I'm buying a '93 Corolla Wagon from a coworker for only $200. It's got 167,000 miles on it, all maintenance records. New brakes, oil looks clean, no smoke at start up, engine runs good. Anything else I should look for on this car, or would I be stupid to pass up this deal?
Which motor? If its the 4afe, check the crank pulley - its 3 pieces - the hub, a rubber damper, and the outer ring with the belt grooves. The rubber shrinks over time and allows the outer ring to slide off laterally - along the crank rotation axis. If this happens when the engine is running, it will eat belts...fast. As in, 200 yards from home, the new belt is shredded. A very loose pulley can move with a good tug - theres a pass thru in the passenger fender liner - crank the wheel all the way full lock to the driver side to access the pulley. If its loose, plan on spending another $200 for a new pulley - they are made from moon-mined unobtanium.
Also, check the fuel system hard parts - fuel tanks are 2 halves welded together. The tanks are pressurized when the car is running. The pressure can cause the tanks to separate over time causing a leak. Keeping the fuel cap only half tight will alleviate this to some degree. Also, the hard fuel lines will corrode over time. Not hard to come by, but re-plumbing a fuel system is not high on my list of fun things to do.
Those were the only 2 real big issues mine ever faced. aside from those, she was as reliable as gravity. Great mileage, and never once left me stranded. They are good cars and actually respond well to minor mods for a lil fun (short ram intake, header, catback, timing advance, good Hi-po street brake pads, light wheels, decent rubber...the usual).
He shoved the keys at me and made me take it for a test drive. I'm buying it.
I can sell my Mustang's winter wheels and tires for 4 or 5 times what I'm paying for this thing!
Sky_Render wrote: would I be stupid to pass up this deal?
Yes. If it's a slushbox, it'll never be fun, and the aftermarket is lackluster, but the reliability factor is high.
My last boss bought a much abused '94 DX auto sedan with 300k from his physical therapist for $150. Dents were pounded out, tires were changed, oil was only swapped once a year... It ran perfectly for the next four years until a drunk doing ~40 t boned it while parked, pushing it into a power pole.
It still drove itself up the street to the scrapper.
Yes, it's a slushbox station wagon, but I don't care. It's purpose is to be driven in ugly weather, to the airport, on local business trips and to haul parts in its copious hatchback. It will basically keep miles off my Mustang and prevent it from being driven on wet, salty roads.
After my test drive, I determined it needs rear shocks and perhaps a wheel bearing. I'm sure the Maryland inspection station will find one or two things, also.
How hard is it to remove the tape deck? I want to put a CD player in here.
More then likely stupid easy. I have a CD player you can have if you are willing to pay shipping.
Oh, thanks for the offer. I've already got a CD player from another car, though!
If it is anything like my 92 Corolla you have to remove most of the driver side of the dash to get the radio out. Not hard, just a little more time consuming than other cars.
SUPER easy. I've done stereos in those multiple times. No dash removal required.
enjoy it.... and welcome to the world of eco-power 4AFE fun.
Actually, it's a wagon, so its engine is the 1.8L 7A-FE.
I pick it up on Monday. Shall I post pics?
Why yes, yes you should. And then post pics when you swap a 4ag blacktop with ITB's into it. You know you want to.
Anybody know a good forum for these cars? One that has a lot of knowledgeable people and not so many "ricers"?
mndsm wrote: Why yes, yes you should. And then post pics when you swap a 4ag blacktop with ITB's into it. You know you want to.
Bwah ha ha! I was more thinking along the lines of "tube frame the chassis and drop a Roadrunner BOSS 302 motor in."
Club4ag is probably the best spot I know of. I don't know a ton of places that cater to the ae101 chassis 'rollas. Bonus points, it was the last of the A-series chassises..... chassisii? chasses? Whatever.
I picked up a repair manual for this thing on my lunch break today. Holy crap, these things are easy to work on.
Sky_Render wrote: I picked up a repair manual for this thing on my lunch break today. Holy crap, these things are easy to work on.
An understatement - these things are easier to fix than ice water.
Peeling clearcoat! Manual windows, locks, and mirrors! Cassette player! 95 horses of fury!
I christen thee "The Green Terror"!
That looks.... WAY clean for $200.
I'm jealous.
I'd have no qualms about rocking that till the wheels fell off. (Seriously. I have an unhealthy desire for a 101 based wagon)
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: That looks.... WAY clean for $200. I'm jealous.
Yeah, I can't believe the guy was just going to crush it. Poor little car.
It's going to cost me more to get this thing titled and inspected than I paid for the car!
How hard is it to R&R the driver's seat belt? Anyone?
That might be the best $200 car ever sold.
Simple. IIRC it's like two bolts and the whole assembly is out.
Twin_Cam wrote: That might be the best $200 car ever sold.
QFT
How hard is it to R&R the driver's seat belt? Anyone?
is it still the belt that is built into the door for the top belt?...
funny how we got rid of my wifes car 10 years ago and the paint job was well on its way to where yours is (same color) and the seat belt bottom was freying... the seat belt clipped to the door does make for a great door handle though... yank the belt and comes right to ya lol
awesome buy for $200
Dr. Hess wrote:Twin_Cam wrote: That might be the best $200 car ever sold.QFT
Most definitely. This thing is sweeeet! It needs a new driver's seat belt, and the bezel around the driver's inside door handle broke, making it difficult to open from the inside, but other than that, it's good to go.
Here's hoping the Maryland inspection station doesn't invent something wrong with the car.
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