2002 Tacoma 88k Miles Rebuilt Title

when you look under the hood. Make sure every hole that should have a bolt, does.

If no they did not pull it all the way straight.

Look in the frame, bring a flash light.

then offer 9, and remember some insurance companies will not do full coverage or will do lowered value on salvage titles.

 

Regardless of what they hit, why did it get totaled?!?!

That damage isn’t bad at all. My uncle’s 2011 Ford Ranger XL was involved in a much worse accident with airbag deployment earlier this year and insurance fixed it.

 

Probably related to the age of the vehicle.

 

I asked if they had the front end aligned after the rebuild and do they have a printout of the results. Also check the front tire wear really close. As much as that lower rad support is "V'd" in, it could have pulled the frame in a bit. Probably okay, but since you asked...

Honestly, it looks like they did a good job with hood, fender, bumper, grille, etc alignment. As long as the frame is okay, looks like a decent truck. I agree with others though, it's overpriced with that title. Unless you can clear it, you'd have trouble getting your money back out of it even with those low miles.

Oh, and I agree, that looks like more than a deer. There appears to be direct impact in both the front and the left side. I'd buy he hit a deer, then ran into a road sign or something.

I don't know what State your in, but if that was a deer, I might check on out of State hunting permits and see you this Fall cause that was a big boy!

 

Age of the vehicle like @Blue92 said. You'd be surprised what little damage can total one of these out in the insurance company's eyes, even if you can fix it yourself for under a grand. Parts are harder to come by for one thing

Don't know if it was mentioned yet but has anyone run the VIN on this? You never know, maybe that deer hit killed his radiator and he tried driving it home and smoked the engine which led to a half assed rebuild or something.

Buying used is always a gamble esp a rebuilt title, which is why the price should reflect that. I think if he were to come under 10k it would be a good buy, assuming the frame is in good shape and the VIN checks out minus the accident.

 

I noticed it was high in the rear. Not sure if it’s on a hill or what.

 

I checked the VIN on a free checker and everything checks out. Salvage is shown. I wish I had a car fax but it was a free checker.

 

Might have a helper spring or AAL in the rear, hard to tell from the pics but the height suggests that there's something back there. Could just be the hill it's parked on though

 

What would concern me most would be a Salvage/restored title especially at a $13,000 price point, they’re counting on the Tacoma’s popularity
to inflate their price. You could take a hit on insurance and will take another on resale.
I understand the attraction but it’s a gamble and at 13K for a 17 year old truck with a less than clean title I can see maybe 9K at the highest.
When purchasing a vehicle, Patience, research, knowing when to take out your wallet and knowing when to run are all virtues that would serve
you well. Personally I’d talk them down by a considerable amount or I’d run.

Good luck OP

 

8k or walk. Even at that price I think you’re getting bent over

 

Oh damn! Really

 

Just be ready for tires, shocks, brakes, exhaust, tune up etc. The list goes on but if you’re comfortable with it go for it.

 

Yea.... the seller doesn’t have a copy of the paperwork showing what all repairs are done. Asked me to call the title place and get the info from there... so annoying.

 

I appreciate the truck if it’s rust free and you needed it but holy fuck even 8k is a shit ton of money. Me? I’d enjoy your truck and take that 13k and invest it in a 401k and in 30 years you’ll look back and thank God you did (all I can say is thank God I did). Good luck

 

13k, rebuilt/salvage and 88k miles..... Where is the truck located and where has it lived? If you're willing to shell out 9k buying an autocheck/carfax for less than $100 is a no brainer. I looked at a "California" 99 single cab 4wd with only 130k on the clock. I ran an autocheck and that sucker spent half its life in upstate NY AND was registered out of state with 309K miles on the clock. I noticed that the engine harness grommet is missing a bolt. If you live where it rains often that might lead to a wet passenger floor. I'd check under floor mats to see if they're damp or if you're more zealous, bring a screwdriver and pull off the door sills and kick panels and pull up the carpet to inspect for a rusty floor. I'd follow what the others are suggesting and cap your offer at 7k since it's rebuilt without timing belt unless the frame rust is worse than the pictures. Lastly I'd take a look at the lower ball joints.

 

I would be more worried about that frame than the rebuilt title...

Frame was clearly rusty and painted over. The thing with these frames is that they rust and rot from the inside out, so what you cannot see is worse than what you can see. No way I would spend 13k on a truck with frame like this. 13k is for a near-mint condition truck. It isn't, even if it has low miles

it may be that toyota undercoat thingy, but the frame replacement campaign is over for 2002 truck, so do not count on that, as if it has rust issues, toyota won't do anything and you'll be on your own to fix it

If you still want to check it out, bang the frame thoroughly with a hammer, especially where the leaf springs attach to the frame right behind the cab. But if it is not possible to do that, walk away. Pictures aren't enough to tell if frame is good. You have to bang it with a hammer (or have someone on here do it for you)

 

9k on a clean title. They're asking 4k more than it's worth if it hadn't been totaled.

That rebuilt title will be a problem when you try to sell. That future headache, assuming it's perfect, makes it a 5k vehicle today.

 

Didn’t want to say it. Glad you did.

 

No to salvage titles and no to rust. You got one hunting tag to fill take your time. The price is a premium

 

I hit a deer one night about 8 years ago. It tore the hell out the car's front end.

That owner should have taken the insurance settlement, kept the car, and sold it outright. Then it wouldn't have had a blemished title and possibly clean carfax.