u/hailey132132

This is the L version, so it has a regular 4-speed automatic rather than the CVT. Looks like the car has been well-maintained, 3 owners and 1 minor damage on the carfax report (parking damage that tore the front bumper and had some damage to the fender and headlight but was fixed according to a service receipt provided by the owner). The owner has kept all service receipts, and will share them with me when I purchase the car. She is willing to replace the battery and perform any recommended maintenance that she passed getting earlier this year (engine oil flush, fuel system cleaning). I will ask her to get a PPI done as well.

All 4 tires were last replaced end of 2017 (odometer was around 43k), but I’d probably have to replace them again sooner rather than later since it’s been so long. The windows have been busted a few times (full window once, quarter window a few times), but the owner repaired them every time (and has receipts). Because she lives in the city, there’s quite a few small scratches in the back from parallel parking. There’s also stains on one of the seats. Spare tire still there, only 1 key. I live in a nearby state, so I’d have to pay for state/emissions testing as well.

I’m not sure if I should hold out for something newer (I recently passed on a 2016 Corolla LE from a Toyota dealership for $14k out the door because there were a few dents/scuffs unmentioned and the salesman was quite pushy/shady). I’m starting to feel some regret for passing on it, I just think I’d prefer a push-to-start rather than a key ignition, a tap to lock/unlock rather than a key lock, and a rear view parking camera (I can install an aftermarket one, but it won’t look as nice).

2014 would be the first year in this generation, and I’ve read it’s come with some issues like oil consumption that later years fixed. If this is a good deal though for a car that is reliable and will last a long time, then I don’t mind those inconveniences. I especially like how thorough and forthcoming the seller is, I definitely don’t come across that often in used car searches. Would you buy this car? Any help is much appreciated!

I just keep thinking it might be better to buy a brand new Corolla for around $23k instead, at least I’d have a lower interest rate and probably lower car insurance, and I’d be covered under warranty for a few years. And the car won’t be 12 years old. The idea of being $10.5k in debt though versus $23k is a lot easier to swallow.

<<TLDR:>> Car is well-maintained but has been driven/parked mostly in the city, and comes with small damages you’d expect from that (scratches, window repairs, I can’t imagine the suspension is all that great…) Seller has agreed to pay for any recommended maintenance like battery replacement and engine flush, and a PPI. I will have to pay for 4 tires replacement in the near future. For 70k miles and a 2014 Corolla, is this worth $10.5k (would be $11k with sales tax, registration, etc…)

Here are pictures of the carfax report, the service report for the minor parking damage, and some damages pictured by the owner, if you’d like to see them:

https://imgur.com/a/OtIcWgI

Was debating on getting a 2011 Honda Accord 150K miles for $7k from a used dealership, but a lot of people on here told me it’s too expensive. Found this 2011 Toyota Camry 165K miles for $5.5k through a private seller.

It’s only one owner, clean title, only thing is the CARFAX showed a rear collision in 2012 (airbags did not deploy) and minor damage reported in 2020. There’s also significant sun fading on the hood and roof of the car.

The CARFAX shows very few servicing records, but according to the owner: tires are 15 months old, transmission service and coolant flush completed at 80,000 miles, new battery 2 months ago, and front brakes replaced 9 months ago.

He’s willing for a pre-purchase inspection to be done after the test drive. I can try to ask if he’s open to negotiation, but is this a good place to start? The sun damage is pretty unappealing, but if this is a good deal with a car that will last a long time (and might not need expensive servicing soon), I don’t mind it. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

Through a used car dealership, 2011 Honda Accord SE 4-cyl VTEC 2.4L for $7000 out the door. 150,000 miles on it. Clean CARFAX, 1 owner, no accidents. Will get a pre-purchase inspection done at a local mechanic. Would you buy it for this price? Any help is appreciated, thank you!

Through a used car dealership, 2011 Honda Accord SE 4-cyl VTEC 2.4L for $7000 out the door. 150,000 miles on it. Clean CARFAX, 1 owner, no accidents. Will get a pre-purchase inspection done at a local mechanic. Would you buy it for this price? Any help is appreciated, thank you!

EDIT: I FIXED IT!! Thanks so much to those that helped. In case this happens to you, I literally just needed to raise the height of the entire tonearm itself. There’s a small screw in the back that loosens and you can lift the entire tonearm up. This is different than the fine adjustment screw above the arm lift, that raises the tonearm height by increasing the tonearm pivot angle, but you need to raise the entire tonearm height itself. I have no idea why everything worked before I opened up the turntable, then randomly this issue happens, and then why raising the tonearm height fixes the issue now, but I’m just glad it’s fixed.

Original post:
Everything was working perfectly fine, but I thought for my first step into being hands-on, I’d try to fix the hinges for the dustcover. The hinges were unscrewed by the seller when the turntable was shipped to me, so the metal hinge attachment bars that were inside of the turntable on the other side, fell down inside. You can’t screw the hinges back on without retrieving the attachment bars to hold the screws. Well, I decided to open the turntable up to get the attachment bars and hinges screwed back on again.

I was very careful when flipping the turntable upside down (I used a cardboard box to lift the edges of the turntable while it was upside down so no pressure was on the tonearm). I only removed the bottom of the turntable, screwed the dustcover hinges back on, and put everything back together. It looks like I might’ve damaged something though, because when I go to play it now, it plays for a few seconds, then randomly starts looping like this. This happens at any point in the record.

I balanced and rebalanced my tonearm to make sure I did it right. I checked and rechecked the anti skate dial. I adjusted the tonearm height screw to make sure the lifter wasn’t in the way of the tonearm. I used a leveler to make sure my turntable was flat. I used a stylus gauge to make sure my tracking force was accurate. I switched out the headshell/cartridge to make sure that wasn’t the issue. I’m so disappointed and upset with myself that I messed everything up. I’m not very hands-on or repair-savvy, but figured this was simple enough for a beginner. I don’t know what to do now. Any help would be very very appreciated.

I just purchased this Technics SL-1200 MK1 from eBay for around $200 (thank you to everyone here who encouraged me to buy it), and it was advertised as fully functioning, but the strobe light randomly stopped working while I was testing it out. In the video, I don’t have the turntable hooked up to my receiver/speakers yet, so that’s why it’s quiet. I haven’t had a chance yet to install the dust cover on either (since I’m contemplating returning it anyway).

When I first turned it on, the strobe light worked for about a minute before the light suddenly shut off. It wouldn’t turn back on any time I toggled the turntable speed between on and off. It randomly came back on one time, but then when I toggled back off and on again, it wouldn’t come on again.

I looked at troubleshooting steps online, but it looks like replacing the lights and soldering is required, which definitely seems like out of my capabilities. I could take it for repair, but I’ve got a feeling it’ll be very costly.

I’ve just been using a turntable speed app on my phone to adjust the speed, but I’m a little bummed the strobe light is broken. Would you suggest I just return this and try to find another Technics table, or keep it as is knowing it might still be a good deal?

I recently found this Technics SL-1200 MK1 turntable for $200, and was told it was tested and working. The cartridge is apparently an Empire 999. The dustcover in the back hinge is cracked but repaired. Is this worth purchasing? I’m still fairly new to turntables, so any extensive servicing would be beyond my capabilities. I know this model (MK1) is very old so I’m wary of age and condition. Any help would be very appreciated!

GOD this is making me so sad that we won’t see them again for at least another year :(

This is making me so excited!! Finally the action is picking up! I wonder if the “where is she” Beth is referring to is Beulah?