Looking at a 99 near Flint, MI need advice and someone to check it out for me.

[89s rule]

I found a 99 LC, but its in MI. Still trying to convice the wife thats its ok to travel that far as long as its thoroughly checked out.
-It has 59K miles and is priced quite well considering what I have seen others priced.

Seller is a used car dealership. Who seems to only deal in nicer/high end vehicles.
Says it was Toyota checked by Grand Blac Motorcars (its a Toyota dealership close by) Everything checked out OK per him they did replace the battery. (Says he has paperwork on this, but I didnt ask for a copy of it yet.)
- I asked about main trecords and he said he would have to check and see. (According to carfax this was a lease vehicle then a fleet vehicle? for the last year. (in which approb 10-12K miles were put on.)
- Carfax also turned up 2 owners, and a very very minor accident in '03.

- Lastly guy says I can get a C.A.R.S. extended warranty. Sounds great, but I have been reading up on extended warranties and I cannot seem to find any info on it so far. He did give me a phone # that I called. And spoke with a customer service rep. Who told me the following info. And also said there is no info on the web about them b/c they deal direct with dealers only.

- $100 deductible, per claim. (Thats all you pay, they cover the rest.)
- Only deal with dealerships. 7 year old company, based in PA (I think pittsburgh)
- Located in 15 states, and work with anyone who is willing to work with them (serivce wise). You can be serviced anywhere that is listed in a phone book.

So everything looks to be really good. Warranty is an extra $550 for 3yrs/45K miles. Which would put it right up above 100K when it expires. (I also have up to 2 weeks to decide if I want the warranty or not.)

What do you guys think? Am I crazy to consider a car 800 miles away? I have looked at vehicles for myself that were a good ways away, but they were always older and for me not the wife.

I really would like someone to check it out. See if its legit, etc. I know used car dealers can be a butt when they are local much less this far away. Thats why I want to make sure I dot all i's and cross all t's.
As we had planned on waiting until the prices of 100's contiues to fall. But this just seems to be a very good deal!

 

[cruiser4life]

No worries looking at a car that far away as long as you can get a source who you believe is competent and honest to give the vehicle a thorough pre-purchase inspection for you.

I would be wary of rust in that neck of the woods - make sure the underneath is inspected closely.

I've traveled over 1200 miles (one way) to buy a cruiser.

We need more 100's in the club.

 

[uzj100]

There is a white 99 that is located in Raleigh, NC. I know the guys selling it. It has all options. The vehicle was well maintained and sitting on a dealer lot. I can get a sale price from him if you are interested.

uzj100

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...=2000&start_year=1999&isp=y&lang=en&cardist=3

 

[Tinkerer]

Man, 800 miles away, no way to check it out without travelling there..

Key things that jump out at me from your description:

1. used car dealer
2. deal seems "...priced quite well...", "...seems to be a very good deal..."

Any time a used car dealer offers a deal that seems unusually good, I clap my hand over my wallet and get the hell out of there.

3. lease, then fleet vehicle

My experience with vehicles in such service is that they tend to be abused more than a typical vehicle.

4. checked out by a Toyota dealership, supposedly

Anybody care to hear my comments on that? (that is, anybody, except that flaming lawyer...)

 

[89s rule]

Well, to answer some of the questions mentioned.

This 99 is $17,200. Which seems to be a great deal. I say seems, b/c its not too close to me and yo unever know as mentioned with a used car dealer.

UZJ you can check on a sale price, but I just dont see them droping the price of that car below $17.2K. (I say below b/c it has over a years aditional driving already on it. Compared to what we average each year.)

We don't have to have something now, but I am not sure how much more than a year I want to wait b/f our 4runner's miles start to get above acceptable for resale. (Its at about 136K now.) WE love our runner, but it is just getting filled with kids and thier stuff. So we are considering 80's or 100's. I need to get out one weekend and go test drive a few to see what we truely like. We plan on owning this for I would say at a min 10 years and it will be our main car and the wifes DD.

 

[SR.GRINGO]

Check out ebay and use carfax along with another member if possible. Try and find something out of the rust belt. If you want a Lexus LX470 you can get a history of the service records with the vin number. 2000 and above have stability control. For some reason 100's don't sell very well on ebay. Stay patient--gas prices will go up and more will be for sale..... Here are a couple examples....


2000 95k $18,200 buy it now or submit best offer

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000...4620252755QQcategoryZ6443QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

2000 75k $18,900 but it now

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000...4623979406QQcategoryZ6443QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[tabraha]

No worries looking at a car that far away as long as you can get a source who you believe is competent and honest to give the vehicle a thorough pre-purchase inspection for you.

I would be wary of rust in that neck of the woods - make sure the underneath is inspected closely.

I've traveled over 1200 miles (one way) to buy a cruiser.

We need more 100's in the club.

Quadruple ditto.

 

[Jim_Chow]

Having lived in Upstate NY for 6 winters (lots of salt), I personally would never buy a vehicle from any place where roads are salted (i.e., Midwest, North East). Salt corrosion isn't like normal surface rust that coats metal. It does nasty stuff like seizes fasteners together in such a way that PB blaster isn't going to help...brake hose joints, body mounts, exhaust, manifolds, electronics, everything is suspect (remember what rule303 went through). This is one reason why used cars from the Sunbelt states always cost more. In classified ads, you'd see phrases like "California car", implying it had no/less rust, which was more of a feature than the number of miles it had.

 

[89s rule]

Now that everyone reminds me of rust. It does make sense. I will keep an eye open elsewhere and especially locally. Not in any rush at all, so it may be a year or more. Really hope to be able to go test drive a few 80's and 100's over the next few months and see what each has to offer.

Onm the rust topic. I knwo what its all about it just left me for some reason. (My fj62 is from MN.)