Used 2015 FRS - Should I take this opportunity?
 

I've been searching for a used FRS across California and found a 2015 base with 24,000 miles. Oil changes were done at 8000 mile intervals and the dealer said that the previous owner was an older gentleman who traded it in for a new, larger vehicle.

Should I jump on this opportunity or continue searching for a car with lower miles (possibly a 2013/14, no preference). I've seen ads for cars with half the mileage for about the same price, if not slightly more depending on the year; however, this is the only one that fits my criteria (< $20k, < 25k miles, MT) and is in my area.

Have you gotten the car inspected by a professional?

I haven't, I will try and set something up this weekend to have the vehicle inspected by a local professional. I live about 40 minutes away from the dealership.

On a side note, I'm also from Saratoga!

haha awesome! So your talking about one of the local dealerships? Capital, stevens creek or the one on el camino?

I'm actually living in Santa Barbara right now, but originally from Saratoga. The dealership (not Toyota/Scion) I'm looking at is in Ventura. What are your thoughts on taking the car to a nearby Toyota dealership for an inspection? It seems like all nearby shops are closed on the weekends (or close early).

As long as it is around 17-18k it sounds like a deal

Currently listed just over 18k.

I just bought this last weekend and was able to find a Series 10 with 15k miles for a little over 17k. It is 2 years older, but less miles. I echo @Summerwolf on the pricing.

p.s. Bought mine from a Toyota dealer in SoCal and it was Certified Pre-owned.

It really depends on the dealership. Some dealerships don't place priority on it's service department and sometimes the attitude of the people working there aren't as enthusiastic about performing a really really close inspection and just look at the general stuff, oil levels coolant levels tire pressure and if your lucky a compression test.

I'd say take it to someone who you trust and has access to a lift so you know what's going on under the car. You don't want to end up with one of these:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec4tI5-DRSo"]Issues with my Stanced Miata - YouTube[/ame]

That make it tempting to keep looking since I wouldn't mind an older model with less miles for the same price/cheaper.

This is absolutely 100% guaranteed a boldfaced lie. I bet none of the salespeople could pick the prior owner out of a lineup.

But if the car checks out it doesn't matter.

Haha likely your right but I work at a GMC dealer in the service department and I do see some customers trade their vehicles in and I can say who drove what some times as its a small down dealer so I get to know the clients so there could be some truth to it. (but that's like maybe 5% of the time)

If it was traded in by an older man ...... it just may be unmolested.

I'd check for evidence of past (or present) power modifications.

Are their any obvious oil leaks .. ??

Is it a color you like .. ??

Check CARFAX.

Good luck .....:)


humfrz

Well, now, strat61caster, you just don't know that for sure ........ maybe it was traded in by an old lady that just drove it on Sundays to go to church ........ :iono:


humfrz

That would still make it a lie ;)

I hold techs in a slightly higher regard than salespeople.


Edit: For the OP, it doesn't hurt to wait imo, you don't NEED a new car. It took me 4 months to get mine.

Information from carfax:

~13,000 miles driven per year
3 oil changes
A couple of dealer inspections
When the car was sold

I haven't spoken to the salesman in person yet so I can't really judge whether he was telling the truth, but I do plan on taking the car to a 3rd party for an unbiased inspection. Any suggestions on what to look for in a well maintained vehicle? (or any red flags, etc.)

Well, now, here is a few indicators that exist IF, the car was traded in by an old man.

* the turn signal bulbs are burnt out

* the right hand side wheels have curb rash

* the lower part of the front lip has several mild scratches

* the engine bay is not clean

* the hood, top and upper parts of the fenders have more wax than the lower parts of the car

* the edge of the drivers door have a few nicks

* NO stickers of any kind, anywhere

* the manual is still in the glove box

* no modifications (other than maybe an axle back muffler)

* tires (if OEM) are hardly worn

* a cushy center armrest has been installed

Just to name a few indicators ....... :D


humfrz

What if I were to increase my budget by $5,000 to $25,000? Then look for a CPO with low miles, etc. But then this would be nearing a new model's msrp...

DO NOT pay attention to people that say it is a good or bad price unless they are within about a 100 miles of YOU. The prices swing massively based upon region. Check the price against other vehicles in your area not what some dude in Asswipp Missouri tells you.


It is fun how so many tell everybody that every price is too high and then whine that the resale on these cars is so little as soon as they want to sell.

