Camry 2001 with 102K miles - your opinion please?

Question

Hello guys,

I am currently considering buying Toyota Camry 2001 with 102K miles. It is black and look very nice from outside, very clean from inside also. The car had one owner only and sold on Auction for the dealer who owned it for last month.

The dealer located in Northern Los Angeles. He wants to sell it for 7k wit tax and registration. CarFax indicated that the car never ever been in accident, and was serviced when it had 55K miles.

How do you feel of mileage ? Does such mileage mean that I need to do a lot of mechanic.

Answer 1

I would take a pass on this one.
Aside from the popular myth about Toyotas being miraculous, here is a little reality check:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-office of defects investigation list of formal complaints for 2001 Camry:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/complaintresults.cfm?start=1&SearchType=DrillDown&type=1&year=2001&make=TOYOTA&model=CAMRY&component_id=0&PrintVersion=YES

NHTSA-odi investigations
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/defectresults.cfm?start=1&SearchType=DrillDown&type=1&year=2001&make=TOYOTA&model=CAMRY&component_id=0&PrintVersion=YES
(there's also numerous TSBs (technical Service Bulletins)for this vehicle,( too many to list individually)


2001 Camry 4 & 6 cylinder engine sludge problems:
http://yotarepair.com/Sludge_Zone.html
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/toyota_engine.html
http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?did=566&scid=
There are more articles that research this subject but I think you get the idea.
A vehicle service record @ 55k miles would not satisfy me.


If you do decide to buy it:
make sure that it has had these Safety Recalls addressed:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallresults.cfm?start=1&SearchType=DrillDown&type=VEHICLE&year=2001&make=TOYOTA&model=CAMRY&component_id=0&TYPENUM=1&SUBMIT=Retrieve Recalls&prod_id=92512&PrintVersion=YES

A CarFax report, although useful in determining 'reported' documents, does not reflect service visits, warranty or non-warranty repairs, or maintenance. So make sure you have it thoroughly examined.

It is unlikely that you will be able to purchase a worthwhile warranty for a vehicle with over 100k miles

Answer 2

No especially with a toyota camary. They've been proven to go over 200,000. not saying that yours will, but theyre a very reliable car. I have a Nissan with 145,000 on it and i bought it with 123,000 and it runs great. no probs what so ever. And i run the **** out of it! lol i'd try and talk him down to 6k but not a bad price. id say its pretty fair

Answer 3

all top chum you asked I answer. I owned a 1994 Camry for 13 years and had it for 208K miles, and maintained it, for the main section, via myself. changing the oil is one in all of the variety one in many situations scheduled maintenance you may carry out, yet i'd hesitate to have couple of minutes Lube do it for you. you may seek for out an self sufficient mechanic with a astounding popularity, or, failing that, seek for out a astounding broker (sure, they're available!). The timing belt could get replaced each 75-90k miles or quicker in case you have a "lead foot". the computerized tranny fluid could get replaced no longer flushed... flushing will dislodge debris which could incredibly injury the tranny. the comparable is actual for the engine, particularly with over 100K miles on it. Ditto is going for the radiator fluid. you do no longer could "sparkling" the gas equipment in the experience that your motor vehicle is working easily, yet changing the clear out is a competent concept (I had my unique gas clear out even after 208K miles LOL). One considered necessary maintenance merchandise at one hundred+ok miles is your spark plugs. Camrys those days come geared up with platinum tipped spark plugs which could get replaced at @100K miles. you will see a distinction interior the working of the engine besides as you will get greater effective gas financial equipment. yet for Gawd's sake, have not got couple of minutes Lube do it. I even have heard relatively some horror thoughts the place oil drain plugs have fallen out on the line maximum appropriate to catastrophical engine injury, or over-tightened drain plugs that strip your drain pan threads - much greater severe while over tightened spark plugs strip the threads on the engine block....!!! Getting those issues accomplished could run you approximately $3 hundred - $500 - not greater. One final ingredient - you probably did no longer say in case you acquire your motor vehicle new or no longer, yet once you ever purchase a sparkling motor vehicle, swap to guy made oil after "working in" the engine (around 5-6k miles or so!). that's what I did, and that i did no longer could function a even a single drop of oil between oil adjustments (each 5k miles) even at 208K miles. I in basic terms traded the motor vehicle in because of the fact i became into bored with it LOL damn ingredient in basic terms saved going and going and going like the Energizer Bunny LMAO!!!

Answer 4

if you are a gambler, go for it. any used. car is a crap shoot. 16,500 miles per year is a lot of hard fast driving. hard on brakes, ttransmission ,suspension shocks,wheel bearings,differentional etc.. almost 300 miles per day. WOW!