2007 PreRunner: Is this CarFax a dealbreaker?

Been dreaming of a Tacoma for awhile. Thing is, my girlfriend and I share a car and are on a pretty tight budget (<10k). Our 2006 Altima was just totaled. Since we need a car with passenger space now, we were planning on getting a sedan or hatchback and getting a truck in the future. But to my surprise, this 2007 Tacoma Double Cab PreRunner is in our price range (asking just under $10,000). The owner says the price is so low because she is moving and needs to sell, but I ran the CarFax and came up with this report below: 3 accidents, all moderate (or minor) damage

Can anyone give me an opinion as to whether this seems like a foolish truck to buy? Is it unsafe? A problem waiting to happen? Possibly cursed? Many thanks in advance for helping a n00b like me. I hope to be part of the Tacoma family, someday...

Here are some pics:
http://s942.photobucket.com/albums/ad267/lDcCdA9Nc/?start=all


The CarFax:

Date: 02/19/2007
Source: NICB
Comments: Vehicle manufactured and shipped to original dealer

03/17/2007
Source: Georgia Motor Vehicle Dept. Suwanee, GA
Vehicle purchase reported
Registered as personal vehicle

04/05/2007
Mileage: 10
Source: Georgia Motor Vehicle Dept. Suwanee, GA. Title #770468070958016
Title issued or updated.
First owner reported.
Loan or lien reported.

04/16/2007
Source: Alabama Damage Report
Accident reported.
Involved right rear impact with another vehicle.
Minor or moderate damage reported

05/08/2007
Source: Georgia Motor Vehicle Dept. Suwanee, GA
Registration updated when owner moved the vehicle to a new location

11/29/2007
Source: Georgia Motor Vehicle Dept. Suwanee, GA
Title #770468070958016
Registration issued or renewed

06/16/2008
Source: Georgia Damage Report
Accident reported.
Involving rear impact.
It hit another motor vehicle.
No damage reported.

12/18/2008
Source: Georgia Motor Vehicle Dept. Suwanee, GA
Title #770468070958016
Registration issued or renewed

04/28/2009
Source: Georgia Damage Report
Accident reported in Fulton County.
Involving left rear impact.
It hit a motor vehicle.
Moderate damage reported.

03/29/2010
Mileage: 73,651
Source: Auto Auction
Sold at auction in Georgia
Listed as a fleet vehicle

04/12/2010
Mileage: 73,779
Source: Auto Auction
Sold at auction in Tennessee
Listed as a dealer vehicle

04/21/2010
Mileage: 73,782
Source: Online Listing
Vehicle offered for sale

 

Am I reading this right? This thing has been hit in the rear 3 separate times?

 

That Taco likes be hit in the rear...

 

Phantom, just to be clear -- my car was totaled, not this truck. That's why I'm shopping around.

But yeah, 3 accidents on the Tacoma. And I was wondering the reason for the moves & auctions...

 

I would avoid it, but that is just me.

 

1. 73,000 on a 3 year old vehicle is high mileage. Very high.
2. Three accidents that were reported (others?). Might be minor fender-benders but who knows.
3. "fleet" vehicles can see harder use than a private vehicle. What kind of fleet buys used? (3rd owner). Unusual in my book.

I'd RUN unless it's being sold by a new car dealer, AND you have an independent place inspect everything in detail. If it was some unaffiliated used car lot or individual (Yikes!) selling it, don't even worry about the inspection, just run away.

 

