Buying a car* advice.

Sorry if this is the wrong section.
Please move to proper section.
Thank you..
This may be a tl;dr for you..so turn back now.
Heres my situation:
-I am currently a full time student, part time worker.
-I make about $500 a month, currently have $5,300ish saved.
-My father pays for my insurance and supplies me with a car for 1 year after i graduate high school, (So im good until june this year...I do pay my own gas though)
-The only "catch" to the above statement is that when i choose to buy my own car, i am responsible for the insurance.
-I have always had a passion for cars..especially sports cars, but NOBODY likes their cars breaking down on them.
-I have been looking/researching this car for the last 3 months...thats how long its been sitting in their lot...at LEAST.
Here it is, a 2000 Toyota Celica GTS, it has 90,000 miles.
Some notes about this car.
*Its a toyota, they have been known to go forever, ive seen people on craigslist with these exact models and they have 300k miles on them
*It fits both me and my fathers requirements for a car, I want something zippy, he wants something with nice gas mileage and thats reliable.
*The GTS version of the celica has 40 more HP (180 BHP) And a lot of engine for a car that weighs 2500 LBS with me in it.


ONTO MY STORY
-My mother has informed me that in todays market, dealers LOVE cash, it has the ultimate advantage because dealers are tired of people taking out loans they cant pay for, I am prepared to offer $5,000 cash for it, and as much as $5,500 if i have to meet them in the middle. The insurance for it wasnt expensive, i got a quote for it a long time ago and its extremely affordable.
(i know...im sorry... its almost over...)
ANYWAY
They are asking $7,000 for it, i emailed them today about it just simply asking for a carfax report, (Keep in mind this dealer is about an hour at least away, and i have a very tight schedule...) They simply responded "Why dont you come in and we can look it over and take it for a test drive."
I have NOT responded yet.
I want to know how to respond, i dont want to waste EITHER of our time by driving out there and finding out theres something terribly wrong with it, and drive home with like 2 -3 hours+gas wasted.

 

I think this should answer your question about what you should say back to them.. One thing dealers love more than cash up front is getting more cash.

Best bet is to get one of them on the phone, and don't leave them alone until they email you the carfax results

If you get a satisfactory carfax result, THEN get down there and look it over with them.

 

Make sure to ask whether or not the timing belt has been replaced. They are supposed to be replaced every 100,000 miles max and they cost up to $1,000. If he tells you it hasn't or he doesn't know, then he better be willing to drop the price by at least 1k. It's a part that must be replaced or it will completely kill your car once it breaks. Very important.

 

What dimethyl said about the timing belt is true. If you're serious about buying the car, go in and ask for what you need. If they avoid the Carfax, then there's probably a reason. See what parts have been replaced and if it has been taken care of. After 100k miles, theres a lot on the car that should be changed, cleaned, and checked just because of the milage. (fuel filter at 35-40k, unless it's in the tank. If the tank has been dropped, it should be replaced. coolant flush at 24-50k, throttle bore plate cleaning at 20k, spark plugs 30-50k depending on what type you have. rotors 60-80k) ect

 

Get a gas-saving car. I heard the celica 2000 burns a lot of gas like nothing

 

dude its like 23/28 MPG =/