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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
May 2002
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Advice on buying Corolla
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Tue, 23 November 2004 03:30
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Hi everyone,
I found an ad the other day from a Private seller wanting to sell a Corolla SX for $6000. The ad said that it comes with RW Certificate, and 12 months rego, however when I spoke to the guy he said that the car has been unregistered for 8 months, but when he gets the road worthy, he will also register it. The reason he gave was that he went overseas and cancelled the registration as the car would just be sitting there.
I thought I'd ask some advice about this, since I have been looking for a clean, white Corolla SX for ages!
My concern is that he may have stolen the car. I know that I can check the Vehicle Security Register, but I thought that this only checked if the car had money owing on it? Since there is no registration, can the car be checked with just a VIN and engine number to tell me if it was stolen?
My other concern is that the car may have been in an accident. I noticed that the front bumper was very clean and I had a look in the little grooves, and I could see where it had been masked off. Also in the engine bay was a small amount of overspray.
He said that the front had a lot of rock chips, but the rear bumper and roof also looks like it has been coated, but I'm not sure. The car drives in perfect condition, wheels are aligned and doors shut properly, so I don't think it would have been a major accident, but I am concerned of the chassis being cracked....is there anyway I can tell? I can't see any unusual welds anywhere.
Also the left-hand side plastic cover around the wheel arch at the front is cracked. How does someone crack this without being in an accident? Also he told me that the sway bar was replaced...so all these signs tell me it could have been in a front on.
How can I tell if it has a genuine 100kw 4AGE motor under the hood? They look exactly like all the other model Corollas.
Sorry to sound very picky, but I have been looking for this car for ages and I want to make sure it's perfectly safe and stock when I purchase it, so I don't have to spend extra fixing it up....although I will be spending much extra on modding it up 
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
February 2004
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Re: Advice on buying Corolla
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Tue, 23 November 2004 06:55
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spend around $150 and get RACV to check over it and ge tthe chassis and engine number from the guy and ring police or transport department to check if its stolen.
cheers
Dust
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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Advice on buying Corolla
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Tue, 23 November 2004 09:51
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I got the VIN number and engine number, so I'm ringing the Vehicle securities register tomorrow. Is it possible that they can't trace if the vehicle was stolen or not?
The full racv inspection is $170, so I think it is a bit steep for a car worth $6000. If the seller gets a RW, then won't things like cracked chassis, etc., have to be checked anyway since a RW is for safety?
I just found it a bit suss that the vehicle was unregisterd for 8months....surely it would cost more to let the vehicle be unregistered and then have to register it again with a RW certificate?
What do people think? Does it sound dodgy?
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
August 2003
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Re: Advice on buying Corolla
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Wed, 24 November 2004 01:37
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Doesn't sound dodgy at all. 8 months is a long time and I'd rather have a refund of my remaining rego than let it set there and go to waste.
I don't know how hard it is to re register a car in melbourne, but I don't see how it could be more expensive than 8 months worth of rego. (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong)
I'd still get it checked out to see if was stolen though, I'm just saying what he's done doesn't sound dodgy.
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Location:
macca fields
Registered:
October 2004
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Re: Advice on buying Corolla
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Thu, 25 November 2004 07:52
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nah doenst sound dodgy to me either, but you can buy my rolla if you want, its not perfect but i love it, mines got a 20v and haltech in it but, you want a stock one hey
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
November 2004
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Re: Advice on buying Corolla
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Fri, 26 November 2004 00:09
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The best thing you can do is get RACV to check over it. It will cost $170 but it will tell you everything that wrong with the car.
It might be the best $170 you ever spent.
Its better to spend that than to find out the car has over $1000 to spend to get it working properly
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