newbie here hello.....

S

salvaged

New member
First off hello

So i have started my quest for a 4 runner and found you guys. After my first username never got a activation email about a week ago i created a new one and finally got activated so i could post. So hi there:thumb3:

i have a seen a lot of runners in the past week and have decided i definitly want the 3rd gen. 5spd would be great but auto looks like its gonna win given whats available. i have read thru a bunch of posts and got quite a bit of info. however i am going to look at a 97 runner this evening power window/locks not sure about seats ,4x4, v6 auto ,176k timing belt done at 80k newer brakes and starter towing package white on beige. here's the downfall it has a salvage title. Obviously i will need to look it over real well but what is everyone's experiences on salvage titles? it is registered and has been back on the road for years. Also is there any other things that pertain specifically to 97's i should look out for. Like i have said i have seen a lot of crap and a lot of good but im shooting for the best deal in a 3rd gen style im not looking to spend 6-7k on a 3rd gen with 200k so with that said what do you think this vehicle is worth? provided its a decent clean body minimal rust and everything works fine , oh and probably needs tires very soon

i will tell you what he is asking later just to keep interesting and now sway your thoughts

also if you guys/gals could post up pics of white 97 runners or jsut this style that would be great so i can see ll the differences and what a nice one as opposed to a crap one would be worth and look like
thanks
 
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Welcome!

If you ask me, I'd stay away from a salvage title, if nothing else because you can never really be sure. There are lots of 4runners out there and if you're patient you'll find one that you're happy with. I looked for a couple months before buying, and am very pleased with what I got.

With all that being said, get a carfax report (expensive, but worth the info IMO) and see what you can tell from that. If it was just a bunch of superficial damage but they totaled it since the car was old, you might be ok. Frame damage is a definite dealbreaker in my book.
 
Hmmm.... salvage titles.... well, in my experience, and this is only for me, with a salvage title comes a ghost.... and the ghost has made a home in your truck/car.... and no matter what you do to re-build, the bas**** won't leave. I know people who have got them and they have been great vehicles. My first truck was an 88 toyota with a salvage title. I loved it. But it came with a ghost. So. Do what you like. But as for me, I won't do salvage again. :hiding:
 
welcome!! be patient, they are out there! i just picked up a 3rd gen manual with 117000 miles. very clean. they are very popular.
 
Depends on a lot of things, if it is flooded, just stay away, but if it was in a fender bender and insurance totaled it over something stupid than yeah its a good buy...depending on the price. I would pay $2k for a salvage 4runner in good working order.
 
no the guy is not russian and i found out what happened to it , it wasn't any frame damage a tree fell on it by the driver door. so ill have to look closely but if anyone has a carfax account ill toss some cash your way to run thru paypal for me
 
Lignum said:
Does the guy have an accient? Like Russian perhaps....
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Im curious to know where you are going with this, Lingum, cause when I was looking to buy I DID run into a guy exactly as you describe out of Missouri

Id stay away from that, personally, Salvaged.
 
salvaged said:
no the guy is not russian and i found out what happened to it , it wasn't any frame damage a tree fell on it by the driver door. so ill have to look closely but if anyone has a carfax account ill toss some cash your way to run thru paypal for me
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I do - send me a PM with VIN
 
Salvaged vehicles can be difficult to buy, register, insure and ever sell again. Add to that the miles are already high on the vehicle and you have no idea how bad the damage was and how it was repaired.

I wouldnt walk. Id run.
 
Russian Organized Crime

Scroll down to auto theft, I have run into 3 different people selling salvaged titles and they all had russian accents, and I find it funny. It doesn't nessisarily have to be stolen, people will buy several wrecked cars and combine all the parts to make a profit.:pimp:
 
im pretty sure its not a russian thing i had the carfax ran and other then the obvious i think i'm cleared of the russians on this one :shrug:

i will let you all know price if i pick it up.

I will probably run away from it but if it looks & drives good and we can come to fair price i'll probably take it as long as the title says REBUILT. if it says salvage forget it. This would then have to be trail rig for someone. I have high hopes it doesnt being its currently on the road and reg'd.

thanks for all the info however no one has told me any other quirks to look for since everyone is hung on the salvage thing so
 
salvaged said:
im pretty sure its not a russian thing i had the carfax ran and other then the obvious i think i'm cleared of the russians on this one :shrug:

i will let you all know price if i pick it up.

I will probably run away from it but if it looks & drives good and we can come to fair price i'll probably take it as long as the title says REBUILT. if it says salvage forget it. This would then have to be trail rig for someone. I have high hopes it doesnt being its currently on the road and reg'd.

thanks for all the info however no one has told me any other quirks to look for since everyone is hung on the salvage thing so
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I don't care what you pay for it, but giving us the price of it is a big factor of whether you should buy it. From the sounds of the thread its not like anyone is looking to steal the truck before you buy it.
 
It would have to be a ridiculously good deal for me to buy something with a salvage title. John, I can't believe we are actually agreeing, but you're absolutely right. If you're looking at a ~50% discount, a salvage might be worth rolling the dice on.

Also, there are tons of threads on buying a 4R, just do a search and you'll get lots of info on things to look out for, things to check out, etc.

The timing belt was changed 100k ago, so that means it needs to be done again soon. Also you mention it needs new tires, so you're looking at spending a fair chunk of change on it once you buy it.
 
So the truck turned out to have a salvage title which i knew but was hoping it said rebuilt on it but it didn't so there is no way for me to register it in NJ. however it is reg'd and insured in NC and im sure it cane be done again here. Anyway he was asking 2500.00 on the truck and i was going in with a offer of 1500.00 before i even saw it. Turns out with the title it wasnt even worth me looking at anymore but from my once over and not drivig it it would make a great trail rig but i want someting nicer for DD/vacation trips.

So if anyone knows of a 3rd gen in the NC area LMK

thanks again and hope to spend some time on this board once i find my new 4R

oh and thanks to the guy for the carfax it was very helpful
 
salvaged said:
So the truck turned out to have a salvage title which i knew but was hoping it said rebuilt on it but it didn't so there is no way for me to register it in NJ. however it is reg'd and insured in NC and im sure it cane be done again here. Anyway he was asking 2500.00 on the truck and i was going in with a offer of 1500.00 before i even saw it. Turns out with the title it wasnt even worth me looking at anymore but from my once over and not drivig it it would make a great trail rig but i want someting nicer for DD/vacation trips.

So if anyone knows of a 3rd gen in the NC area LMK

thanks again and hope to spend some time on this board once i find my new 4R

oh and thanks to the guy for the carfax it was very helpful
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If the truck is in good shape, i would offer 2k for it, and then actually research upon how you register it in NJ. It prolly needs to pass an inspection then it should be good.
 
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