Hi Scotty, Great show! I'm looking to buy one for $2800. 300K Miles, 1.6 L Engine? Do the rear seats fold flat? We may use it as a cozy weekend local camper for two. How does it compare to a Matrix? What do you think about Toyota's Gold paint jobs? Do they hold up well. I prefer White cause it repels heat
Maybe put it on your show?
Keep up the good work.
Glenn
- Durham, NC
To be perfectly honest, asking whether a nearly 28-year-old car with 300K miles on it is going to hold up well moving forward is a bit illogical. It has already held up quite well and still would have done so if it dies tomorrow.
The earliest Matrix debuted for 2002 and was based on the next-generation Corolla, so you can't really make a direct comparison with a 1997 model.
If it's running well and in good condition it could last a while longer as an occasional-use vehicle, but age and mileage related problems are to be expected regardless of how reliable the car was when it was new. Hopefully you are able to work on it yourself. That changes the economics of owning a very old vehicle versus having to go to a mechanic every time something goes wrong. In the latter case it can quickly nickel and dime you to death.
A lot can happen to a car in over 1/4 century and hundreds of thousands of miles. It would be best to have a good mechanic check it out before purchase.
