Need Adice Buying Used

[jlugo711]

Pass and wait for another.

[Shady195]

Beat on to me means = Drove it hard, put it away wet. Did not keep up on maintenance.

Any sports car especially should come with the expectation that it was driven hard. Revved out often and maybe even tracked regardless of what the owner has told you.

As long as the maintenance was kept up on and the car looks like it was taken care of, then the fact that it was reved out to 7500RPM regularly is irrelevant

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by BrianW

...There will be no warranty.

Just so you know, if it is a 20,000 mile car, may still have warranty left on it depending on its age. I've bought many used cars still under manufacturer's warranty and had them serviced (one I had painted under warranty).

For FR-S in US:
Basic coverage: All components other than normal wear and maintenance items are covered for 36 months/36,000 miles (whichever comes first).

Powertrain coverage: Your engine, transmission/transaxle, drive system, seatbelts and airbags are covered for 60 months/60,000 miles (whichever comes first).

Rust-Through coverage: Corrosion perforation of sheet metal is covered for 60 months/unlimited miles

Edit: Once I realized this was Canada, I checked the scion.ca site. Looks like it is still under powertrain warranty, as it would be in the US. I always find it interesting that folks consider a car "out of warranty" when the bumper-to-bumper ends. Me, I'd give that one up altogether for a 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.


As @Tcoat said, you will definitely want proof of maintenance service particularly if there is any warranty left. If they can't provide that, don't go any further. I have bought used cars without that information, but typically only after they had more than 100,000 miles on them. With those, I made sure they had a 3rd party inspection.

[BrianW]

Originally Posted by humfrz

I suggest you have an ultrasound procedure done on his wife, to see if he is telling the truth .....


humfrz

[Stevemachine17]

Originally Posted by Freetime

Buying a used, inexpensive sports car. Just get over the fact that someone beat on it. Its why most people buy the car to begin with.

I always preferred used cars , but considering the hype and excitement prior to the 86's release, my thinking was that the early adopters are going to be the enthusiasts who buy the car for the fun and driftability. I opted to spend a few thousand extra to get a brand new one. My previous Civic Si was used, and very very modified (which I later found out, as I was starting to mod it), but at the same time, it drove just fine for 5 years and didn't have any major issues throughout that time.

If it was an Accord, or a Lexus, or a non-sporty car, I would always get used. For a sports car, I would strongly consider going new. It wouldn't hurt to just save a little more money over 6 months to have more down as well.

If your credit is good, who cares about putting down 30% or whatever, if you have a low interest rate, it's really not much more you pay over the life of the car, that extra cash is more useful in a higher interest loan (ie student loan or credit card).

Also, second that on a mechanic inspecting it, it might cost you $100 now, but that could save you a lot of wasted time/money later on. I wouldn't believe the stuff he says because it seems kind of fishy, see what a mechanic says. How can the seller expect you to spend so much money on a car and not be able to closely examine it or drive it?

[BrianW]

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

There's no doubt I'll get a Carproof (Carfax) report and get a mechanic to look at it... It's comforting that he has no problem with this.

But, Would it be wise to take it to the Scion dealer where HE took his car for maintenance or the dealer near me? (or even stay away from a Scion dealer inspection altogether and use a Japanese Specialty mechanic who works on all types of Japanese cars and offer something Scion can't ? (a pressure test for the engine.)
He's oddly pushing for the Scion dealer he didn't use and is further from his location. (I think I just answered my question)

Anyways, before I invest any further time into this car it I want to see and drive it in the sunshine.
This car is black and I noticed a few scuff marks or scratches even in the dim light already.
(I'm hoping there's a polish made especially for black cars that will buff it out.)

[Braces]

My only concern with buying a used 86 is how these cars are designed to be driven. The motor needs to be kept in the higher RPMs for any real spirited driving. The car just begs to be slid around. I've put 30,000 miles on mine and it has been flawless ... but would I think that I was going to keep the car forever. I don't think so. I admit it. I've driven my 86 hard, but that is what the car was designed to do. That is why I bought it. I drove it hard because I never intended to keep it a long time. Also ... I'm not some "young buck" as the OP originally was concerned with.

