Issue with title, input on marketing said vehicle.

[99Runnr]

So I purchased my 99 4runner last year. I was told it was a clean title (which it is), I was told it was purchased after a minor collision, I saw pictures, ect. There was damage to the drivers rear door and the front bumper. Minor, frame is straight, no rust, doors and all body panels line up straight. Front end, hood, everything is in perfect alignment, so I had zero reason to doubt the vehicle or fear it was incorrect.

I recently found out that Carfax has the vehicle listed as a total loss reported. However, my title is CLEAN. I called the DMV and was completely transparent and asked how this happens. They have no record, nor marks on the title for my truck. She said something like, if the pay out for a totaled truck is under "x" amount, there is no law requiring that it be reported/reaching title record. The damage was again, all cosmetic and has been 100% repaired.

So in general, if you guys were to be looking at purchasing a truck like this, would it bother you? If you can visually see there is no issues, you do any pre-purchase inspection and clarify, how would you gauge this situation? I am looking at investing some money into business opportunity and it would mean selling my 4runner.

I want some general input on what/if I should be prepared to have this hurt my selling price. It's not a stock truck, it's pretty heavily/tastefully modified, so the market group for me is not the "original, top dollar buyer" regardless.

Cliff notes;
Title is clear, carfax reports a total loss.

Loop hole in the law due to low vehicle value, negates report of total loss if the totaled payout is under "x" amount apparently.

 

[Ezlife45]

I knew a guy that had a Durango. it was 8 years old when he rear ended a vehicle. The only damage was the front grill was cracked and the front bumper was punched into the radiator. Fenders were fine. Because of the age, the vehicle was totaled. Air bags didn't go off.
He bought the vehicle back, applied for a salvage title and had to replace the hood/hinges/bumper. Looked fine afterwards.

I don't like the games insurance companies play.

 

[Boardmember]

I don't know the answer, but a very interesting question. I hope someone has an insightful response.

I know I got rear ended at a stop light. The car behind had stopped but the car behind her was slowing down but texting at the same time. On my Tundra, wrinkle in right rear quarter panel, new bumper, new receiver hitch. I later discovered CarFax had my truck listed as "wrecked." Damn. Really?

But that's not your question.

 

[Bigshankhank]

Went through the same thing on a mid 80's Mazda pickup that I had a minor fender bender in. When I sold it, I listed it in the ad as having a clear title but having been in an accident which reported a "total" loss to carfax. Not much you can do but be honest about it, and be prepared to explain it to potential buyers.

 

[99Runnr]

Yea I have no issues giving disclosure. As I said there is nothing to hide or cover up after the fact. Thanks for the feedback.

Someone local wants to look and didn't care when I told them.

 

[MeefZah]

You can dispute the Carfax. I'm not sure how Joe Nobody does it, but dealers have a remedy. I know this because I was looking at a oddly inexpensive Tacoma on a used car lot and the Carfax, after I ran one, showed "rollover, total loss". The truck had obviously been in a crash as it had a new door, but I doubted it was a complete rollover. I discussed this with the dealer, who admitted it had been in a minor crash and that he had fixed the door, contacted Carfax and by the next day was calling me telling that Carfax had changed the crash type / damage and it was no longer listed as "rollover, total loss". I looked at the Carfax again, and the total loss note and rollover note was gone.

I of course didn't buy it, for a lot of reasons, but I did learn a valuable free lesson, that Carfax don't mean shit. Not sure if that will help you.

I'd say if you price it right, have a clear title in hand, and explain upfront the details with prospective buyers, you should be okay. Most people will put more stock in whether they instinctively trust you as a seller than they will a Carfax that doesn't jive with what they can see with their own two eyes.

 

[99Runnr]

It's a pretty extensively modified truck, lifted, bumpers, tires/wheels, ect.

My mods are documented by receipts/hand written logs. The truck is clean, it sounds/drives/looks great. I am selling it for probably double of what book is. Which means I found my target buyer; Clean, well documented, modified 4runner purchaser.

Guy seems to know his stuff moderately about the trucks. I'm being 110% honest, cause honestly, if it doesn't sell, I'll find somewhere else to get a quick 10k. If it does sell, well, I'll build something again once things are less hectic in the 4runner variety.

 

[Bstrom]

My insurance won't cover a salvage or rebuilt titled vehicle. I'd check that aspect of the situation before I bought just to know...

