What's a Reasonable Price for Selling My 4Runner for Parts

[donkeyhoatie]

Got word back from the mechanic that in all likelihood the frame on my 4Runner is too bad to become driveable again. With that in mind, I'll probably have to sell it for parts. I'd do a part out myself, but I don't have the skill or knowledge to do so. My mechanic said he'd be interested in the drivetrain, but wouldn't give me much for it. In order to get myself into a new car (most likely not a 4Runner - as much as I love mine, I only use it as a DD, and there are much better options out there for my situation).

What should I be looking to sell it for?

98 SR5
83,8XX miles
4 x 4
Desert Dune
No dents anywhere, just a few scratches.
Yokohama Geolanders ATs 265/70/16 with about 6000 miles on them
Rear bumper was replaced a little over a year ago after I got rearended, but it's just the stock one.

Car is currently at a mechanic in Northbrook, Illinois, but I live in Glenview, just a couple miles away.

What other details might be helpful. Just want to see what kind of money I can get out of this and get started on a new search.

Thanks.

 

[BlackCat914]

Got word back from the mechanic that in all likelihood the frame on my 4Runner is too bad to become driveable again. With that in mind, I'll probably have to sell it for parts. I'd do a part out myself, but I don't have the skill or knowledge to do so. My mechanic said he'd be interested in the drivetrain, but wouldn't give me much for it. In order to get myself into a new car (most likely not a 4Runner - as much as I love mine, I only use it as a DD, and there are much better options out there for my situation).

What should I be looking to sell it for?

98 SR5
83,8XX miles
4 x 4
Desert Dune
No dents anywhere, just a few scratches.
Yokohama Geolanders ATs 265/70/16 with about 6000 miles on them
Rear bumper was replaced a little over a year ago after I got rearended, but it's just the stock one.

Car is currently at a mechanic in Northbrook, Illinois, but I live in Glenview, just a couple miles away.

What other details might be helpful. Just want to see what kind of money I can get out of this and get started on a new search.

Thanks.

I'd be a buyer for several parts, and I'm local. If you make me a good deal on what I need, I'd be more than happy to help you pull other parts so you can sell them easier. I actually don't even mind if you want to bring it over to my house for some disassembling. I have a ton of tools and an air compressor.

 

[djtc]

Bring it to a fab/offroad shop I bet you'll get a different repsonse.A regular mechanic won't be able or will not be willing to take on something like this.

I've seen a couple of runners with this issue and the owners had cut out the affected section and rebuilt it.Your truck has low miles on it ,don't get rid of it!

 

[2runnersnyynyg]

i have seen not so bad,bad and gone. you have to find out if it can be saved and repaired.
get a second opinion before you give up on it, a good shop can patch and fix some stuff. i had a 99 that had a lot of scale rust and i did the tacoma frame spray on it,no perforation. good luck. :redbrick:

post some pictures so we can see how bad before you gut it!

 

[donkeyhoatie]

Not ready to pull the plug on it yet. I'm waiting to hear back from a local fab shop. The problem right now is that the car is undriveable as is, so I'd have to get it towed there to take a look at it. Before I do that, I want to talk to someone face to face and show a few pictures to see if it's worth it to get it to the fab shop that's about 10 miles away from the mechanic.

I'm asking about the value because my mechanic was asking me what I was hoping to get out of it. He made me a really low offer on the drivetrain, but I told him that I was looking at some other options right now. He's called back twice asking if I'd come up with a price so that he can do some asking around for me. His persistence leads me to believe he might think the thing is salvageable/flippable at the right price. He mentioned that the frame looked rotted for about a 3 foot section on each of the sides. I'm hoping to know more on Monday after I drive out to the fab shop (need to secure a loaner car first before I can do it). I definitely feel that there's value left in the rig, even if the frame is shot. I mean, come on, there's less than 84K on an engine that is pretty much bulletproof. That's gotta be worth something, right?

 

[2runnersnyynyg]

Why do you need to tow it?? How did it get there and for what did it go in for????

 

[cj80cruiser]

Take more pics when you get a chance so we can see the extent of the rust.

 

[donkeyhoatie]

Why do you need to tow it?? How did it get there and for what did it go in for????

Rear control arm on the driver's side rusted out and detached from the frame. I discovered it as I got home yesterday at lunch. Had it towed to the mechanic today, since there was no way I was going to drive it as it was.

 

[TOPSECRETTUNDRA]

Sounds like he wants it for himself. Tell him you want $5,000 for it, that will probably get him off your back.

 

[BlackCat914]

anything can be fixed, including your issue. The question is, is what condition is the rest of the undercarriage, and will it be worth it to fix it. I don't mind coming out and looking at it with/for you.

 

[donkeyhoatie]

Sounds like he wants it for himself. Tell him you want $5,000 for it, that will probably get him off your back.

To be fair, I've dealt with this shop for a couple of years. They've always been very honest and very fair about everything. I don't think he wants it for himself, but I do think that he may want to put some time into it and re-sell it.

 

[donkeyhoatie]

anything can be fixed, including your issue. The question is, is what condition is the rest of the undercarriage, and will it be worth it to fix it. I don't mind coming out and looking at it with/for you.

Man, I'd love another set of eyes on this thing. PM me your number and maybe we can coordinate our schedules. Beers are on me afterwards.

 

[zgensler31]

Where you at? I'm interested in a low mileage motor. V6?

 

[TOPSECRETTUNDRA]

To be fair, I've dealt with this shop for a couple of years. They've always been very honest and very fair about everything. I don't think he wants it for himself, but I do think that he may want to put some time into it and re-sell it.

Not saying he is dishonest, the repair would be time consuming and costly. If he spends a little time on the weekend to fix it up, he can make a few bucks. Everyone likes money.

 

[MX4R]

Please get a fabricator, welder, meltal worker, or 4x4 shop to look at this. Anyone that welds metal in any fashion. A mechanic will not touch this for repair, to much on road liability for an auto shop. But a fab shop will do just about anything you want. This is not a difficult repair for a good welder. I am confident that I could replace/ rebox the entire rear half of the frame at my shop, just good measurements and time. Talk to some more people and keep us posted.