[BrianW]

Originally Posted by Braces

My only concern with buying a used 86 is how these cars are designed to be driven. The motor needs to be kept in the higher RPMs for any real spirited driving. The car just begs to be slid around. I've put 30,000 miles on mine and it has been flawless ... but would I think that I was going to keep the car forever. I don't think so. I admit it. I've driven my 86 hard, but that is what the car was designed to do. That is why I bought it. I drove it hard because I never intended to keep it a long time. Also ... I'm not some "young buck" as the OP originally was concerned with.

That "young buck" came from a WRX STi forum where they said stay away from a used one because the kids definitely modify them...race the crap out of them to the point of ruin...them put back to stock to resell.
Perhaps that has got me a little too paranoid.

This car needs to be an investment for me as I'm handicapped with Rheumatoid Arthritis so I'm unable to work and I'm spending half my inheritance to which one day I may need back by reselling.

There's GOT to be FRS owners like me with my Miata who never once took their car to the track to do drifting or whatever you kids are up to!

[Braces]

Originally Posted by BrianW

I'm handicapped with Rheumatoid Arthritis so I'm unable to work and I'm spending half my inheritance to which one day I may need back by reselling.

Are you sure this is the right car for you? The car sits really low and the ingress/egress is not the easiest on joints. The ride is also somewhat firm. Not trying to talk you out of it ... just throwing out some thoughts.

Good luck with your search.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by BrianW

What I'm mostly concerned about is some young buck modifying one... tracking the crap out of it... then putting it back to stock and selling it.

Can someone tell me the tell-tale signs of this?

Tell-tale signs:
- track pads
- heavily worn rotors
- tires with heavy outer shoulder wear, chunking, or blueing (especially EP tires)
- signs that the spare/tools have been removed frequently

Other possible indicators:
- oil cooler
- camber bolts/top hats
- aftermarket bushings/inserts
- aftermarket (non-torsen) LSD
- track suspension
- BBK

[thill]

Originally Posted by BrianW

That "young buck" came from a WRX STi forum where they said stay away from a used one because the kids definitely modify them...race the crap out of them to the point of ruin...them put back to stock to resell.
Perhaps that has got me a little too paranoid.

This car needs to be an investment for me as I'm handicapped with Rheumatoid Arthritis so I'm unable to work and I'm spending half my inheritance to which one day I may need back by reselling.

There's GOT to be FRS owners like me with my Miata who never once took their car to the track to do drifting or whatever you kids are up to!

Not trying to be a debbie downer here, but these cars are not really an "investment" unless you get a crazy good deal. In other words prepare to continue to experience depreciation. I mean, most newer cars are not good investments at all because they depreciate.

You may want to consider a Honda S2K as those cars seemed to have bottomed out and are starting to increase in value.

[BrianW]

Originally Posted by Braces

Are you sure this is the right car for you? The car sits really low and the ingress/egress is not the easiest on joints. The ride is also somewhat firm. Not trying to talk you out of it ... just throwing out some thoughts.

Good luck with your search.

I've been driving my Miata since the Fall of 89 so I'm use to getting in and out of a low car.
Thanks for the concern!

[SUB-FT86]

Bought mines with 10k miles on it and everything looks flawless like the last owner wasn't into modding and such.

[BrianW]

Originally Posted by thill

Not trying to be a debbie downer here, but these cars are not really an "investment" unless you get a crazy good deal. In other words prepare to continue to experience depreciation. I mean, most newer cars are not good investments at all because they depreciate.

You may want to consider a Honda S2K as those cars seemed to have bottomed out and are starting to increase in value.

Damn!
You had to bring up the S2 as an investment as I think you're right

That's the car I've been looking for the past two years.
Unfortunately most sellers think they're collectables already and are asking way beyond their worth.

But now you've put a serious seed in my mind to pass on this FRS and keep waiting for a S2

And yes I know that it's almost certain that an S2 has been tracked.