Would you buy 4runner with a rebuilt title?

[Friday88]

If it looks clean, everything works, and has information about the rebuilt status, would you do it? It's always seemed to me like a bad choice to buy a rebuilt title vehicle, due to uncertainty of the damage and the awful resale value, but I'm looking for another 3rd gen 4runner and I'm seen a few good looking ones that have rebuilt titles.

I totaled my truck about a month ago, and have been spent 3 weeks now looking for one that's not a total pos. This is super frustrating.

 

[Hepar]

I think if they had extensive pictures of the damage and I was ok with the location and repair of it AND I also planned on never selling it, then I would consider it.

 

[JohnMc]

Possibly. They can get salvage/rebuilt titles for a wide variety of reasons. From hail damage to theft recovery to a minor fender bender to being welded together from the ends of two different cars.

Ask the seller if they know why it has a salvage title. Go look the car over carefully (and beware a lot of undercoating, heh).

Salvage titles do damage the resale, but since you are not the owner, you're getting the 'good' side of that issue - since you're paying that reduced value.

If the frame isn't damaged and there not body filler covering up a bunch of nasty crumpled body work, I'd consider it.

My '99 Highlander came to me looking as minty fresh as can be, no salvage title. But I've noticed that it was in some sort of collision at some point. The LF fender, bumper, headlight have all been replaced (no VIN sticker on the fender, non-Toyota/aftermarket headlight). And the lower control arm on that side was replaced, and later on, I noticed that the top one was slightly bent and replaced it with a PnP part. No real issues other than that though.

 

[audiness]

I personally would not , that is an automatic "no" when I am looking at a car or truck

 

[I_bRAD]

I did.

I didn't know it was salvage title at first but after I'd made the deal and convinced the seller to deliver it (3 hour drive) to my house I discovered it was salvage when we were doing the transaction.

His argument was that I'd checked it out, and was happy with what I'd seen for the price I was paying and I agreed. I'd looked at quite a few at that point and his was still the best, regardless of price/salvage status. That was 5 years ago now and I'm still happy with it! The only issues were the ignition key didn't match the doors (easily fixed by modifying the key cylinder for the ignition)

Was a bit misleading to not come right out and say it, but to his credit he had told me it had been stolen in 2002 (so when it was still newish and fancy) and I never made the connection.

Not sure I'd be as into it if it were an accident repair. If it checked out and there were no red flags I think I'd still go for it for the right price (and didn't hope to flip it or something for a profit)

 

[IBallEngineer]

Salvage title can be your friend. Because there are many with an irrational fear of rebuilt vehicles you can buy something well below market. Of course if you eventually sell it you'll be faced with the same issue.

I've owned several salvage title vehicles. My L/C was salvaged due to an engine bay fire. Of course I intended on doing an engine swap, so it was very beneficial to me and after 21 years, no regrets.

The key is to know as much as possible, and understand what is acceptable as a repair. If you don't know why it was salvaged, and or understand what to look for, either get some help or stay away. But the printed words on the title don't tell the story, the truck does. I've seen some nasty ass repaired vehicles that had clean title, and some really cool rebuilt salvaged vehicles.

Don't let the words make your decision.

 

[JohnMc]

As 3rd gens get older and the KBB values drop, it takes less and less damage to 'total' them and get them branded with a salvage title.

These days a dinged bumper could probably do it.

 

[Friday88]

Salvage title can be your friend. Because there are many with an irrational fear of rebuilt vehicles you can buy something well below market. Of course if you eventually sell it you'll be faced with the same issue.

I've owned several salvage title vehicles. My L/C was salvaged due to an engine bay fire. Of course I intended on doing an engine swap, so it was very beneficial to me and after 21 years, no regrets.

The key is to know as much as possible, and understand what is acceptable as a repair. If you don't know why it was salvaged, and or understand what to look for, either get some help or stay away. But the printed words on the title don't tell the story, the truck does. I've seen some nasty ass repaired vehicles that had clean title, and some really cool rebuilt salvaged vehicles.

Don't let the words make your decision.

So far the biggest difficulty is getting the owner of one to respond with information about it at all. If I can find an honest seller, I might do it.

 

[Chim]

I did it with my 99. It was super clean and I had pictures of the damage. It also had low miles and I got it for a good price. I never had any issues with the runner whatsoever. Would I do it again.. Yup, but only if I got pictures of damage.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Salvage title can be your friend. Because there are many with an irrational fear of rebuilt vehicles you can buy something well below market. Of course if you eventually sell it you'll be faced with the same issue.

