Celica: recap of acquisition

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/20/2016 at 21:41 • Filed to: Celica

Okay now I can actually talk about the car and what went down.

I’m browsing CL for billionth time and come across an ad for said car. Celica. Liftback. GT. Manual. Stock. And the seller wasn’t asking for an absurd amount. I actually thought the price was too good to be true.

So I text back and forth with the seller who seems a bit unmotivated. After a few hours I’m just like, I got cash in hand right now. Riiiiight now. That seemed to get the wheels turning.

We met at a neutral site, and the car was exactly as advertised. I mean EXACTLY. Two blemishes on the hatch as all of these cars have, but zero rust underneath, in the doors, on the hood, or in the spare tire area. The interior was amazing, save for a tear in the driver’s seat side (as shown) and apparently a dirty passenger seat butt.

On the test drive, it pulled. It pulled real nice. The shifts were smooth, the throttle was good, and the clutch was forgiving. I drove it pretty hard but it did not asplode.

We return to our meeting spot and I know I want it. I didn’t kick the tires, but I also didn’t fellate the tailpipe. As far as I’m concerned, the seller is still on his toes at this point. He seemed down to earth and we both knew the car wasn’t perfect, so there should be room to negotiate.

I walked in with a different mindset. Instead of falling in love with a car and wanting it at any cost, this time I set a number for myself before leaving the house. If he wouldn’t come down to it, I would walk away. There are other fish in the sea, and I didn’t want to overpay for a 31 year old coupe.

“Alright. How much do you want to let this go for?”

“What do you want to offer.”

[brief pause] “I’m thinking X.”

“Well I was hoping to get at least X+200.”

I look down, put my hands in my pockets, and slowly walk around the car.

He breaks the silence.

“Okay, X, and you’ll buy me a beer?”

“Deal!”

We have a beer and make wonderful forced small talk. I was pretty sure this guy that I was weird as fuck, going on about my Toyotas, and fawning over what was nothing more to him than a commuter car.

Considering X was about two-thirds of his asking price, I was ecstatic. But my paranoia sets in. How could he let this go for so cheap? Am I getting screwed? Gahhhhhh! Well I drove it for two more hours last night and it again did not grenade.

As I said the car is not perfect. The power steering isn’t too quiet but it’ll last for a while, the drive belt squeals on warm starts briefly, the rear hatch leaks somewhere, the speedometer isn’t accurate, stereo and speaker are junk, noise comes from driver’s front wheel when cranked the way left, stuff like that... So it’s a wonderful, drivable vehicle that I can improve if I feel compelled to.

But positive things: it has power mirrors, they work! It has a rear wiper blade awwww yes. Every switch works. Everything! It has a sunroof that works and really make headroom a joke but hey! Everything feels firm and in place. It’s unbelievable.

Anyway, I’m really happy that I finally have a toy. And it’s better than I had hoped.

DISCUSSION (34)

DrJohannVegas > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 21:43

That’s not a Wartburg.

JK. Great buy, Doc. Looks like it’ll be a riot.

Bytemite > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 21:48

Can you say how much you got it for?

slipperysallylikespenguins > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 21:51

Congrats, that looks just right in white

MM54 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 21:51

This is very cool! Keep us up to date with things has you fix/improve!

PS9 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 21:51

Kinja'd!!!

Rule of Acquisition #329; Nothing is ever worth full price. Never pay more than 2/3rds of what they want.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 21:53

Is this one RWD? Either way, It looks fantastic.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
03/20/2016 at 21:58

Yep! Last year

Spaceball-Two > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 21:59

Is it easy to wrench on?

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 22:01

Awesome! I wanted one of these for my first car but bought a 280ZX instead.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 22:15

Also, those lights

smobgirl > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 22:29

Oh god the stripes...STRIPES EVERYWHERE!!

I would want one of these too if I didn’t already have something small and impractical.

gmctavish needs more space > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 22:36

It’s so lovely and stock and not trashed....looking forward to seeing more of it!

PorkchoPlissken > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 22:58

I always get so excited when someone finds an old Celica in good shape, and it sounds like the transaction went as well as you could have hoped! Looking forward to updates and stories, congratulations. Also that old logo is so freakin cool.

facw > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 23:00

It may not be The Most Toyota Celica , but it’s definitely pretty Toyota Celica.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > smobgirl
03/20/2016 at 23:12

Not gonna lie — not practical at all

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Bytemite
03/20/2016 at 23:13

1800

shop-teacher > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/20/2016 at 23:33

Nice buy! Congrats on the purchase.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Spaceball-Two
03/21/2016 at 00:23

22RE, hoping it never needs to see more than a Philips ( or is that two Ls...)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > facw
03/21/2016 at 00:24

RWD or bust!

Bytemite > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/21/2016 at 01:19

Jewish Stig > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/21/2016 at 03:28

Congrats!

What does your puppy think of this purchase?

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/21/2016 at 07:15

I already wrote that I’m jealous.

Like every other Jalop I’m browsing the web a few times a week to fuel my daydreams. A few weeks ago I came across these two:

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/deta…

I’ve never been into Celicas before, but seeing them for a kind of reasonable price made me think about owning a car like this. And you know, I can actually see myself enjoying the experience a lot. I like the design and the period this car represents. So suddenly I felt a feeling which is known among Opponauts as “want”! Lots of want in fact.

Well done! Enjoy it!

That's gonna leave a mark! > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/21/2016 at 07:46

I was ecstatic. But my paranoia sets in. How could he let this go for so cheap? Am I getting screwed?

Did you ever think the seller is thinking “ Its a 31 years old car. How many people would be interested in it? Its clean but not showroom and there are issues I don’t want to pay to fix. How many more idiots / scammers / tire kickers do I have to deal with before I sell this? Whats’ up with this guy, when is he going to pull out the crazy?”

Teitsmania > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/21/2016 at 08:28

Congrats, my first car was a 1982 white liftback. I miss that car and find myself looking for one on craigslist more often than I should...

blacktruck18 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/21/2016 at 09:04

Nice, glad you finally found one.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
03/21/2016 at 09:11

Damn, that gold one is dope!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jewish Stig
03/21/2016 at 09:12

Puppy approved!

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/21/2016 at 17:34

The gold one sadly only has the tiny 1,6l engine, but damn I want to cruise around in it badly! And it works stationary as well I’d imagine.

Everytime I walk down the street towards my house I enjoy looking at my black wreck. Even after over a year of owning it I still think: “I’ve chosen wisely!” 15,000 cars use the street every day, and I’m fairly sure that I’m the only one noticing my Boot.

But gold. GOLD!! I think this car would make the day of almost any person passing by!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/21/2016 at 19:22

Very nice! I wish I had a job and disposable income for a toy like this....and a garage...and tools...haha! :)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/21/2016 at 19:26

I’ve only had those things for 11 months, mind you. Movin’ on up!

Rico > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/21/2016 at 19:46

Kinja'd!!!

Congrats That’s a nice pick up and you weren’t lying that thing looks like it’s in great condition for its age.

Rico > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/21/2016 at 19:54

GT85

GT 1985

1985 GT

Jewish Stig > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/23/2016 at 03:22

We require a visual confirmation...

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jewish Stig
03/23/2016 at 20:24

Soon!