4Runner might be totaled.. advice on getting full value

[THatfield]

Hey guys,

A week ago today my 4Runner got rear ended pretty good on my way home from work to meet my grandfather for a veterans day dinner. The at fault driver managed to slam the right rear corner, so I'm going to need about 3900 dollars in repairs according to my preferred shop (using OEM Toyota parts). It should also be noted that my father noticed the right rear frame rail was slightly wrinkled from the impact on the trailer hitch. However I am not sure this was noted on the estimate from my shop.

I spoke to the at-fault driver's insurance company today and the claims rep made it clear that it is likely totaled.

I am seeking any and all advice to ensure I get enough money to buy a comparable 3rd Gen 4Runner to replace my beloved Jessie. I am also curious as to what parts I can remove once they decide to total it. I'd like to keep my PIAA fog lights, Sony headunit and underseat subwoofer as well as some other small things that I've added over the short 2 years I've owned the 4Runner.

I appreciate any advice you guys give.

Thanks, Taylor

 

[IanB]

Where is the truck now? If it's with you, pull the parts you want off now. Once it's been assessed they would expect any parts that were on it, to be on it when they collect the salvage. You could also purchase back the salvage and take any and all parts you want off, sell others, and haul what's left to the scrapper. You might be able to make a few bucks depending on the buy back price, and what you value your time at.

It's not clear from your post, are you dealing with your own insurer, or directly with the at fault driver's insurer?

As for getting a fair value for your truck, start searching and finding comparable models with high asking prices, and PRINT them so the ads don't disappear in the meantime. Make a list of any recent maintenance or upgrades you've performed, and think of ways you can build value in your truck compared to one sitting on a used car lot, as those comparables are out there too for the insurance adjuster to find, and you want to distance your truck from them.

 

[THatfield]

The truck is currently with me. I will pull of what I can before friday when the adjuster comes. I'm really just concerned about my PIAA's. I am dealing with the at-fault drivers insurance company. I am faxing over a lot of the invoices/receipts I have of the work I've done or parts that I've bought since I've owned it to the claims rep that is working on my case.

I figured printing as many ads as possible will help my case so I've also started to do that.

Any tips on fighting/submitting my counteroffer if/when I get lowballed?

 

[BrianSD_42]

No pics dude.

Really ????????????????

Sorry to hear about the accident.

 

[THatfield]

I don't think it really shows the magnitude of the damage but here is the picture I took right after it happened. Just put new tires on the Friday before it happened.

 

[T4R2014]

I've honestly seen much worse ones driving around daily. Let them total it, buy it back, and put money toward repairing it. Scrap value is way too low nowadays for any vehicle so I don't even see the point.

Odds are that if you choose to let it go, someone will get it back on the road and cash in.

 

[THatfield]

I've considered buying it back if it's totaled, but that particular quarter panel has been replaced previously and there is some gnarly rust on the seam near the bottom of the door where the quarter panel gets welded in. Trying to get any shop up here to repair that is like pulling teeth. My major concern now is the wrinkled frame from the impact on the trailer hitch. If there is a chance a good, proper repair can be done, I'll go for it. I really don't want to have to go through buying another truck, making sure the trouble spots are taken care of and then re-adding all the stuff I've already done.

It's just an inconvenience and really I'm conflicted in thought as to if I'd rather it be totaled or not. Sentimentally I want to keep it, but if they won't fix it right then obviously I'd rather not have it fixed at all.

 

[T4R2014]

I've considered buying it back if it's totaled, but that particular quarter panel has been replaced previously and there is some gnarly rust on the seam near the bottom of the door where the quarter panel gets welded in. Trying to get any shop up here to repair that is like pulling teeth. My major concern now is the wrinkled frame from the impact on the trailer hitch. If there is a chance a good, proper repair can be done, I'll go for it. I really don't want to have to go through buying another truck, making sure the trouble spots are taken care of and then re-adding all the stuff I've already done.

It's just an inconvenience and really I'm conflicted in thought as to if I'd rather it be totaled or not. Sentimentally I want to keep it, but if they won't fix it right then obviously I'd rather not have it fixed at all.

Even if you don't want it fixed, you would still be on top by buying it back and selling it on craigslist. The scrap value you will get will barely put a dent in the overall value you'll receive. A few hundred at best.

