I'm currently looking at a '92 Celica with ~70,000 miles on the Odometer, it appears to be in immaculate condition (see photos) and the seller says he's kept up to date on maintenance and repairs including Suspension Bushings, Struts, Breaks, Rims, Tires, with consistent Fluid and Filter replacement.
If I bought the car, what kind of preventative maintenance should I perform immediately to insure the maximum lifespan of the car? What things should I immediately be watching out for as a potential point of failure? The seller has said he doesn't know whether the automatic trans fluid has been changed in the cars life, and the Catalytic Converter could potentially be almost 30 years old.
Thanks Scotty!
Clarification: Is this going to be a daily driver or a weekend toy?
First and foremost, have it inspected by a mechanic. And, take a it for a solid test drive. Push the engine hard, and do some tight cornering.
- Catalytic converters aren't really affected by age, so I'm sure they're fine.
- If the coolant hasn't been changed I would do that.
- I would inspect the condition of the ATF.
- Otherwise, standard regular maintenance is all it should need.
I plan to make it a daily driver, as that's what it was used for prior, I also plan on inspecting it as thoroughly as possible. I don't have an OBD scanner in my possession, let alone an OBD1 '92 Celica compatible one. But I plan on contacting nearby mechanics to have the vehicle looked over and checked for trouble codes. I want to make absolutely sure that the vehicle is in proper condition to be used as a daily driver before I buy it especially because the price tag is actually very rich for my blood. ($5,500)
After purchasing the vehicle I have another three people back in my hometown who have already said they'd be willing to look over it. The previous owner was an older woman who's son was a mechanic and is selling the car on her behalf, He's done all the maintenance on it for the last 3 or so years. Timing belt has been replaced in the last 2 years. And I'll ask if the Coolant has ever been changed.
Oh I love it when they pull out the stories. I've heard them all before. "Yeah, I'm an A1 mechanic" .
$5,500 is way too much for that old thing. You can get a much better car for that kind of money.
As a daily driver being almost 30 years old and at $5,500, I would re-consider getting it. Plastic, rubber, etc. will need replacing most likely. There are newer and better cars you can get, depends what you are looking for.
What would be the headache/repair costs to expect with those problems? I currently drive a 2002 Toyota Corolla with over 160,000 miles on it, never garaged (In one of the furthest North US states). And I've never had rubber or plastic issues. Granted that car is 10 years younger than this Celica.
A big reason is also the personal attachment to the car itself. I wouldn't really hesitate to say it's one of my favorite cars of all time, the Gen 5's specifically. So if it was ready to be daily driven It'd kind of be a dream come true to drive off with it.
the list of things wearing out will be never ending. And not just plastic/rubber. Metal too.