98 Damage Assessment - Post-Crumple Value Help.

[Dergibog]

A co-workers teenage, new driver, daughter crumpled his 1998 4Runner. 225k but still a very nice rig. He is only the 2nd owner and it was very well cared for by the 1st.

He asked me to make him an offer on it. Around here, Omaha, Nebraska, they go for around $4000-$5000 in this (before accident) condition. Damage is limited to mainly the front bumper, front quarter and headlight. No hood or door damage. We don't know about underneath the bumper and fender yet but it drives fine. I drove it maybe 6 months before the accident and it was a very impressive driver then. No squeaks or rattles and ran and drove well.

What we are looking for is what to watch out for in terms of hidden damage and what is your best guess as to what it is worth how it sits. Frame is solid. Rear bumper and hitch have the most rust. Body is nice other than this quarter. Hopefully some 3rd gen specialists will chime in with some thoughts.

Thanks!

 

[jgue467]

I'd only offer $2500, no offense but who'd offer more in that condition? Even that is generous.

As far as damage, just look underneath, its all there to be seen/assessed.

Why not take it to get a genuine body shop estimate, its free and they are Experts that won't miss a thing.

Luck and enjoy some Runners.... :Cowboy:

 

[Dergibog]

We were just discussing taking it for two estimates. I think that's a good starting point. $2500 is too much for me to offer without a lot more info. Generous like you said. I think the seller would be ecstatic with that.

I'd only offer $2500, no offense but who'd offer more in that condition? Even that is generous.

As far as damage, just look underneath, its all there to be seen/assessed.

Why not take it to get a genuine body shop estimate, its free and they are Experts that won't miss a thing.

Luck and enjoy some Runners.... :Cowboy:

 

[Cree]

In our area I always go with the saying if the hitch is that Rusty, the frame can't be trusty. 1500 Max.

 

[Mark_BC]

In our area I always go with the saying if the hitch is that Rusty, the frame can't be trusty. 1500 Max.

That was my thought, without seeing underside pics. The damage to the wheel well will be easily visible looking from the engine bay and underneath. If that isn't damaged then it's basically the cost of a new fender and bumper assuming the suspension isn't damaged. Plus paint to match since that is a rare colour.

 

[97Cruiser40th]

In our area I always go with the saying if the hitch is that Rusty, the frame can't be trusty. 1500 Max.

This made me lol but not just hitch check the bumper too.

 

[Dergibog]

I haven't seen it since he bought it last summer but I will try to take a closer look today or tomorrow, before this weekends predicted blizzard.
I'll look at the frame again to see if that should be inspected by Toyota but as I recall it looked really good last summer when the rig was all cleaned up.
It's probably a mess underneath right now with all the snow we have so I might not be able to see too much.

 

[onemanarmy]

$1000 max. That's after thoroughly checking the frame.

have a locker?

 

[ASUMTNEER]

I'd say $1500 tops assuming the frame isn't bent or rusty. Great color.

 

[Tinigunner11]

I’ve repaired quite a few from ends on these trucks and the damage here appears to be pretty minimal. It looks like it just pushed in the fender. What I would look for is: Under the hood : the corner of the core support that was hit. See if it’s crumpled or is the spot welds have been broken. See if the air box mounting tabs are broken, or if the air box has been broken itself. Check the mounting tabs for the headlight and corner light as well. In fender well: check the backside of the air box mounting. Check the washer fluid bottle for damage. Also check the mounting holes for the fender to see if they’ve ripped or ovaled. Bumper: check the mounting brackets for the bumper to see if they’re bent or cracked. Check the frame horns too (bolted to the frame directly behind bumper center)

Other than that the damage really looks limited to the front passengers corner. What did the girl hit? That would help to know if the frames bent. My bet is it’s not, looking at the damage the impact couldn’t have been hard enough to do damage to the frame or the suspension. It only broke the soft stuff, if you know what I mean. I would gladly offer $1500-$1800 for the truck. It should be an easy fix. Feel free to reply to this with any questions or PM me with any also!

 

[Hepar]

Frame is solid. Rear bumper and hitch have the most rust.

There's no way that frame doesn't have a good bit of rust with how bad the bumper and hitch are. Remember too that these frames can rust from the inside.

 

[octanejunkie]

Following opcorn:

 

[Dergibog]

Thanks for the detailed replay and thanks to all for their input. I have heard these frames can look ok from the outside and be ready to explode into swiss cheese at any moment. So it may take a trained eye to assess the frame. It could look ok to the untrained eye.

I’ve repaired quite a few from ends on these trucks and the damage here appears to be pretty minimal. It looks like it just pushed in the fender. What I would look for is: Under the hood : the corner of the core support that was hit. See if it’s crumpled or is the spot welds have been broken. See if the air box mounting tabs are broken, or if the air box has been broken itself. Check the mounting tabs for the headlight and corner light as well. In fender well: check the backside of the air box mounting. Check the washer fluid bottle for damage. Also check the mounting holes for the fender to see if they’ve ripped or ovaled. Bumper: check the mounting brackets for the bumper to see if they’re bent or cracked. Check the frame horns too (bolted to the frame directly behind bumper center)

Other than that the damage really looks limited to the front passengers corner. What did the girl hit? That would help to know if the frames bent. My bet is it’s not, looking at the damage the impact couldn’t have been hard enough to do damage to the frame or the suspension. It only broke the soft stuff, if you know what I mean. I would gladly offer $1500-$1800 for the truck. It should be an easy fix. Feel free to reply to this with any questions or PM me with any also!

 

[Dergibog]

Accident scene.

 

[Wedgy]

I would guess a repair estimate to be well over $2,000, compare that to the blue book and adjust for rust. The pictures look like the owners took great care of it. Don't loan your rig out unless you are prepared to lose it.

 

[AntleredRuin]

correct me if I'm wrong (Texan rust virgin here) but if the interior of the frame is rusty and ready to go at any moment, you should be able to use a screwdriver to poke the frame in various places and tell that way.

 

[Dergibog]

Another buddies 2002 Sport Limited in Omaha. It's possible to keep them immaculate in Omaha. Frame and wheels are perfect. Hitch now has a little rust. It's a DD all seasons.

 

[Hepar]

Another buddies 2002 Sport Limited in Omaha. It's possible to keep them immaculate in Omaha. Frame and wheels are perfect. Hitch now has a little rust. It's a DD all seasons.

Lol. No offense, but I've seen plenty of people who have described their undercarriage as "perfect" and it has been a very loose interpretation of the word.

 

[Dergibog]

I understand the doubt. I sold both a 1988 Land Cruiser and a 1993 Land Cruiser to buyers from the west coast. It took a lot of convincing to get people to believe they were rust free. It can be done with great care and effort. I found the black 2002 4Runner and I would not have had the buyer look at if it wasn't solid. Probably the nicest 3rd gen I have ever seen as old as it is.

 

[Dergibog]

UPDATE:
The 4Runner is scheduled for repairs. Going in the shop March 18th. the owner is going to repair and sell at a loss. But more importantly the 4Runner will be back on the road making someone happy. It sat outside for weeks, facing into a north wind and thru several snow storms and a couple of sub-zero polar vortexes that lasted for days. Finally I couldn't stand it any longer and asked the owner for the keys, cleared off the snow and ice and took it for a drive. It started right up like it had just been driven.