My 2006 xrunner was involved in a pretty serious accident before I bought it. Runs like a champ even boosted. It is well worth the money in my opinion to come up on a wrecked vehicle in some cases. I have had my fair share of experience though in the automotive field which includes mechanic, paint and body, and interior..... so I was able to purchase mine well beyond blue book just because it was repaired and re done correctly but someone else would think they are just a piece of junk now. People that want a clean title vehicle are going to pay a pretty penny but yet when you can come up on a steal if the vehicle has been involved in even minor accidents... People look at the car like it is a piece of junk now once it's been involved in an accident. Regardless of how minor it was.... Mine was involved in a 10k plus accident and was fixed..... I bought mine 2 years ago with 42k on it for $12,000... that is a STEAL!.... even now the vehicle is still worth more than i paid for it..... Even a salvaged vehicle will be insured.... I don't know where people get this whole "can't insure rebuilt/salvaged vehicles" How do you think the old school cars are still around? Bet you they have insurance and A LOT of them have been rebuilt/salvaged. I work for geico insurance and am a Licensed agent. We WILL insure salvaged vehicles and we will even have full coverage on it. In some states an inspection is required but that is for all vehicles that want full coverage regardless of history. Hope this helps man. Happy hunting. In the end take the vehicle to a mechanic. Have them check out the motor and take it to a paint and body shop to have the frame and body checked. If that checks out. It's like new.... people will say otherwise but who cares.... No one in a million years would guess my truck has been involved in an accident unless I told them.... How many times has anyone in your life asked you if the vehicle you are driving has been in an accident?.... I've NEVER been asked that lol..... It's just not something you talk about.... If anything you get compliments on it and they ask what you have done.....

 

Thanks for the help and for making me feel welcome on these boards. I'll certainly approach this vehicle with caution (if at all). If anyone's got any additional tips or differing opinions, I'm all ears.

 

Give her the carfax and $7000 all in one motion. If she doesn't take it, in the next hand give her a drivers-ed manual, then walk away.

 

I think I would hold off on that one. Too good of a deal to be true. Like everybody else said it may be hard to get insurance on and may have been just "cover-up" fixed. I'd wait on another on dude.

 

If you're dead set on it, I'd make the sale conditional on it's passing a bumper to bumper inspection by a mechanic/ shop of your choosing.

I'd also be VERY WARY of the owner saying she's only selling it so cheaply because she's moving. I'd dare say she knows it's history... she's just playing dumb. Nobody is going to basically give away a 3 - 4 year old truck for that money just because they're moving.

I personally would keep looking. This thing sounds like you're getting someone else's problems. Sometimes, not having buyer's regret is worth a few extra bucks.

 

Pass on it man. Better safe than sorry. That thing is an "accident magnet"

 

You think 73,000 is high mileage for a 3 year old vehicle??? You need to live here for a while. Its not uncommon to see a 3 year old with 100,000+

 

^X2!!! take a look at my truck... its an '07 access cab 4x4 SR5 automatic tow package 39k miles blah blah blah... and a salvage title. Completely restored to perfect condition after its accident. WITHOUT a salvage title, the truck is worth 21 or 22k right now. With those 7 little letters on my title that say "REBUILT" I saved over 10 thousand bucks and picked up my truck for $11k a couple months ago. As long as the repairs were done properly, consider yourself lucky to find this deal! I have full coverage through State Farm, and its pretty funny because I even verified with my agent that if I total it again, I will be paid full value at $22,000!!! so yes, please, do not listen to people that say you can't get it insured. I will MAKE money if I wreck it All that being said... make sure there weren't shitty repairs or half-ass stuff done to it...

completely agree. Find out how much the vehicle is worth in perfect condition (no salvage, no accidents, etc.) and offer less than half of that amount.

 

This is too funny but I totally agree.

 

You can get a good deal with wrecks but... honestly taco's are so common I'd walk away, hell sprint away. I bought a salvage on my 280z only because I was willing to put work into it (and the damage was lol minor). Unless you're willing to put up with unknown and potentially costly issues... I'd save up for a clean title and thoroughly inspect any used vehicle.

 

I'd say it's worth checking out. The severity of the accidents determines the amount of damage. If they were minor bumps, it could just have had small points replaced or straightened. Ask if you can have it taken to a dealer to check specs on frame, alignment and a quick check on the engine, also an ODBII scan to see if any codes have been thrown (airbags deployed, etc.). I'd pay a little to a dealer to save thousands on what could be a deal.

 

I was thinking the same thing. I have an '07 with 71k miles. I wouldn't consider that high mileage...especially for a Toyota. Looking at most of the vehicles sold around here..most 07-08 models have between 50-75k miles on them. I commute 50 miles a day roundtrip 5 days a week to/from work.

 

I do almost 30k/ year myself.