96 Corolla - value?

I'm preparing to buy a '96 Corolla with 145K. The bluebook value is $2400 for a private party, $3600 for a dealer. I'm buying from a private party and they are asking for the dealership price. There are new front tires and there was recent brake work. I'm taking it to a mechanic to get it looked over in the next few days. After checking the bbk value I'm starting to feel ripped off. I'm going to try to talk the seller down, but I'm not sure how to do that - I've never really haggled/bargained before.

Welcome to the AF!

In order to get top dollar for the car, the owner should be expected to have all the receipts for scheduled maintenance. If he/she doesn't have them, use that fact as a bargaining chip. His maintenance habits are questionable if he doesn't have them.

If the condition of the engine oil or the transmission fluid is not perfect, use it against him as a possible sign of poor maintenance habits.

Check to make sure all the body panel seams are perfectly even over their length by running your hand along them. If they are not perfect, there is a good chance the car has been in a collision. Use it to lower the price.

If there is a significant number of new front end components, or welding, walk away. The car has been badly damaged in a collision.

Check the VIN with carfax.com and make sure the history is perfectly clean. Any problems with the history, walk away. There are many nice cars for sale with clean histories.

Make sure the mechanic who looks at it puts any problems he sees in writing. Use them. Have the mechanic check the ECM for stored codes that may indicate a reoccuring problem. Use them.

Look for rust on the underbody. Rust is inevitable in Wisconsin and makes the car less valuable than top BB.

Check the condition of the upolstery carefully. Damage to the interior will bring down the value of the car. New carpet liners? If not, bring it to his attention.

Check all the electrical items for working status, including the cruise control, heating, and air conditioning. Check the engine for overheating while driving. Check the transmission for smooth shifts. Engine should idle and accelerate smoothly when at operating temperature.

Make sure you get the title with the exact same VIN as the car when you pay for the car.

Thanks for the advice. I took it in to a mechanic yesterday and there were a lot of maintenatnce issues with the car. It appears to have the original battery, plugs, and wires. Battery tested bad, needs to be replaced. Air filter is dirty, there's movement in one of the front wheel bearings, brakes are worn down, transmission fluid is burnt and dirty. The mechanic estimated that it needs up to $1500 of work.

I talked with the owner, and she won't take less than $3000 for it, and that people don't sell cars at blue book value. She says her mechanic says the car is fine (but she hasn't taken it in for a year), but she won't take it in to get inspected because she doesn't want that expense. Also, said she took the car to my mechanic a while ago and he found multiple problems that her mechanic didn't.

I did a Carfax report and the title is clean.

I'm not taking this car. It appears that regular maintenance hasn't been done on the car and the owners are trying to get more than what it's worth. A search for other Corolla sales in the area found cars going for about $1500-$2500.

Good decision

Thanks for the advice. I took it in to a mechanic yesterday and there were a lot of maintenatnce issues with the car. It appears to have the original battery, plugs, and wires. Battery tested bad, needs to be replaced. Air filter is dirty, there's movement in one of the front wheel bearings, brakes are worn down, transmission fluid is burnt and dirty. The mechanic estimated that it needs up to $1500 of work.

I talked with the owner, and she won't take less than $3000 for it, and that people don't sell cars at blue book value. She says her mechanic says the car is fine (but she hasn't taken it in for a year), but she won't take it in to get inspected because she doesn't want that expense. Also, said she took the car to my mechanic a while ago and he found multiple problems that her mechanic didn't.

I did a Carfax report and the title is clean.





I'm not taking this car. It appears that regular maintenance hasn't been done on the car and the owners are trying to get more than what it's worth. A search for other Corolla sales in the area found cars going for about $1500-$2500.


Sound like a wise choice.
Condition and mileage play a big part.
Also your banker or loan company or insurance co can tell you the value of a car right fast.
If they will not loan it on it. It is not worth it.
MT

So, the car is still for sale, now at $2995. The plugs and air filter have been changed. Guess I was smart in not paying $3600 for it!