Helping FIL sell his truck. What's it worth?

My FIL has a 2008 Tacoma 2WD standard cab with ~110k miles. 2.7L automatic. Registration is up to date, just passed smog and title is clean and in general it runs and drives fine.

The problem is, it looks like this:





Obviously it's pretty trashed. Somehow the frame still seems fine because it drives and tracks like nothing happened and he's been driving it around for the past year.

It would need at minimum a bed, cab, door and window, but is probably better off being parted out. I'm just not sure what to ask because the drivetrain is still low mileage and runs great.

This is the closest I can find online and prices seem steep for a truck with relatively low miles (this one is $14.5k):

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/d/santa-cruz-2008-toyota-tacoma/7759836175.html

This one is also a similar trim with a bit more miles for $8k:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/d/san-jose-toyota-tacoma/7765056239.html

If I can assume FIL's truck would have sold for ~$9-10k pre accident, would I be crazy to list it for ~$3500 and hope for $2500-3000?

Let me know if this is the wrong place for this kind of post. I just don't even know where to start with trying to help with selling this. Thanks!

 

I'd have a shop give the frame a good inspection, if it's solid and straight maybe ask 5k. People in rust states who need a frame could be all over it if they're willing to swap it.

If it's parted, I'd be interested in the cupholder inserts..small item but mine never had them.

 

That’s like 3k on a good day here in SoCal

 

Make sure the listing says: i know what i got (sarcasm)

Not sure what kind of urgency your FIL is in. But I can’t imagine anyone buying it for anything except for the frame or the drivetrain. I like the idea of having the frame inspected and ‘certified’ but the odds seem stacked against it being positive. Maybe whatever sideswiping accident took place avoided transferring any significant energy to the frame, but that seems like a very lucky ‘break’

Not trying to be negative, but your FIL definition of ‘fine’ may vary. I think your ball park pricing of 3500 seems logical, again, I think you’re looking for a buyer who wants the drive train, frame, or just possibly both. GL

 

Thanks all! I think I’ll list it for $3500 and see if I get any bites. He was offered $500 by the smog guy which is an obvious lowball… I could sell the wheels and tires and a few other odds and ends for that much….

 

It is probably worth waaaay more being parted out, if y'all are capable of the work involved...

I am in South Louisiana, so an as-is offer would be something like $1500.
personally, I would replace the door and build a small flat bed on it.
It could bring in maybe $5k like that, as an ugly but functional work truck.

 

I think even in cold weather states it's got interest, though for different reasons (frame if solid of course)

 

Unfortunately the cab is pretty damaged and would require a lot of body work or ideally just replacing the whole cab.

It has been a California truck its whole life so zero rust but unfortunately my FIL doesnt have the money to get the frame checked. I’ll have to get a quote to see how much it would cost but doubt that he’d want to spend the money on it.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide to do with the truck man. It looks rough!

 

I flip a few vehicles every year. When i look at a junked up truck that has low miles and drives fine, I see a work truck that can be made for very little $.

$300 of steel, wire etc with a weekend of work, can make that little truck into a "work truck". with the crushed bed, it just looks like shit.

with a small flatbed it is now ready for work. even though that didn't change much and the cab still has damage.

it is not really worth the price of fixing the cab. might as well just buy a not wrecked truck after factoring in parts, labor, etc.


I would actually make you a low ball offer, but the shipping and double title/tax transfer would make the project pointless. Hell, i would keep this one for myself because i have to be in a truck at all times, but i really don't need to be in my 4dr 4x4 or my f250 all the time. (i have a camry, but every time i am in it, i come across stuff to collect and cant fit shit in that car)

I think your biggest income from it would be to part it out.

Just the engine and transmission would get you more than the whole wrecked truck is worth.

the frame would bring in a lot too. but you have to have the time and space to make that profit.