What to look out for when buying a 6 gen Celica? Options

[Quixfire]

Hello Guys,
I am looking to buy a 1998 Celica GT Convertible that a local private seller has listed. I was wondering if you could give me a few pointers on what to look out for when I go review the car.

I am a mechanic so I have the basics covered in that area.

TIA

[XSTeknique]

Mechanically, they should be fine. I don't think there's a trend of problems with pre-owned Celicas. The main problem I see is all cosmetic. Most people don't appreciate them and the paint is the first to go.

[Coomer]

Check the shifter and tranny and see if you have any problems if the car is a manual. Toyota's tranny's for this car didn't have the greatest synchros on them, and they tend to wear out.

[saleeka]

check the rear sway bar bushings, they wear out on our cars fairly easily and cause a lot of noise when they do go out...

[Jeremy1210]

Look for smoke outta the tailpipe. Lots seem to burn oil as they get over 100K..and water leaking in the trunk. You can tell by looking at the spare tire cover

[Tweek]

Dead hookers in the trunk. Sure they're fun at first, but it can lead to problems down the road.

[macavely]

if it was drving in the snow check the wheel bearings.. also the brake calipers.. the rear suspension has a problem of rusting and bolts and nuts getting stripped .. rust is the car wasn't well taken care of is a big problem.. engine should be fine.. those egnies can take a good amount of abuse.. other then that normal ware and tare.. but your a mechanic so you should be able to find all the trouble signs easy..

[Quixfire]

Thanks for all the tips guys. The car looks very clean, but I haven't driven it yet. I'm still trying to decide if I want to fix the rust on my old Escort GT or get the Celica.

Quixfire

[obi1kinob]

The problems I had with the car are pretty easy to spot. I just got a white 96 convert with black leather interior. The sewing in the interior is undone in a few spots. The rear view mirrow is 'loose'. The antenna is broken (I've heard a lot of people get these with broken antennas). I had a cracked headlight but thats not common. Also, my top is not in the greatest condition. It has holes that were poorly patched up with some sort of glue.

I highly doubt this is common but when I tap the brakes I hear a loud clapping noise? I don't even have to push hard on the brakes. Anyone hear or know what this is?

[creis]

my body has been worked. just keep a good eye on that, the prev owner of mine, used a few gallons of tuch up paint that is now all pealing off.

check the radiator fluid too, that is a good way to see if they have been doing regular marntanence, mine was basicly mud.

my mechanic says a good way to check the cluch is to try and go from a stop in 4th gear (if manual) if the motor dies or just cant do it, its good.

side note: Its not the dead hookers that are a problem, you can usualy get rid of the body, its the passed our ones in the back seat, when they wake up they want ansers, and you better have darn good ones too.

[Tweek]

answers, or just money. LOL