2001 Burns a Quart of Oil Every 3000 Miles

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whc03grady

New Member
#1
#1
I'm not a Toyota person, but circumstances surrounding my family's only two cars--a '74 VW Campmobile and a '71 VW Squareback--have forced me to seriously consider a newer car for a while.
We looked at a 2001 Corolla LE today with about 240,000 miles on it. It seemed and drove like a decent enough car with nothing obviously wrong or off about it. The guy selling it said it does burn "about a quart" of oil between changes though. I didn't notice any leaks. The asking price is $2700.

Thoughts? Run away?
 
Scott O'Kashan

Scott O'Kashan

Super Moderator
#2
#2
That oil consumption is normal.

However, paying $2,700 for a vehicle with 240,000 miles on it is in my opinion, nuts. With almost a quarter million miles anything on that vehicle failing/wearing out can be expected, including the engine and transmission.

Go to --
http://www.KellyBlueBook.com, for realistic values of vehicles.
 
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Poodle Head Mikey

New Member
#3
#3
The oil is OK - but the price isn't

A quart of oil used in 3000 miles isn't bad - although it's probably more than that in actual practice. <g> Probably valve seals rather than rings though - assuming that it's always had good oil and routine changes.

A "decent enough car", or any used car for that matter, is very rarely in truly excellent condition. Much more likely 'fair to 'good' condition.

To me what you describe is a $2400. car LESS the cost of installing a low mileage engine. Which makes it about a $500. car to me. <g> If I was Dying to have it - OK; maybe a grand.

But once you buy it - Do Not Forget who is taking the risks - YOU. So you will want to factor them in ahead of time.

I would be leery of even a Toyota with a quarter million miles on it. Not so leery that I definitely would not buy it - but rather leery enough to want to factor my risk into the purchase price I paid. Somebody can slam a used engine in there in two days - that part doesn't bother me. Who is paying for it does though. <g>

He is likely asking $2700. privately because the dealership offered him $900. for it as a trade-in. <g>

PHM
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whc03grady said:
I'm not a Toyota person, but circumstances surrounding my family's only two cars--a '74 VW Campmobile and a '71 VW Squareback--have forced me to seriously consider a newer car for a while.
We looked at a 2001 Corolla LE today with about 240,000 miles on it. It seemed and drove like a decent enough car with nothing obviously wrong or off about it. The guy selling it said it does burn "about a quart" of oil between changes though. I didn't notice any leaks. The asking price is $2700.

Thoughts? Run away?
Click to expand...
 
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whc03grady

New Member
#5
#5
Ha! Seems so long ago.
No, for various reasons including this thread but also that the guy was a total freak, we didn't get the Corolla. We got an '03 Subaru Baja instead.
 
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whc03grady

New Member
#7
#7
No, but when we told him the bank would like to see the title before they gave us a loan he said that was the "most ridiculous thing" he'd ever heard. He'd sold "dozens of cars" and never once had a bank asked to see a title.

Yeah, we passed.
 
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