True. The pricing for the year/mileage is actually slightly below market value (from my personal observations). The main issue now is the fact that I have no experience buying used vehicles, or for that mater, vehicles at all. I'll be contacting some local garages today to see if they can do a pre-purchase inspection.

That is the best bet. If the price is good for your area and an independent garage gives it a clean bill then jump all over it.

Deal sounds good. Lucky you. The prices are clearly tanking the further we go into this generation. A 2015 model has the upgraded head unit, right? Not the crappy pioneer unit? You probably also have the better interior trim piece on the dash. Plus, based on other forum member opinion, Toyobaru worked out a lot of kinks* post-2014 MY.

Here's the thing, even if the old guy beat the shit out of the car, look at how many people on this forum have modified, tracked, and really, really beat the ever living shit out of the car on a daily basis. Aside from those people that went FI and blew and engine, we don't much hear about these cars succumbing to poor treatment. It's designed for the 20-something hooligan that wants to thrash around town.

Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!

We actually had a conversation about this before and the topic came up. It is very regional, but you can break down the US pretty easily on what they're going for and where.

Got a loan approval and set up appointments to look at the car and have it inspected by a local garage this weekend.

Thanks for all the advice, and if there's anything else should look for please let me know!

Test drove the car and there was a very distinct thump/click when at the biting point. Dealer said it was normal, but afterwards I drove my friends '13 FRS and there was no click or thump. =(

What do you mean by "thump/click"? There were some suspension changes in between the years that could indeed make it normal.

When i got my sti they told me it was a woman in her 50s who traded it in to get her daughter a Legacy. Thought they were full of it until I saw the car had a tape deck installed lol.

Got the full service history later and googled the woman. She was an attorney for the indian casinos in the area I bought the car. Granted the woman I bought the car from was in her 60s herself and very caring grandma type so the truth is likely the exception there.

In every other manual transmission car I've driven ('04 s2000, '13 FRS) from a standstill in first with no gas, the car starts to smoothly move forward when the clutch is held at the bite point. In the car I test drove today, at the bite point there was an audible click it did not smoothly engage. I don't have much experience, but there was definitely something that felt wrong about the vehicle. I may be wrong, but to my knowledge the only mechanical changes in the 2015 model was spring rates.

I was just trying to clarify what you meant. Some people are just not used to the noises these cars can make. If it makes you nervous stay away from it.

That is a red flag!

Now you need to get the transmission checked by an FRS mechanic.

Ended up going with a new '17 86. The clutch engagement sound is still there sometimes, but at maybe half the volume? but it may be because I'm releasing the clutch too fast. Has anyone experienced the same thing?

Not sure what you are hearing but you can get some flywheel rattle with these and it is perfectly normal. All in all you just hear things that all cars do easier since the tranny is right beside you and barely sound proofed. You get used to the weird noises.

CONGRATULATIONS on your new purchase .......... :thumbsup:

Yep, like @Tcoat mentioned, these cars make some "sounds", which don't always mean something is wrong.

In a new MT car, the clutch needs some breaking in ........ and more importantly, the new driver needs to take the time for getten used to the sounds ..... :)


humfrz

You're right, but at the end of the day the peace of mind was worth going new. I plan to daily drive this car for at least 5 years, if not until I need a "family" car.



Thanks! I'm enjoying it a lot.

I've heard that a lot (breaking in the clutch). Does that just mean drive normally and don't do any hard launches?

Also, I've seen that 1-1.5k rpm is where you want to be when moving from a standstill, but in those cases I feel like I'm creeping off the line. Is this just a new driver thing & I'm too used to an automatic?

I don't think so... I'm not hearing any sound really that I would attribute to clutch engagement... I also went with a new '17 86. Figure most used examples would be beat to hell and back ... older gentleman or not.

Usually I'll release the clutch quickly until the friction point because it's so high up. If I start "being smooth" right when I hit the friction zone, then I don't hear this sound. But, if I go just past that and not give it any gas, there will be a thump sound. If I go any further too fast without any gas, then the engine will start to chatter.

That is "lugging". See posts in your other thread and don't do that anymore!

Definitely not something I do on purpose, but I do agree with you that I need practice!

My main concern was whether or not the thump was normal to hear. I'll see if I can capture it on video.

The thump is probably just engaging the gears at too low a speed. Like I said before you will also hear all sorts of weird noises from these drive trains. It isn't that they make any more noise than other RWD vehicles it is just that you are closer to the system and there is very little sound proofing.

Sounds good! I don't mean to sound so paranoid. There are a lot of "firsts" for me with this car.