New user buying 99 SLE

[my94redcelica]

Hey how's it goin? New to this forum and wanted to ask a few questions. I'm very soon going to be purchasing a 1999 Solara SLE w/ 96,661 miles for, well cheap, 5,000. Is there anything specific that you'd suggest I should really look for (other than the obvious) before making my purchase?

[Jaimster]

First test drive it!
The car is really high in miles so i would check the tranny oil, gaskets, and the usual stuff like the exhaust color...blue smoke is bad. Good luck if you decide to purchase it! BTW is a 4 or 6 cyl?

[my94redcelica]

It's a V6. edit: 91,000 miles

[Turbosolara]

it is too cheap that i believe it is salvage title, or some place might call it "rebuild title". which means that car was hited so hard that it become a piece of junk, but someone fixed it and sell it.

[2000silverstreak]

Hopefully they have already done the timing belt and water pump - since it is due for change around 90K miles - ask to see if they have receipts if it was done. IF not I'd recommend you do it once you buy it.

[SleeperSolara]

DAMMNNN!!! Good price man.
I got mine wit about 60,000 miles for about 8,000.
I was hit in the front driver side, wit no airbag deployment.

[Mole]

do you know someone that is a mechanic?

just take him or her along since you seem to be kind of a greenthumb in buying a used car.

receipts are good to show records the car has been maintaned.
any scratches under the car?
leaking fluids?
interior smell ok?
anything out of alignment? (hood to panels, etc)
is the car the same color from factory?
any incident reports?
rust? (under spare tire) (inside the fenders)
I can just go on and on about what things to look for.

GL in buying the car!

[my94redcelica]

From what the dealer says, everything is clean and clear on the car and title. Then again, that's what they say. The car is 5 1/2 hours drive for me, so I won't be able to get up there until saturday morning. My friend is a mechanic, so I'm definately bringing him up with me. I'll keep you posted on what I find out.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

Good luck, i've been seeing cheap solara in houston pre-owned lots as well. I saw a nice SLE v6 with 161K miles for 3500 (advertized at 3500) hence i'm guessing driveoff would be half that! not bad for someone just outta school or something.

[xsolara33x]

if you're worried of car being salvaged just get the vin number and run a report...
i did dat on mine and im the second owner, nothing wrong with my car, hehe... felt relieved.

Raphael

[SunnySolara]

Remove the oil filler cap and check for white sludge on the cap or in the lip. This indicates the presence of water in the oil or a damaged head gasket.

[Mandarinsolara]

all sle's are V6's cmon
and while you're at it , take the heads off and check the piston surfaces, lol...
the only thing i dont like about my sle is that is auto,.. gotta have that 5 speed, but for that money go for it

[my94redcelica]

I'm heading up tonight to go check this thing out. Hopefully it's as good as it's put out to be. I'll let you know how it turns out!