Risky? $2500 for '95 Toyota Avalon w/ 170k miles
02-06-2008, 11:13 AM
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My 22 year old daughter is thinking about buying a used 1995 Toyota Avalon XLS with 170,000 miles. It's a 2-owner car, and tires are new, but the owner has few receipts. My biggest worry: no evidence/receipt of timing belt replacement, and if that fails my daughter won't be able to pay the repair bill. KBB shows $3700 PP valuation for the Avalon. Seems like a good deal, but...whadaya think?
02-06-2008, 02:10 PM
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Originally Posted by GoRovers' post='528050' date='Feb 6 2008, 03:13 PM
My 22 year old daughter is thinking about buying a used 1995 Toyota Avalon XLS with 170,000 miles. It's a 2-owner car, and tires are new, but the owner has few receipts. My biggest worry: no evidence/receipt of timing belt replacement, and if that fails my daughter won't be able to pay the repair bill. KBB shows $3700 PP valuation for the Avalon. Seems like a good deal, but...whadaya think?
02-06-2008, 02:47 PM
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i agree.
if it was a one owner car with reciepts of all major repairs like timing belts i would consider it because toyatas are built to last and can be fixed relatively inexpensively.
if it was a one owner car with reciepts of all major repairs like timing belts i would consider it because toyatas are built to last and can be fixed relatively inexpensively.
02-06-2008, 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by ImSort0fABigDeal' post='528167' date='Feb 6 2008, 03:46 PM
Are you crazy! you made a big mistake by mentioning you have a 22 year old daughter...
02-06-2008, 04:28 PM
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I dont mean to be rude or anything but based on your signature Then: Lexus GS & RX, BMW 3 & 7, Yamaha FJR1300, Honda ST1100 + 20 other cars/bikes.
Wouldnt you be able to fork an additional couple grand for your daughter to drive a car with less miles on it? I wouldnt trust a car with 170,000 miles on it..
Wouldnt you be able to fork an additional couple grand for your daughter to drive a car with less miles on it? I wouldnt trust a car with 170,000 miles on it..
02-06-2008, 04:45 PM
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I dont mean to be rude or anything but based on your signature Then: Lexus GS & RX, BMW 3 & 7, Yamaha FJR1300, Honda ST1100 + 20 other cars/bikes. Wouldnt you be able to fork an additional couple grand for your daughter to drive a car with less miles on it? I wouldnt trust a car with 170,000 miles on it..
02-06-2008, 10:18 PM
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I would not do it.
Shop around and don't rush. There is a news paper called car buyers market , here in NY. Maybe they have something like that in cali. Try cars.com I bought my sons car that way when I relocated him to florida. I purchased a month of carfax and shopped on cars.com. Every-time I found something within our budget I checked it on carfax and sent my son to see the car. He was already living in miami and I'm here in NY. Eventually we bought a mitsu eclipse and he loves it.
Shop around and don't rush. There is a news paper called car buyers market , here in NY. Maybe they have something like that in cali. Try cars.com I bought my sons car that way when I relocated him to florida. I purchased a month of carfax and shopped on cars.com. Every-time I found something within our budget I checked it on carfax and sent my son to see the car. He was already living in miami and I'm here in NY. Eventually we bought a mitsu eclipse and he loves it.
02-06-2008, 10:39 PM
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Generally if she is on a budget to the extent that a significant car repair bill would present a problem, I would advise getting something with low mileage even if it means getting a Corolla insted of an Avalon. That said, you aren't going to get a lot for $2,500 so if the car passes mechanical inspection and drives well then what the heck.
Ask her how long she needs to keep the car for and how many miles she expects to get out of it before her $2,500 expires. That may help her decide.
Ask her how long she needs to keep the car for and how many miles she expects to get out of it before her $2,500 expires. That may help her decide.
02-06-2008, 10:39 PM
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Generally if she is on a budget to the extent that a significant car repair bill would present a problem, I would advise getting something with low mileage even if it means getting a Corolla insted of an Avalon. That said, you aren't going to get a lot for $2,500 so if the car passes mechanical inspection and drives well then what the heck.
Ask her how long she needs to keep the car for and how many miles she expects to get out of it before her $2,500 expires. That may help her decide.
Ask her how long she needs to keep the car for and how many miles she expects to get out of it before her $2,500 expires. That may help her decide.