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FY6190
climber
West Roxbury
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 8, 2018 - 07:18am PT
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I'm staying at camp 4 and hope to buy a cheap car in the next days. Something like a Honda Odyssey would be perfect. Happy to travel a bit for the right car. My budget is at most $2k.
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anita514
Gym climber
Great White North
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There were at least a couple people selling cars/vans at Camp 4 when I was there a few weeks ago.
Good luck!
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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That Honda Odyssey deal is pretty funny - and totally sketch-ball. He's so worried about low ballers, joy riders and getting taken - yet he knows that thing is a junked out POS he overpaid for, repaired too many times and now he wants all his lost money back from some chump. I wouldn't pay $1.20 for that thing, $1200 is a joke.
Some of those Toyota deals look a little better.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Yeah, the "no joy riders" bit is funny, like there are hordes of people looking to joy ride old mini vans.
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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^ at least the Odyssey has had the transmission flushed ;-)
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Lorenzo
Trad climber
Portland Oregon
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$1200 is a joke. Yeah, like there are really cherry Odesseys available for $1200. ( eyeroll )
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Throw in a multimeter and I'm in for a grand.
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jbaker
Trad climber
Redwood City, CA
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Wasn't the car in Ferris Bueller a Honda Odyssey?
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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So what’s going when, two months ago, the guy brings the thing to a local community college for a compression test? Too many parts replaced to list? I’m thinking every engine sensor replaced at random, each with a totally f’d explanation for why, for considerable cost, raining dirt into the bowels of the motor in the process - turns out to be the gas cap - now he wants all his money back before the tranny drops out. So many levels of wrong in that ad.
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FY6190
climber
West Roxbury
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 8, 2018 - 07:00pm PT
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Thanks for looking out. It's my first time to the valley and a car seems very helpful. Any other leads would be really appreciated!!
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Jim Clipper
climber
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Speaking of legends, fy6190, Todd Gordon may drive a minivan. Does Todd post anymore?
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Nov 10, 2018 - 07:54am PT
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Not enough information to know.
When you call ask if you can get it inspected. Test drive, make an offer, then get it inspected ($100-$200). There’s almost always things that need to be fixed and you have a written dollar amount of what it will cost. Negotiate to take some or all of that off the sales price. Things like needing a new battery should come off, things like bald tires are probably already factored in. Or if it turns up something big like a tranny, walk.
Most people don’t do this. But it will almost always pay for itself or save you from a big mistake.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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Nov 10, 2018 - 07:58am PT
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Looks interesting. He doesn't list miles, I assume they're high, but you don't care. If it's solid, and it does appear priced lower than others like it - it won't last long. That's part of the fun of buying used, is to know very quickly what you're looking at, because the best deals often only last hours. You don't want to buy a POS that's going to cost more to repair than what you bought it for either.
What I would do here is go look at it, give the guy half down to hold it if no red flags and say you want a mechanic to look at it. Find one locally, look for online reviews or somesuch. Maybe it costs you another $100, best money you've ever spent, you close the deal if nothing major found.
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John M
climber
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Nov 10, 2018 - 08:00am PT
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I know nothing about toyota Siennas except that I have heard that they have a good reputation. I do not know your level of car knowledge, so this may sound like very beginner advice.
That said...
I looked up that year on Kelly blue book. without knowing mileage or condition, or equipment, it shows the value at between $1100 and $2700 based on a good condition level vehicle. So this could be reasonable, but it also could be off it there is anything wrong with it such as super high mileage. I did choose good condition on this vehicle because you really don't want to buy anything less, but that is a judgment call as to what good condition is.
https://www.kbb.com/toyota/sienna/2001/ce-minivan/?vehicleid=5178&intent=buy-used&category=van%2fminivan&mileage=165430&pricetype=private-party&condition=good
The things that you need to know.
Mileage. Super high miles lowers the value which may be why this has a lower end price.
Condition.. has it been wrecked? Is it a flood repair vehicle. Does it have a clean title?
Does everything work?
How many owners?
Why selling..
You can get a carfax to give you the known history of it. Meaning some of its repair history based on shops its been to that are part of the system. A car fax does not show home repairs, but should tell you have it was in an accident or if it was in a flood. Many autos from states like florida get flood damage and then are repaired and sold in other states. So you want to know the history of the vehicle. Where it was bought and sold.
https://www.carfax.com
I haven't done a car fax recently, but it used to be you could get one free car fax, but then had to pay for future ones. Now I believe you have to buy a subscription. There were different levels. One level gave you 3 car faxes for x number of dollars. Another was unlimited car faxes for a higher amount. You do need some basic information such as the license plate number. It also helps to have the VIN number.
Of you can just call and ask for details. But then you have to trust the people and this is not always a good idea. Having the car fax can help you verify whether who you are talking to is somewhat honest.
As said above.. if you decide it might be worth buying after doing your research, get it inspected by a mechanic.
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WBraun
climber
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Nov 10, 2018 - 08:03am PT
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Looks good.
Buy it.
Then look for the Snap-On truck and buy 100K worth of tools and yer good to go ... :-)
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