Another Car - advice please on Toyota Celica 1993

Hello,

Me again, I have been browsing through Gumtree, and found a Toyota Celica 1993 GT-R model for R18000. It has 186 000 kms on the clock, and looks pretty decent.
I tried looking for insurance, but doesnt seem to find one that insures this car. ALso, I think this might be an import, as that is what the seller told me. Parts shouldnt be to difficult to find, as it uses normal Toyota parts, just the interior / body would need the parts imported.

Thing is, I have R20k to spend on a car, and want something decent and reliable, not a rust bucket.

Your advice would be valued.

Thanks!

I have a 1996 Celica Import, very good car, smooth ride and stylish as well, I'm on 140 000ks and haven't had any major problems. Oh yeah parts aren't that hard to find as they use similar parts to other toyota's but most mechanics will need to get a sample first.

If its an import I dont think you can change it to your name within SA. I insured mine with Outsurance.

Just make sure it isn't grey.

Why mustn't it be grey?

scrypt said:

Why mustn't it be grey?

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perhaps he's talking about a grey import?

Why waste your money on a 1993 car when you can buy someting much better on auction. You are buying yourself into trouble if you ask me. Sure a Celica sounds nice but it's still from '93 and a more modern car would outperform it.

LOL, that 20 k appears to be trying to burn a very expensive hole in your pocket!!

Please take some advice and get a smaller locally built car that isn't going to cost an arm and a leg to either get on the road or maintain....you are looking in the wrong places!!

I sold Toyotas, and whatever the mileage may appear to be, that sort of price for a car that was expensive and imported at the time, is begging for problems....sure some of the parts are similar to a Cressida, but you can lay money on it that those aren't the parts that will give you problems! A Celica should also been maintained at an agent, and that is not going to be cheap.

Your biggest problem is that 20k is a nasty price bracket to be looking in....just try and avoid older cars that used to be "hot" when they were new...you will regret it!

Fazda said:

LOL, that 20 k appears to be trying to burn a very expensive hole in your pocket!!

Please take some advice and get a smaller locally built car that isn't going to cost an arm and a leg to either get on the road or maintain....you are looking in the wrong places!!

I sold Toyotas, and whatever the mileage may appear to be, that sort of price for a car that was expensive and imported at the time, is begging for problems....sure some of the parts are similar to a Cressida, but you can lay money on it that those aren't the parts that will give you problems! A Celica should also been maintained at an agent, and that is not going to be cheap.

Your biggest problem is that 20k is a nasty price bracket to be looking in....just try and avoid older cars that used to be "hot" when they were new...you will regret it!

Click to expand...

+1

Still, all things considered, probably a better option than a 300,000+km BMW 316i

Fazda said:

LOL, that 20 k appears to be trying to burn a very expensive hole in your pocket!!

Please take some advice and get a smaller locally built car that isn't going to cost an arm and a leg to either get on the road or maintain....you are looking in the wrong places!!

I sold Toyotas, and whatever the mileage may appear to be, that sort of price for a car that was expensive and imported at the time, is begging for problems....sure some of the parts are similar to a Cressida, but you can lay money on it that those aren't the parts that will give you problems! A Celica should also been maintained at an agent, and that is not going to be cheap.

Your biggest problem is that 20k is a nasty price bracket to be looking in....just try and avoid older cars that used to be "hot" when they were new...you will regret it!

Click to expand...

+1
You have to know that when the 1993 celica came out it was know as a tunner car, and chances are it was drivin hard. It seems nice and all but i would not go for one! It also has quite alot of kms on.. you are looking for trouble.

TBO I wouldn't touch it with a barge poll.
Looks decent means it's been at the bodyshop, been plastered full with bodyfiller and resprayed to look ok. Look down the sides for straightness in the panels etc.
I would suspect that mileage, it looks low for its age so check with the owner ( do they seem trustworthy?). Ask what they used it for. Town driving = bad for cars.

At that price range go less on the looks of the car, pay more attention to any signs of oil leaks, check the exhaust for fumes when it's running especially at startup. If there's any problems then don't touch it.

Further, insist on a test drive, and seeing the source take someone with you. Ask to see the log book and check the numberplate to licence disk and the engine numbers / chassis numbers are correct and they are the owner on the log book check their I.D. book. Look for other telltale signs, passenger door lock is gone, steering lock broken, ignition all in bits. If there's any stories as to why they can't provide the info walk away ( infact run).

More positive signs are there's security is on the car, alarm/imobiliser - gearlock all in working order. Steering locks don't count.

And if you do decide to take it after all of that put in a much lower offer as it is imported and the seller is getting rid of it for a reason. i.e. making their problem yours.

Those kind of cars you buy as a hobby car to work on at the weekend not your everyday ride.