8_ball

We should make a sticky based on 3ngin33r1's points, all excellent and on topic. There is the new car checklist that's floating around out there but many of these points are much more specific to used S's. Nice job.

killer2239

That 05 i went and looked at was crap. Underneath has scratches on exhaust and part where you put it on a lift. They were side ways scratches like someone lost control sideways and hit underneath. Passenger seat wobbled a smidge and made nasty noise. Front bumper has huge scratch marks at bottom, not like little rocks but claws scrapping at it. It drove great and tranny was great though.

Going to look at another one tomorrow. 04, asking lot better price and body and such is overall mint. 2 wheels have little curb marks on them around lip.

I will be sure to keep all that info on what to check for you all sent. It was a 1 owner leased car.

LBC S2K

DEFINITELY take a close look at the top, especially the passenger side/rear area, it is well documented that this area is subject to some excess friction that wears down and eventually creates a hole. Do a search you'll find pics and further info.

3ngin33r1

That's actually pretty normal from daily operation and you may have a tough time finding one without scratches under the front bumper. Even more if there is a front lip and more than you can count if it's lowered at all.

Parking curbs, speed bumps, ramps, potholes, etc. can all cause a little scraping under there. It'll look like a severe gouge because it's ABS plastic and not very hard, it's meant to be flexible so if you do bump something, it will spring back. If it were a harder plastic or fiberglass, it would just crack.

The scrapes on the rear are a different story though, good catch.

I wouldn't put too much concern over the lift points though, even the OEM jack placed where they say it should go in the manual will cause a little bit of that, it's a pretty thin lip with some pretty good weight to lift. If a floor jack was used, it'll look even worse but doesn't mean that anything bad happened, maybe they got an alignment, you never know.

mikey stone

Unrelated, but you can hit the CANCEL button instead of using the brake or the clutch to disengage cruise control. Hit RESUME to... resume.

When you take it for a drive take your hands off the wheel and make sure the car tracks straight. Make them pay for an alignment if it does not.

Check tire wear... they aren't cheap.

Ask for the warranty history. These cars are about as trouble-free as they come, but always nice to know the exact history.

killer2239

Well its not "normal" wear. you would have to see it. I dont have a pic. But it was on the entire bottom of the front bumper. About 1-2 inches long just marks going down at an angle, some straight up and down. Not just like little rocks or such hitting it. Like something was digging into it and scratching down. My corolla sits low since i have it slammed and it doesnt even have near that much damage, and has 30k more miles.

The part under the car, the header, cat, mid pipe, and where you put jack or lift points has scratches and gashes all going at a side angle. Someone had it sideways. May of been in snow or something, but when it bottomed out it went at a side.

Anyways, this other im looking at im told is in great condition. i told them no bull sh!t or surprises since im driving an hour away.