I left a "I want to buy your truck" note...

S

stro908

New member
...I was dropping off a customer at their house and saw a 2000 Black Runner Sport with 2 flat tires and looks like it has been sitting for a while. I asked the mail man who was in the complex how long it had been there. He told me a couple years and that the driver had died but the family still lives in the condo.

I knock on the door, ring the bell, nothing... I left a note wiht my phone number saying I want to buy it and even the mail man put a note in the mailbox for me. Hopefully I hear something! I ran the car fax. One owner last reported miles 45k!

IF I hear back from someone, my concern would be that it has not been run for a while. Any thoughts? having owned German cars (VW, audi) up until 4 years ago, I know those cars like to always be running (lubricated).

Fingers crossed. Let me know your thoughts.

You guys think it was wrong of me to leave a note?
 
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Sounds like it would be fantastic find if it worked out for you.

I don't think it was a bad idea, they may have been wondering what to do with it, to them you may be doing them a favour. I don't think Toyotas are that bad with seals etc. but you may have to replace one or two after sitting that long without moving.

Keep us informed, it'd be cool to see this worked out.
 
gptoy96 said:
Sounds like it would be fantastic find if it worked out for you.

I don't think it was a bad idea, they may have been wondering what to do with it, to them you may be doing them a favour. I don't think Toyotas are that bad with seals etc. but you may have to replace one or two after sitting that long without moving.

Keep us informed, it'd be cool to see this worked out.
Click to expand...

Thats my thoughts. I figured I may be doing them a favor. lets hope so!
 
if you do get it, and everything works out, slowly start building up the run time(s), dong just hope in it and drive cross country or take a family vacation with it. do like little small errands with it, go to the store to buy groceries, rent a movie ect. and keep an eye out for oil leaks, that way if and or when they do happen you aren't like 500miles from home. im not saying it will leak, i dont know but better safe than sorry.
 
With that amount of time sitting, I'd think about priming the oil circuit before going straight for firing the engine up. The goal is to get the engine to roll a few times without starting. Call it 5 times then go for the fire.

Change oil, add dry gas to the fuel tank and read post # 4 again.
 
bergs said:
With that amount of time sitting, I'd think about priming the oil circuit before going straight for firing the engine up. The goal is to get the engine to roll a few times without starting. Call it 5 times then go for the fire.

Change oil, add dry gas to the fuel tank and read post # 4 again.
Click to expand...

Good points taken. I was thinking of putting some fresh thin oil in before cranking and maybe some dry gas in. Fingers crossed for a steal! (or even to have the person call me!)
 
So I got a call from the "owner" tonight. Long story short. He bought the condo the truck is parked in front of, and the truck came with the deal (if you can believe that!) He said, "I cant sell you the truck right now, I wish I could, BUT I can tell you when it will be acutioned off..." That being said, I SHOULD be able to pick it up a lot cheaper than if I had every body and their brother bidding on the thing on ebay. He said he there will be an ad in the local paper and thats about it...fingers crossed not many people show up. ALso, he is going to let me come check everything out, start it up etc...pre auction. Only thing that sucks, the auction will not be until sometime in Febuary-March... Regardless, I am still stoked he called back! I will keep you guys posted. I am going to check it out again after Christmas.:fishing:
 
Hmm, that's an odd situation, why'd he go the auction route I wonder. Why wouldn't he just offer it for sale privately? Oh well, as long as the competition is low than hopefully you can scoop it up nice and cheap.

Hope it works out for you!
 
Did he buy the whole building? If so, he might have signed a contract with an auctioneer to auction off the old junk left behind, including the truck. Either that, or he thinks he can get more at auction than direct to you. Either way, good luck and keep us informed.
 
It doesn't sound as far fetched as you might think. I was looking at purchasing a home when I found a Corvette in a garage, apparently it came with the house along with all the other crap sitting in the basement. (Old couch, table etc.) They owner had passed on and the kids just wanted to unload the house, all contents included.

Just be sure to do a good search of it. Any car sitting that long could have all sorts of problems. Bad gas or water in the gas tank, animals chewing electrical wires or even getting in the cab, parts might have rusted solid (it is NJ). Either way you're going to have to put some money into it immediately. Just make sure the price is right and keep us posted.
 
I forgot to mention...the guy I spoke to about the truck "thinks" it has about 150k miles on it (I know still not a "lot"). When auction time comes I think the max I should go (depending on what I find when I go look at it and crank it) is $3k. MAX. I would like to grab it up for $2k...thoughts?

Also, when I ran the carfax it said the Timing belt and the short block were replaced in 2005... again, thoughts? I know not much to go off of...
 
Did you get a chance to look underneath at the rust? Sitting for several years would concern me, especially here on the east coast. You could have some serious rust gremlins there.

I probably wouldn't go as high as 3k unless a number of questions were answered, like does it run as is, is there rust, etc.
 
Nelsonmd said:
Did you get a chance to look underneath at the rust? Sitting for several years would concern me, especially here on the east coast. You could have some serious rust gremlins there.

I probably wouldn't go as high as 3k unless a number of questions were answered, like does it run as is, is there rust, etc.
Click to expand...

My plan is to go down with a jump box and flash light to give it a good once over before the auction. I was not about to get under it last time I was there (wearing shirt and tie). I think IF it runs and idles smooth, trans shifts smooth, minimal rust on frame and Rear diff. (no holes), and no other major issues such as pink milkshake, 3k is the absolute MAX, realistically I am dreaming of getting it for around 1500- I will keep you posted guys!
 
Are you sure the guy has the title for the truck ? It could one reason he might want to send it to auction. If he doesn't have the title or can't acquire it , it might go through the auction as a parts car.
 
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