2005 Celica 22,00miles, one owner: Advice sought

[John Hughes]

Hi all,

Newbie on here but as a petrolhead I know that owners clubs are best place for impartial advice. My father is considering selling his Celica as he rarely uses it (as you can see from the mileage). It's his 3rd Celica and as before bought it new from the main Toyota dealer in Dublin where its had it's servicing done too.

Car is red, manual, non-sunroof, black half leather with five spoke alloys. Absolutely standard and original, no modifications and unmolested. Front/rear bumpers have roadrash so need refreshing, paint needs detailing, wheels refurbishing and headlights refreshed. 

Up to now, not much prospect for a decent sale price and in fact I was considering buying it and modifying for track days etc. But looking online I saw some high values for low mileage Celicas.

Any advice here on options? Sell as is/spend to refresh as above/keep and store? I can post some pictures if that's of interest.

Thanks for reading 😊

[Bernard Foy]

Johnny, Celica’s with low mileage, and full recorded NCT and main dealer service history in Ireland are as rare as hens teeth. I would leave the car exactly as is, make sure it has a long as possible NNT, and put it on the several used car sites which are readily available in Ireland. You shouldn’t have any bother naming your price and getting it, beware of tyre kickers, scammers, and chatterboxes. Cash is king.

[John Hughes]

Thanks Bernard, makes sense.

Be interesting to see if market will pay more for a low miler.

 

[John Hughes]

Picture added. More I think about it could be best to restore and then store...

[Bernard Foy]

2 hours ago, John Hughes said:

Picture added. More I think about it could be best to restore and then store...

I suppose that’s another option John provided that you have the ideal storage facility and the space, the cars value will increase, however you must be prepared to maintain the car, even though it is in storage, and be prepared to wait a long number of years. That said if the car was my dads, I would probably keep it and always have it as a memento of him. Because we never appreciate our parents until they are no longer there. BTW it’s a nice looking car thanks for sharing.

[John Hughes]

3 hours ago, Bernard Foy said:

I suppose that’s another option John provided that you have the ideal storage facility and the space, the cars value will increase, however you must be prepared to maintain the car, even though it is in storage, and be prepared to wait a long number of years. That said if the car was my dads, I would probably keep it and always have it as a memento of him. Because we never appreciate our parents until they are no longer there. BTW it’s a nice looking car thanks for sharing.

Fortunately my dad still very much around and loves driving it (to/from golf club mostly!!!),. Yes i know storing it is not that simple, maybe be better to keep it on the road and moving. I think we'll go ahead and get the car refreshed once things return to "normal" whatever that may be.

Thanks Bernard.

[Bernard Foy]

11 hours ago, John Hughes said:

Picture added. More I think about it could be best to restore and then store...

I suppose that’s another option John provided that you have the ideal storage facility and the space, the cars value will increase, however you must be prepared to maintain the car, even though it is in storage, and be prepared to wait a long number of years. That said if the car was my dads, I would probably keep it and always have it as a memento of him. Because we never appreciate our parents until they are no longer there. BTW it’s a nice looking car thanks for sharing.

[Bernard Foy]

That’s great John, long may he continue to drive the Celica and enjoy travel to the golf club. An old golfer told me on joining our local golf club 28yrs ago (I was a late starter) “it’s the only outdoors game with a ball you can play as long as you can put one foot past the other “. I used to play Royal Dublin once yearly in a competition hosted in consecutive years by one of the four major sporting organizations in Ireland. It was fabulous meeting and playing with and against sports heroes of yesteryear of different sports.

5 hours ago, John Hughes said:

Fortunately my dad still very much around and loves driving it (to/from golf club mostly!!!),. Yes i know storing it is not that simple, maybe be better to keep it on the road and moving. I think we'll go ahead and get the car refreshed once things return to "normal" whatever that may be.

Thanks Bernard.