I've owned several salvage title vehicles. My L/C was salvaged due to an engine bay fire. Of course I intended on doing an engine swap, so it was very beneficial to me and after 21 years, no regrets.

The key is to know as much as possible, and understand what is acceptable as a repair. If you don't know why it was salvaged, and or understand what to look for, either get some help or stay away. But the printed words on the title don't tell the story, the truck does. I've seen some nasty ass repaired vehicles that had clean title, and some really cool rebuilt salvaged vehicles.

Don't let the words make your decision.

This is good advice. Trying to sell a salvage title is a complete hassle and scares away most of the buyers though, so if you do buy one plan on keeping it, forever.

To be honest I judge the vehicle more by the seller than the vehicle itself. When an owner goes out of their way to show me issues and problems it has had and not hide them, it goes over very well. That was the case for my current vehicle. He knew nothing about cars, but was honest so I bought it.

I hate it when people hide things and then when you find it make up excuses on how it's not a big deal. I avoid those sellers, they just want your money.

 

[spoonsports86]

i have owned plenty of salvage title cars.

There is nothing wrong with owing one as stated before as long as you know what happened to it. get a car fax. do a full inside out top to bottom inspection of the vehicle.

hope you find what you are looking for salvage title or not just know you can bargain with the price since it is salvage


never knwo you might end up with a awesome rig

 

[JBurt]

i have owned plenty of salvage title cars.

There is nothing wrong with owing one as stated before as long as you know what happened to it. get a car fax. do a full inside out top to bottom inspection of the vehicle.

hope you find what you are looking for salvage title or not just know you can bargain with the price since it is salvage


never knwo you might end up with a awesome rig

I did this and have been very happy for 7 years and 50k miles

 

[Tomsea999]

Salvage title example

My '97 was insurance totaled because of high miles (330k) and I bought it back from the insurance company for $800, got a salvage title, and sold it to a friend for $2000 (worth 2x that without a salvage title) - brand new MTX-LX tires, brand new leather seats, owned since new. If you are confident as to the extent of the damage and the documentation behind it, and have pictures, and aren't going to sell it anytime soon, I'd say go for it. He ran it into a truck 2 years later with airbags deployed, so I'm sure someone on the west coast picked up a sweet set of black leather seats out of that thing from the junkyard...

 

[Friday88]

This is good advice. Trying to sell a salvage title is a complete hassle and scares away most of the buyers though, so if you do buy one plan on keeping it, forever.

To be honest I judge the vehicle more by the seller than the vehicle itself. When an owner goes out of their way to show me issues and problems it has had and not hide them, it goes over very well. That was the case for my current vehicle. He knew nothing about cars, but was honest so I bought it.

I hate it when people hide things and then when you find it make up excuses on how it's not a big deal. I avoid those sellers, they just want your money.

I agree, sizing up the seller is the most important part, and it takes a load of stress off when they start sharing lots of details on issues it's had/has.

 

[Friday88]

How about buying a truck with odometer fraud? Just talked to a guy selling a great looking 97 limited 4x4 with difflocker, but the odometer was replaced in the past. He told me he looked up the vin after he bought it and found out there was a discrepancy.

He seemed like a really honest guy and didn't sound nervous at all. He seemed embarrassed actually. He said I was the first of TWELVE people to contact him in period of 20 minutes, but I told him I'd have to pass on it.

Anyone have an opinion about this? It seems less of a problem than a wrecked rebuilt vehicle, but it's still territory that I've never entered.

 

[gamefreakgc]

How about buying a truck with odometer fraud? Just talked to a guy selling a great looking 97 limited 4x4 with difflocker, but the odometer was replaced in the past. He told me he looked up the vin after he bought it and found out there was a discrepancy.

He seemed like a really honest guy and didn't sound nervous at all. He seemed embarrassed actually. He said I was the first of TWELVE people to contact him in period of 20 minutes, but I told him I'd have to pass on it.

Anyone have an opinion about this? It seems less of a problem than a wrecked rebuilt vehicle, but it's still territory that I've never entered.

I'd say no. If they swapped out the cluster they could have also pulled the CE light or ABS/Brake light, hiding other issues.

 

[Friday88]

I'd say no. If they swapped out the cluster they could have also pulled the CE light or ABS/Brake light, hiding other issues.

yeah good point. It will be interesting to see if it's still for sale tomorrow, or if one of the 12 people who contacted him will take it. I feel like I'm learning a lot about the 4runner market here just by watching the condition of what comes up for sale, and how long it takes for these things to sell.