How much would you pay?

[Scirocco84]

Hi All,

I found a 99 Highlander 5spd e-locked 4Runner with 168,000 miles on it. It was bought in S. Dakota as a Salvage vehicle due to hail damage. Here's the VIN:

JT3HN86R3X0203794

I'm not in love with the truck, but I am curious what you think you'd pay for it. It's got what I would call medium rust on the rear axle and front bumper and a pretty good dent in the passenger side rear quarter panel. Below are some pics. I apologize for the poor iPhone quality.

Scirocco

 

[Scirocco84]

More pics

Also didn't get a skeezy vibe from the owner of the dealership. Just seemed like a flipper and he had a couple others on the lot in worse shape that he was going to fix up and try to sell to someone.

 

[541joseph]

so The first thing I see is that the battery is like $175 battery so at one point someone loved and took car of the car. KBB.com it and take about 20% and that is pretty much what salvage cars are going for.

 

[sawguy]

There's the front mud flaps I've been looking for!

 

[42s on u]

I sold one a lot like it for 4500

 

[downpour11]

For South Dakota, it doesn't look that bad from the pics. What's the price?

 

[Scirocco84]

I threw out 4k and he said lowest he'd go is 6k. What do you think about resale with the salvage title?

Anything I can do (need to do) about the rust?

 

[audiness]

with the rust and other problems, i'd walk away. The rust is only going to get worse

 

[541joseph]

would I pay 6k for a branded title and rust when it only blue books for 4,700. NO that is a Rip I think your offer of 4 is more than fair. I fought a dealership about a car that blue booked for 5 and it was not in good shape and they had it listed for 6 and wouldn't budge. get him down to 4k or nothing is what I think. and salvage titles are not hard to sell they just don hold value like clean titles

 

[gshadow325]

cant you buy a unbranded one for $6k?

 

[99 sr5 highlander]

Well, it's the "holy grail" of 3rd gens as far as options go, but other than that I could use a little help. Up in Oregon, one of those in good shape, they would be asking 10,000 with those miles. The Blue book on these means almost nothing. I think all factors considered $4500 would be what I would pay.

 

[gshadow325]

Well, it's the "holy grail" of 3rd gens as far as options go, but other than that I could use a little help. Up in Oregon, one of those in good shape, they would be asking 10,000 with those miles. The Blue book on these means almost nothing. I think all factors considered $4500 would be what I would pay.

oh, highlander, i read the tittle and said to myself WTF? thats a 4runner not a highlander lol.

well you buying with emotion. if you really want it. research it more and find out what was damaged and when was it repaired. also consider the resale/insurance replacement value. you think its worht 10k, insurance will only pay you $4k, then its only worth 4k.

 

[LittleCaesar]

No more than 4k; I'd be hesitant to drive it from S.Dakota to SD with that rear end. Ask Nelsonmd about rusted out rear ends.

What was the accident? It doesn't even look like the hatch closes all the way.

Such a shame what rust does.

 

[Scirocco84]

I've been looking since October, and a clean 99 e locked 5 speed goes for about 10k from a dealer here in San Diego / LA. 6k for an unbranded with 170k miles would go fast (hopefully to me). I agree that blue book is low for this area, and I'd put the value of a rust free version some where about 8k for a good deal. Please correct me if I'm way off.

I think I'll come back with 4.5 and see what he says. I might go up to 5.5 if my mood was right.

As long as it's not a rookie move to buy a salvage title that I thoroughly check out... I don't want to be a chump, but I also don't want to pass up a good deal just around the corner.

 

[Scirocco84]

Also, its a hail damaged salvage title. No impact damage or replacement panels as far as I can tell.

The last thing I want to do is buy with emotion. Sure I'd be excited to buy something, but that wears off damn quick if it wasn't a good buy. My wife and I have "talked" about this extensively.

 

[TNRunner99]

The salvage title doesn't necessarily mean the car is functionally unsound. But with that said I would find out what the damage was and what was repaired if possible. With the title though I would not go over 4,500.
The interior looks pretty clean though.

 

[downpour11]

FWIW there was a supercharged 3rd gen in better condition than that one where I live with a salvaged title and it sold for $2300. :shrug:

 

[541joseph]

I agree that blue book means nothing. paid 6500 for a 97 for my gf because it was meticulously maintained and I think that's well over bluebook. but because its branded I for sure wouldn't pay a penny more then bluebook

 

[gshadow325]

I did you a favor and ran the carfax.

DO IT. Its hail damage. Do you see signs of the hail damage? If you sold me this car and i was looking or this car and it was salvaged for hail damage. I would buy it. There is no record of accident. I'd be scared of a bad repair from accident, but cosmetic blah...give the truck character.

BUY IT, if you get it for less than 5500 be real happy.

 

[DocW8494]

Nothing over $4500, honestly. You're thinking with emotion. Don't do it and listen to your wife most likely.

We are all over the States on this site! Find something in this zip code on Craigslist I'm willing to go take a look for you. I'm sure others will too.

Zip - 38135

Dave