>> Thanks. Phil
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]