Well, looks like my 06' LTD has passed away. Guy ran a light and I T-boned him going about 30mph while up here in Chicago. Demolished the Camry but the ol' 4Runner didn't fair too bad all things considered. Of course the guy I hit had no insurance. Big surprise!

I came out okay. Other than some minor rash on my forearms from the airbag, I was pretty much untouched.

Insurance had my car looked at and an offer of settlement within 24hrs of the accident. The adjuster stated it was at a point where it could be fixed or totaled and he inquired what I wanted to do. Due to the damage and the fact that she was approaching the 100K mile mark, I opted to put here out of her misery.

While I hated the Gen 5's initially, they have grown on me. The only real issue I have is there is no V8!! I had intended on selling later this year and I wanted to see what the refreshed 5th Gen looks like in the flesh but now I'm not sure I wanna hold out and wait for the new ones to come out. Kicked around the thought of finding another V8 (a 2009) but I think it's time for a change so I'm leaning toward a 5th gen. I just need to decide if I hold out for the refresh or not.

the refresh happened
Sorry to hear about this though, glad you're ok.

I am Impressed with the "minimal" damage. Even 30mph is a lot of force and I've seen other vehicles in much worse shape! Glad everyone's ok though!

I'm in Fort Worth. Any chance you could ask the insurance what the buy back is on the truck.... I need the entire running gear for a project. I would really be interested in it if they will give you a number.

We you alone in the 4Runner... Glad you walked away, sorry the dirt bag did not have insurance.

Glad you are OK.

I, too, am baffled that the 5th gen grew in size but lost the V8 option. It's like they took a big step backward.

That's cool that your insurance put the option of repairing or totalling it in your hands. What company was that?

Yes,

Glad are ok. If they total it out can you still keep it? If so part it out after. Might have to give 700-800 for it but might be worth it. Just a thought also.

Blue

Glad you're ok!

It's sad to see so many drivers out there without insurance. I got rear ended and my policy had to pay out for the same reason.


I personally would wait out for the refresh. I love the new front fascia.

Gee, at 100k miles it is just getting broken in, eh?

The damage doesn't look as bad as one would imagine from a collision like that. If you decide to sell it, maybe someone else will have an option to buy it and fix it up. The front end damage doesn't look too bad.

They would be getting a new air bag and the comfort that they own the last generation 4Runner made when a dollar was a dollar and you got what you paid for. Today's 5th gen is all about paying for the gaping spread between the US$ and the Japanese yen (which is why the 5th gen is so radically de-contented from the 4th). It might very well provide many more thousands of reliable service miles.

The good news is the dollar is climbing back from its horrible lows (was fetching 128 yen in 2008, then fell to as low as the mid-60s last year, now back up to 100). I believe the refresh reflects some of the 35% improvement in the dollar and would therefore hold out for the 2014.

Buy-back is generally 10-30 percent of the vehicle value before the crash. I suspect (because of the damage) it will be higher than 20% of NADA value, or about 4k.. But at 4k I would still be interested in buying it from the OP with a little markup.

If you are used to the 4th gen v8 then you will not be happy with a 5th gen IMO.

I don't care how many other bells and whistles they have, if you lose that torque you will be miserable. Ask anyone with a 5th gen.

I would of let it go also. You only live once and its nice to try something new especially since you had this 4runner for 8 years now.

Make sure you wait few months and see how you like the 2014 4runner. Its worth a wait. Lots of updates on the 2014.

100k is really nothing with a well maintained 4Runner to be honest with you. The manufacturers are counting on people to have this "100k lifetime" ingrained in their heads to sell more vehicles.

That being said, I'm sorry for your loss and glad you made it out okay. I would say if you really do enjoy the 4th gen and the V8 to look for another 4Runner; you're going to have a hell of a time finding an '09 as very few were made in that year. But even another '06-'08 would be a good deal if you found one.

The 5th gen's exterior I have genuinely done a 180 on and now I really like the boxy/Tundra/FJ Cruiser mish-mash; but the interior falls short on many levels in my opinion. The biggest issue I have with the interior of the vehicle is that it is no where near as comfortable as my Sport Edition is, my arm is above 90* when trying to cruise down the road with my elbow on the window sill, the buttons and interior positions feel odd and that giant Tundra-esque shift knob is just childish in the 4Runner. Not to mention the idiotic idea to swap the 2UZ-FE for that pitifully short lived 2.7L option. They should just take the already built underpinnings of the GX460 and offer it in a 5th gen flavor, hell then I'd be tempted to trade my '04 for one.

That honestly doesn't look that bad. I can't see it in person but I'd guess there is damage underneath that would cause them to give the option to total it. I'd buy it back and part it out, you would make a good amount more than selling it to the insurance company.

The 5th gen is nice but man they're expensive. Plus you loose the auto climate control, pull down tailgate, and a few other nice things that were standard on the 4th gens that aren't even available on the 5th gens (With the exception of the auto climate control, but you pay more for it) plus the V6 in the 5th gen is a very good engine, but when I test drove one and compared it to my V8, it felt slightly under powered.

Also, I have full coverage and pay $105 a month. The guy that ran the red light better have gotten a ticket for no insurance because if the rest of us can pay for it, so can he.

I deal with alot of insurance companies, they will charge you about 4k to keep it.
Based on years, miles, and color, that's what they can reasonably expect to get for it at auction. Alot of crazy dudes (like me) will buy it for 3-4k for export where labor is almost free and parts are plenty.