 

[MN4runnerman]

When my 02 got hit while parked in front of my moms house first I had to restrain myself because the mother&$@!?! was a complete moron.... Anyway I printed out low mileage 4runners from dealerships in my area which ranged from $8k to $10k and sent them in with receipts of work I had done to it. I sent them in saying this is what it will cost me to get a comparable 4Runner to the one your f'ing(minus that I was respectful until they low balled me then I got pissed) client just wrecked. It was an 02 with 121,000 miles on it and extremely clean because I got it from Arizona. They low balled me with an offer of $6500 and that's when I got pissed I called told them their client hit me while the vehicle was parked I did not get a loaner vehicle and therefore not racking up a bill for them and that they should take a closer look at the comparables that I sent in and my receipts. They called me the next day and apologized for any inconvenience and offered me $9000.

Moral of the story make copies of your receipts. Print out high priced 4runners with low miles like that one in the FS classifieds right now for $20k with 37000 miles and be prepared for a lowball. I personally would fix it but that's just me.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Take the money.

Have the frame professionally measured and straightened then replace the parts yourself.

A savage offroad rear bumper is only $500.

 

[marshal]

IMO I'd buy it back from the total and not even worry about repairing the quarter panel. Get a new tail light, put some POR15 on it to keep it from rusting away and get a sweet big rear bumper to cover it up. I bet you'd even get enough money out of the deal to go buy yourself a URD supercharger with a 7th injector.

 

[T4R2014]

Yeah, that quarter panel was technically"damaged" anyway, right? If you want, you could find a used hatch door in the same color to get that dent out, and you could put the money toward getting the rust dealt with. The frame shouldn't be too tweaked, so it should be easy for a good body shop to straighten. I think you are looking at this from a glass half-empty perspective.

 

[THatfield]

The biggest issue is that the quarter panel will need replaced. It is pushed in so much that the tailgate overlaps and the bottom underneath the bumper is rolled.

I don't mean to give the impression that the glass is half empty. It's just there is more work than that picture leads on. I would love to just replace the tailgate (done that once already!) throw on a savage rear bumper and use the rest of the money on fun parts.

Another issue if I do buy it back, it has to go through a state salvage vehicle inspection and they are backed up for a while on appointments.

I know all I sound is pessimistic and negative but its hard to be positive looking at it and knowing i'm going to have to argue with some moron to get a decent amount for the truck. /rant

 

[T4R2014]

The biggest issue is that the quarter panel will need replaced. It is pushed in so much that the tailgate overlaps and the bottom underneath the bumper is rolled.

I don't mean to give the impression that the glass is half empty. It's just there is more work than that picture leads on. I would love to just replace the tailgate (done that once already!) throw on a savage rear bumper and use the rest of the money on fun parts.

Another issue if I do buy it back, it has to go through a state salvage vehicle inspection and they are backed up for a while on appointments.

I know all I sound is pessimistic and negative but its hard to be positive looking at it and knowing i'm going to have to argue with some moron to get a decent amount for the truck. /rant

State inspection? I've bought back vehicles from insurance numerous times. The titles stayed clean and I did not need to go for any state inspections. Like I said, buy it back and sell it disclosing the damage in the ad if you want it gone. Even if you sell it for two grand to some Somalian exporter to ship over to Uzbekistan, that's still two grand on top of what insurance will give you.

 

[THatfield]

State inspection? I've bought back vehicles from insurance numerous times. The titles stayed clean and I did not need to go for any state inspections. Like I said, buy it back and sell it disclosing the damage in the ad if you want it gone. Even if you sell it for two grand to some Somalian exporter to ship over to Uzbekistan, that's still two grand on top of what insurance will give you.

The state inspection is only if I were to repair the vehicle. But I'm pretty sure I'm Ohio once the truck is labeled totaled the title is branded as salvage. I'm not 100% sure on that. But you are right. Easy way to make more money on top of the value of the truck.

 

[THatfield]

Just as a conclusion/final update:

-Truck is in the shop and getting repaired! After a $1900 preliminary estimate, and then 2700 in supplements, she'll be road ready hopefully by next friday. there was more significant damage behind the bumper as expected, plus there was rust of course since I'm in road salt hell from November through March.

-rental is a Nissan Armada. It's horrible. Feels like I'm driving a tank and i'm afraid to push the gas pedal because everytime i do i'm pretty sure the gas gauge moves in sync with my throttle application.

Glad it's not totaled, and I thank you all for the advice. When they tore it down, the shop called and told me to prepare for it to be totaled, they didn't think the supplements would be approved. I was ready to buy it back and throw on the savage bumper as Brian had suggested. As hard as it has been to deal with this insurance company, I'm glad they just approved it and let it get repaired. In the end I had no desire to fight with them on how much my Runner was worth or how much I could buy it back for.