Anybody in the market for a 3rd gen?

[WrexHAmm]

I am going to go with scam. Thinking you don't get a reply or you get a "something seems off reply."

 

[Hepar]

Apparently (according to what I've read) a common craigslist scam is to lure you (with your wad of cash) to look at a vehicle (someone elses!), though usually in an isolated neighborhood, and rob you when you get there. If it sounds too good to be true (like the 2001 decked out Tacoma 4X4 with 100K for $2300 I saw yesterday) it probably is.

It's pretty unlikely a guy who has a truck with that many goodies would let it go for $4500, even if he was desperate. It's a steal, but he doesn't say who gets stolen from! I'd take a buddy (maybe an armed one).

Another one is to lure people to a location (usually a safe feeling one ie in a suburban neighborhood) where they know the people are gone. They will setup as if they live there (put the car in the garage or driveway) and show people the car. They'll make up some reason why they can't sell it at that exact moment (husband/wife accidentally took the keys or forgot to get the title from the safety deposit box), but since the price is so unbelievable, the buyers are willing to put down a deposit for them to "hold it for them. Scammers collect cash all day and then bail.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

I'm on the fence about the response. Although I would normally agree that no ph# in the ad is suspicious, that specific T4R would be $2500 with no ph# and would have someone's personal e-mail address "[email protected]". A scammer would normally write what a dealer writes, such as "power door locks, premium wheels (lol), moon roof", etc. Unless they're a bit smarter & just copied someone's ad from another part of the country.

It'll be interesting either way :snacker:

 

[Hepar]

I'm on the fence about the response. Although I would normally agree that no ph# in the ad is suspicious, that specific T4R would be $2500 with no ph# and would have someone's personal e-mail address "[email protected]". A scammer would normally write what a dealer writes, such as "power door locks, premium wheels (lol), moon roof", etc. Unless they're a bit smarter & just copied someone's ad from another part of the country.

It'll be interesting either way :snacker:

There's nothing super obvious on the ad that it is a scam, but enough to raise some suspicion. Contact the seller and check it out. Just keep your wits about you. Don't ever bring a large amount of cash with you and never put down a deposit. If they are legit, they'll have no issues with transferring the title at a bank where you can make up a cashiers check.

 

[bikerjosh]

Just checked te link, looks like someone "flagged it". Either a scam or someone flagged it after emailing hoping to throw others off the scent?:hiding:
josh

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Bringing 8K in cash doesn't really seem like a wise move no matter what you are doing regardless if you bring a gun or whatever. If somebody is trying to jack you and pull a gun this opens a whole new can of worms. If I need 8K in cash to make a purchase then I can get in from the bank in about 30 min. I also do all my transactions in front a neutral 3rd party so they can notarize signatures and have a record of it for the bill of sale. Something your bank will happily do for free. This is probably why I have never been scammed.

I buy and sell motorcycles on a pretty regular basis, I never bring cash. My current insurance covers me on whatever vehicle I am driving and if the owner isn't willing to let me dive it then I don't want it. Same can be said for a car or truck.

It could be legit, it could be a load of crap. Email him, get a number and arrange to meet not at his house but a very populated place. Heck, you could meet across from a cop shop. If you get anything fishy then back out and move on. Good deals can be had.... just don't be an idiot about it.

I agree with you about 99% on this. The only thing I also consider though is that it's a lot easier to negotiate when you show them the money. Someone's asking $8,000, you "say" $7,000. Eh. They're asking $8,000 and you show them $7,000 cash in hand, they tend to cave.

But you're right, you need to weigh the risk against the possible gain.

 

[98OzarksRunner]

I just emailed him. I let you guys know if I get a response or not. I also find it very odd when someone is selling a car but doesn't list a phone number. But maybe that's just me.

I never list a phone number in a craigslist ad. If I get a response, I google everything I can about the person (email address, name if any, etc.) then if I'm comfortable I respond giving them my business cell or call the number they give me (on my business cell). If the email address is a '[email protected]' thing I ignore it. (I'm in a 'paranoid' business.)

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I never list a phone number in a craigslist ad. If I get a response, I google everything I can about the person (email address, name if any, etc.) then if I'm comfortable I respond giving them my business cell or call the number they give me (on my business cell). If the email address is a '[email protected]' thing I ignore it. (I'm in a 'paranoid' business.)

I'm the opposite. I always list it so that I get serious buyers. If they're not willing to pick up the phone to call me (which filters out 90% of the scammers) then they're not my buyer.

 

[SCRunner12]

Just checked te link, looks like someone "flagged it". Either a scam or someone flagged it after emailing hoping to throw others off the scent?:hiding:
josh

Never thought of that. Would have come in handy when I was looking for a 4runner.

 

[Nunyabiz]

$9000? Are we looking at the same vehicle?

I guess not.

I was looking at a 99 with E Locker and only about 128K on it?
In my book with a good maintenance record and the interior in good shape that would be worth 9K all day long around here.
I just glanced at it though, maybe it wasn't as it appeared.

When I was looking for mine I was checking out 99-2001's with more than 160K miles that all were around 8K and were pure crap.
I just got lucky and got a nice one for $7700, was WAY better than anything I had seen and cheaper to boot.
But I could easily see a 99' in great shape with E Locker, lift kit etc around here selling for 9K without a problem.

"'Bringing 8K in cash doesn't really seem like a wise move no matter what you are doing regardless if you bring a gun or whatever. If somebody is trying to jack you and pull a gun this opens a whole new can of worms. If I need 8K in cash to make a purchase then I can get in from the bank in about 30 min."

I had to drive 200 miles and get there early in the morning and wanted the money on me in case I wanted to haggle a bit.

The truck ended up being so clean and nice that all I actually said was "Whats your bottom dollar"? He wanted/listed it for $7900, he said $7700 and I said sold I didn't even bother to haggle because it was a very good price from what I had been looking at.
If it had not been so clean, needed some work of some sort then I would have haggled him on down to 7000 or so and having the cash right there makes a difference.

 

[98OzarksRunner]

Think this one could be a scam?

Entry 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser

 

[Rockdawg84]

Think this one could be a scam?

Entry 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser

Im betting they just missed a zero on the end of the price. LOL

 

[madbomber08]

Talking to the person who has the item for sale is a big step in the right direction. By just e-mailing or texting you can't really tell if they know anything about what they're selling or not. When talking to them, you can press them with questions to see if they really know what they're talking about. A good idea is to write down questions and go down the list. If they want to sell it, they'll be willing to talk.

However, this is not always the case. I don't recall ever being lied to by a private owner, but in my experience with car lots, dealers and wholesalers lie lie lie so they can get you in to look at the vehicle. They are able to look you straight in the eye and tell you a vehicle is perfect even when the check engine light is on. Sometimes, depending on how much you like the vehicle, they can even make you believe it. I've got my hopes up on numerous occasions when calling them and when I actually saw the vehicle its terrible. On one occasion they even sprayed shiney **** on the undercarriage of a 4runner to make it look like it hadn't been rusting. Oh yeah and the salesman was the 9th top car salesman in the state of U.S. My ass.

My advice is STAY AWAY FROM DEALERS/WHOLESALERS WHEN BUYING THAT OLD OF A VEHICLE.