I am about to buy an 08 Limited V8 from a toyota dealer. Its not a trade-in. it was bought at an auction from an Acura dealer. Its in gorgeous shape. Only 34k miles. but i noticed one thing that worries me. the V8 badge is not in the grille. is that something that could have been removed/stolen? Or would you assume that there was a front end accident and they never put it back? Thats what my gut tells me. Carfax says no accident but I dont trust it. I welcome any opinions. I am a day away from pulling the trigger. thanks in advance.
Would you be wary/worried?
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4RunnerFan
New member
If you're satisfied with the CarFax report (to verify mileage especially) and don't see any evidence of crashes, maybe you could just ask the dealer to throw on a new V8 badge as a condition of the sale. Perhaps others here can provide good tips on how to find "tells" of any accident history.
klennop
New member
The grill could have broken, hit a bird, etc. so the original guy bought one from a V6 and put it on there?? Or maybe he replaced it with a V8 one but never bought the emblem??
I would look it over really well, gaps, paint, any sign of bending metal back in front by the radiator area.
The emblem wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. Heck, even the dealer could have taken it off to draw in people that would normally walk away when they see V8??
I would look it over really well, gaps, paint, any sign of bending metal back in front by the radiator area.
The emblem wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. Heck, even the dealer could have taken it off to draw in people that would normally walk away when they see V8??
zerowkul98
New member
Those things arent secured to the grill in the most perfect of ways...
My big Toyota emblem on the grill VANISHED on the way home from work one day. All it took was a piece of ice that was on the roof of a grandpa-mobile to come flying off, hit my windshield and SMASHED IT, and a chunk hit the emblem and broke it to hell.
New one was $20 for that piece of plastic. Ugh.
My big Toyota emblem on the grill VANISHED on the way home from work one day. All it took was a piece of ice that was on the roof of a grandpa-mobile to come flying off, hit my windshield and SMASHED IT, and a chunk hit the emblem and broke it to hell.
New one was $20 for that piece of plastic. Ugh.
ryanbt
New member
Is the grill color keyed? It should be if its a Limited. It's my understanding from other posts on the forum that the V8 badge is not a physical part of the grill, but just an additional part the clips on. Perhaps it just fell off? Look at the screws and bolts that hold the fenders on. Be sure they don't look worn, and that the paint on them isn't scratched off meaning that it was less likely they were removed at some point in time. Check to make sure the gap between the hood and fenders is even on both sides too.
A Toyota Dealer showed me why they c/n certify a 07 V6 T4R.
1. The vin # was missing form the front passenger side fender.
2. The power steering fluid reservoir w/n in the exact position as others.
3. Seams where metal joined and was caulked from the factory w/n as smooth (under the hood).
4. The carfax d/n indicate what has happened. Plus, damage must be reported to be listed.
5. Otherwise it was a clean T4R for sale that c/n be certified but they would sale insurance on it.
6. I feel frame/structural damage is the big issue vs fender benders.
7. I walked away w/o a test drive and appreciated their honesty of showing me what they found.
jow
1. The vin # was missing form the front passenger side fender.
2. The power steering fluid reservoir w/n in the exact position as others.
3. Seams where metal joined and was caulked from the factory w/n as smooth (under the hood).
4. The carfax d/n indicate what has happened. Plus, damage must be reported to be listed.
5. Otherwise it was a clean T4R for sale that c/n be certified but they would sale insurance on it.
6. I feel frame/structural damage is the big issue vs fender benders.
7. I walked away w/o a test drive and appreciated their honesty of showing me what they found.
jow
2003-4x4runner
New member
The badge just clips in the grill.
Look more carefully at gaps and seams if you are worried about crash damage.
ryanbt
New member
From my experience CarFax isn't always accurate. 6 years ago my Nissan Xterra was in an accident and had $5K worth of body damage which was repaired by my local Nissan Dealership. I sold it 3 years ago and pulled the CarFax myself prior to trading it in, and found there was no accident listed. However my Dad's Acura MDX was ever so slightly rear ended @ $163.00 dollars total in damage (a single decorative piece of gray plastic that goes on the lower portion of the rear bumper) and it's CarFax shows "ACCIDENT INDICATOR!".
All of that being said I bought my T4R brand new off of the show room floor, so you wouldn't expect any kind of damage or to pull a CarFax report, however I learned from toyotaowners.com several months after purchase that my hood had been repainted. I wish I would have known that when I bought it for added negotation. No one at the dealership or in the body shop remembers why it was repainted. I assume a scrape during delivery, but who knows. Regardless I can not tell it was repainted, it's VIN is intact on the hood and it's CarFax report is clean.
Your best bet is to have the vehicle checked by a mechanic that you trust before your purchase.
All of that being said I bought my T4R brand new off of the show room floor, so you wouldn't expect any kind of damage or to pull a CarFax report, however I learned from toyotaowners.com several months after purchase that my hood had been repainted. I wish I would have known that when I bought it for added negotation. No one at the dealership or in the body shop remembers why it was repainted. I assume a scrape during delivery, but who knows. Regardless I can not tell it was repainted, it's VIN is intact on the hood and it's CarFax report is clean.
Your best bet is to have the vehicle checked by a mechanic that you trust before your purchase.
+1 on Carfax.
Carfax does not list out everything. If you get into an accident and decide to pay it yourself instead of the insurance, that bodyshop won't report it, how would Carfax know? They don't.
I've seen dealers sell used cars that were in accidents. You really gotta look carefully at the body, etc. A Salesman is a salesman....they just sell cars.....they'll turn a blind eye with reference to the history of the car.
As others have said, check the car out very carefully
Carfax does not list out everything. If you get into an accident and decide to pay it yourself instead of the insurance, that bodyshop won't report it, how would Carfax know? They don't.
I've seen dealers sell used cars that were in accidents. You really gotta look carefully at the body, etc. A Salesman is a salesman....they just sell cars.....they'll turn a blind eye with reference to the history of the car.
As others have said, check the car out very carefully
kai920
New member
Take it to a body shop and have them check it out.
I bought a Limited from a dealer, and two days after owning it the rear bumper came loose and dropped out of the right position. Took it to a body shop and asked them to give me a quote. Through the whole process, they discovered, the rear tailgate had been repaired, removed at some point, and had a poor repaint job. The left rear quarter panel was replaced, and the roof was repainted. the dealer I bough it from , happily bought it back from me and I lost nothing.
All panels will have a VIN sticker and if the bolts are scratched up, paint missing, they've been removed. try to take it for a test spin to a body shop that will do a free prepurchase inspection. I've had a few done and they are usually happy to point stuff out and help.
I bought a Limited from a dealer, and two days after owning it the rear bumper came loose and dropped out of the right position. Took it to a body shop and asked them to give me a quote. Through the whole process, they discovered, the rear tailgate had been repaired, removed at some point, and had a poor repaint job. The left rear quarter panel was replaced, and the roof was repainted. the dealer I bough it from , happily bought it back from me and I lost nothing.
All panels will have a VIN sticker and if the bolts are scratched up, paint missing, they've been removed. try to take it for a test spin to a body shop that will do a free prepurchase inspection. I've had a few done and they are usually happy to point stuff out and help.