 

[99Runnr]

My insurance won't cover a salvage or rebuilt titled vehicle. I'd check that aspect of the situation before I bought just to know...

That is where I was confused. I have called and had a thorough conversation with the DMV. The vehicle is a CLEAN title! They have zero reports of anything, so it's strictly a Carfax red flag. In this case, it's fair for a buyer's perspective. If I didn't disclose the accident, you wouldn't know otherwise.

I have told the few parties interested, they are understanding and with these trucks, it's not hard to "total" them anymore. A book value at like 4k-5k, hell, a hatch costs almost enough to total them.

I have a guy coming tonight with cash in hand, who I've sent 40 pictures of the truck to. He will probably leave with it, I'm guessing.

 

[A.Wilson013]

So... when can we expect to see that super charger up for sale?

Also- if someone were selling me a vehicle with a carfax total loss report and a clean title I'd be on my way. That seems sketchy as hell, regardless of what the DMV says.

Was it wrecked in WA? Or was it wrecked somewhere else, and title washed when switched to WA?

 

[99Runnr]

So... when can we expect to see that super charger up for sale?

Also- if someone were selling me a vehicle with a carfax total loss report and a clean title I'd be on my way. That seems sketchy as hell, regardless of what the DMV says.

Was it wrecked in WA? Or was it wrecked somewhere else, and title washed when switched to WA?

So my question is your secondary point of interest? Is it irrational for me to wonder why you continually make personal inquiries towards me and your buddy DC "likes" the posts promptly? If you guys have a personal interest in me, you both have/had my number, or could PM me. So what is the agenda really? Lol.

I'm actually not really interested in being a point of interest, if you wanted to be pals or gave two legitimate shit's about what I'm doing outside the 4runner, well... the delivery would be much different. We stopped texting outside the forum after the retrofits. Did I miss something?

Far as my truck goes. It was wrecked locally. It's not sketchy, it's another stupid Washington state law. It's not whatever the phone operator felt like telling me, it's what happens when a low value vehicle, experienced a small fender bender and body shops are $$$. Any real 4runner enthusiast, which I thought most people on here were? Can see a rust free frame, 5-speed, e-locker, straight body, with thousands and thousands of dollars in receipts from the last 3 months and feel just fine about buying it.

 

[99Runnr]

Sold to first person who looked without even driving it. They will enjoy it, she gets it in a couple days.

 

[A.Wilson013]

So my question is your secondary point of interest? ....

I cannot speak for DC as I haven't spoken to him in quite some time, but quite simply I don't believe a good portion of the stuff you post. When you meet someone that talks about nothing but how poor they are, you generally feel a bit of empathy, which I did. However, when that same person starts posting about all the expensive parts, cars, etc that they've bought within 24 hours of telling you how hard off they are, it makes you question everything they say.

My little inquiries were an attempt to get you to prove me wrong as I still wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately that never happened. We've still not seen any of the heavily modified wrecked 4Runners you picked up for as good as free, the 700HP IS, the supercharger, anything. However, everything you've posted that seems believable is well documented around the forum. Your wheels, bumpers, and OME suspension, as an example.

Of course it's not your duty to please me or anyone on this forum, so you don't have to prove yourself to anyone. I don't expect you to care about what I or anyone else on here thinks, but as they always say....
:worthless

 

[99Runnr]

Proved my point.

 

[99Runnr]

Proved my point.

 

[MyHigh]

:fencing::rofl:

I love these smilies

 

[A.Wilson013]

Can you accept that we have different definitions of poor now?

You're right, we do have VERY different definitions of poor, apparently.

If you come across pictures of any of the things I mentioned above (700hp IS, TRD Supercharger, or the vehicles you bought and flipped seemingly overnight) I'd be interested in seeing them. I'd love to put my foot in my mouth over this.

With regard to your 4Runner title issue: I was not saying YOURS is sketchy. I was saying that if I went to meet a guy from Craigslist who showed me a CarFax showing a total loss, and then a clear title, I'd be sketched out and move on.

All of this was in response to your question, "So in general, if you guys were to be looking at purchasing a truck like this, would it bother you? If you can visually see there is no issues, you do any pre-purchase inspection and clarify, how would you gauge this situation?"

 

[99Runnr]

Proved my point.

 

[GSPRunner]

I, too, may have a different definition of poor, but this is my personal definition.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_dzDb5v744