How much does mileage matter?
 

This 1983 300D-T I saw this morning has to be one of the best-maintained twenty-three-year-old cars in existence. It is a one-owner car that's always been in the south, and has throughout its life been cared for by one mechanic. All records are available. Everything works, including the A/C, cruise, sunroof, and antenna. The interior is in excellent shape, albeit blue and including a dash cap that looks quite nice. The driver's seat is in great condition, enough so that I asked whether it had been restuffed or rebuilt. The owner, who weighs probably 130 lbs soaking wet, said no. The exterior, excellent shape, no rust around the jackpoints, although there is one quarter-sized spot of bubbling paint behind a rear wheel well where there is a blocked body drain plug. It is a repaint; owner says it was 'taken down to metal' and repainted. I could find no other rust in the car, including the floor of the cabin and trunk. It drives like it's on rails; no squeaks, clunks, groans or rattles. It has decent power (for a 300D, anyway) on a virgin ALDA. Started up cold on one glowplug cycle with a minimal puff of exhaust, and idled smooth right away. I ran it up some hills and couldn't get it to smoke. The engine is clean top and bottom, and sports dashes of new bits here and there -- things being replaced before they are on the verge of failure. It is, with few exceptions (nickel-sized hole in the armrest), minty fresh.

However, there is a snag (if there wasn't, I'd shut up and post pictures of it sitting in my driveway): it has over 340,000 miles.

So, my question is, how much does mileage matter? What would you give for a car in this shape with this mileage?

VVV... hee hee hee. ONE MILLION MILES! ...VVV

I'd say anything from $2K to $3,500. Mileage isn't really a big factor. According to ebay, you have another 700,000 miles before you need a rebuild. :P :P :D
-Joe

The word "Maintenance" means everything! If maintained, many many parts have been replaced. If the oil was done on time properly, transmission too, it'll be around for a while yet to come!

$1800 to $2400 I say.... :rolleyes: BB

Should have mentioned, it had a transmission rebuild about 120,000 miles ago. Has had its oil changed every 3500 miles, and valve adjustments done on schedule throughout. Engine has not been rebuilt.

He is asking $3500, which I think is high given the mileage. I was waffling between offering $2000 (he may see this as offensively low), or $2500 (which is about as high as I'd like to go on something with these miles, and I think he'd take that offer), or offering nothing and continuing to look, although it's hard to imagine finding something that looks this good at half the miles.

How about finding what KBB says it is worth and go from there? Usually I go somewheres between trade in and retail as a guide.

I'd say his price is a bit offensive! Offer him the low ball, but it does sound like he might be waiting for the money, and the car's good look's are the bait!

Kelley Blue Book for a 1985 (the earliest year selectable on the site) in excellent condition with 340,000 miles is $1250 for a private-party sale :rolleyes:, and $2050 for retail. I don't think KBB reflects market price on our cars anymore :) It's a good negotiating-point start, though.

The car is mine :)

Thanks for the good advice/reinforcement :)

Way to go:).

How bout some pics?

I will pick it up tomorrow after work, and so I will post pics probably Tuesday night :)

He wanted to maker sure it would be garaged, and wanted to know where and how often I would be driving it, before he would agree to sell :o

How much did you have to pay?? Do tell :D

Diesel Giant, you have a PM :)

And here are my pics!

Mileage doesn't seem to mean much of anything anymore for a lot of vehicles :rolleyes:. I've been looking for a Toyota Land Cruiser for the past few weeks, and one with 170,000 miles are going for the same price as the ones with 250,000, which typically is over $5,000 :eek:. Mid-1980s Land Cruisers with less than 100,000 miles can go for as much as $40,000. For a while I thought the MB W123 prices were high for pristine cars, but I guess Land Cruisers can demand even more :eek:

Impressive dash cap
 

That's the first dash cap I've ever seen. Wow. That's impressive. No sarcasm at all. Luckily, I don't need one. But if I ever do, I'll have no hesitation.
Congratulations!

The dash cap really does beat the heck out of a cracked dash, and the blue ones seem to crack so badly. The dash cover is actually more obvious in photos than it is in real life, in my opinion.

Thank you :)

123c, I can't imagine paying $40,000 for a twenty-year-old Toyota :eek: