1998 Toyota Recall Frame Rust Buy Back Offer! 2012

^ Listen ace, I'm Accountant, which means I major in Business to make money, not to help people. How much would I offer you? I'd offer you $2K, only to turn around and take it to a Yota dealership.



You asked, I answered. 98 Limited, still not a 1of 3 Bentley or something like that.


I do hope that you get a satisfactory ending to your predicament.


Peace out.

 

They offerered $12,321

 

Take the money! You'll find a better taco.

 

A good welder can fix it, but how do you know how much rust is inside the boxed frame waiting to come through?

If they buy it back, buy a plane ticket and go pick up a rust free one from the west coast.

If you absolutely have to have YOUR truck, find a donor vehicle and swap frames. That will be tough though to find a rust free, unbent frame in a salvaged truck. They usually don't stop running, they get smashed.

 

Take all your accessories off that you can and save them for your next truck. Plenty of clean rust free examples out here in CA.

 

Ah man! Things just got real complicated! I've been looking at all of my options and there is a temptation... Should I buy a cheap but mint condition 2000 Land Rover with low miles for cheap and pocket the $10,000? Are Range Rovers Garbage?

Man, I really don't know if can bear even the thought of not haveing my 98 taco!
Bentlys suck!

Seriously! If the only 2 choices for a lifetime vehicle were a 98 tacoma and a 1985 porsche turbo I would say, " give me the truck!" You can throw a yamaha Banshee in the bed (It fit's pefectly with the extended cab((sorry i don't like the crew cabs they are like soccer dad trucks)).

Bottom line is... I'm still having a hard time deciding what to do. I'm calling a vehicle wreckage place tomorrow to see how much a frame fix would be and if it's worth it...

i really don't want to see this truck go but for logical reasons (insurance totalled value) i may have to put her down.

 

If my 1998 Toyota Tacoma Limited had a P*ssy, I wouldn't need a girlfriend.

 

TMI

 

Here is what you need to know. I lost a 2000 to the frame rust buyback and am on my way to getting a new frame from Toyota for my 2004 (different Toyota program for 1995-2000 Tacomas and the 2001-2004 Tacoma).

1) The price you are being offered is most likely the best price you will ever get for your 1998 truck. Period. If you do not want to sell it to Toyota because you love the truck, I understand, but keep reading below.
2) The frame is not worth repairing. There is a manufacturing defect which makes the frame prone to rusting. Therefore, if you fix the hole in the frame, it will eventually continuing to rust elsewhere and you will have a worthless frame that you tried to fix. The frame even rusts from the inside out. My frame was immaculate on my 2000 (colorado truck for over 8 years). It spend two winters in the Northeast and they put a ball pin hammer through one side of the boxed frame and there was almost NO surface rust visible. Bad material, bad frame!
3) Lastly, the smart decision here is to take the money, sell any accessories you put on the truck separately, and get another Tacoma. You are seriously risking a lot by trying to repair it and having it rust anyway. You will never get this kind of money again. A truck is something you can really enjoy, but in the end it will be useless to you if the frame rusts out. There are no good frames for these model years (they all have the same problem that is why Toyota recalled them nationally). The smart move is to take the money, and get a 2001-2004 with a replaced frame or one that needs replacing from Toyota and have a great truck or get a 2005 or newer that does not have the same frame rust problem.

good luck!

 

Does anyone know what I can take off of the truck before I void the offer? I would like to take off my chrome mirrors, the entire exhaust from the engine back, the topper, aluminum wheels (does anyone know of a universal rim i can find in a junk yard or free that fits my lugs? \
The 98's rims look sweet and l want them on my next taco.

 

Toyota is paying for the truck you described to them, "a Limited" certain things they will have no problem with your removing, the topper for one, or at least replacing it with a cheap one. Your 1st generation wheels will not fit a 2nd generation, much bigger brake calipers. If you take the exhaust off, you should have some sort of exhaust on it when you take it in to the dealer. Look at your wheels real close, are they pitted and coroded? Toyota is paying for aluminum wheels, they expect aluminum wheels on it. Don't try to screw them, they are bigger and can screw harder.

Take into consideration, Toyota is paying you about $6000-8000 more than you could possibly get anywhere else. Actually, with a bad frame, I doubt any dealer would offer more than scrap price for your truck, $500, unless they intend to sell it to Toyota. I had a Limited also, it was a good truck, nothing magical about it until the frame went, then it became a liability. I did not want to get rid of mine either because I did not want a payment. It is a truck, Toyota makes thousands of them every year.

 

messyt,

$12000.....now that has me rethinking my original thoughts of doing a frame swap on mine. what a decision for you to make. how long do you have before their offer retracts?

blittzburgh99

 

here is a shot of mine.

 

From what I hear, used Land Rovers are cheap for a reason. I have seen many with under a 100K and "new engine". I think that says something.

Stay with Toyota if that's what you want, but I think you're nuts to turn down 12K and try to fix the one you have.

 

I had 3 days to accept the offer from when i received it. I received it in email form so to day is day # 3. I want to call corporate about a few things 1st.

I'm going to take the money and look around for another taco. I almost bought a 2001 TRD 4x4 yesterday but it was sold when i got to the dealership.
It's getting tougher to find one with low miles and with features for less than 12,000.

 

Range rover on Craigslist was a scam!!!!!!

 

I love that truck!!!!

 

Available for sale....no frame rust.

price: $12,321 ...

 

Lol, you would sell it?

 

Mine is for sale as well. 12k and it's yours.