Automobile Enthusiasts
Related: About this forumQuestions about selling 1998 4Runner w/ rusted frame
Last edited Tue Dec 14, 2021, 04:21 PM - Edit history (3)
Got the bad news yesterday. The frame is rusted through and will cost around $4000 to fix.
Im not interested in fixing it and would like to sell it, with full disclosure about the bad frame.
How is the best way to go about finding a buyer? Facebook Marketplace? Or, how much would a junkyard pay? The transmission was rebuilt a couple months ago and I know there are Tacoma and 4Runner enthusiasts who would love to have it
just dont know how to connect with them.
Any advice is appreciated.
EDIT: Thank you all for the responses. Im sorry I didnt reply to them all, its been a crazy few days around here.
I am in the process of donating the truck to Habitat for Humanity. They know about the frame and brake lines and are still happy to have it. It will either be auctioned to someone who is willing to put the money into fixing it (well worth it! The transmission was just rebuilt this past summer for $4000... which is why Ive had enough. The truck with a fine frame is probably only worth $6000-$8000, even with the used 4x4 market so crazy right now) or, if that is unsuccessful, it will be parted out. They think there will be no problem finding a buyer at auction.
Thanks, again!
Response to happybird (Original post)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
happybird
(5,113 posts)What do they do with the donated cars? Id hate to see it crushed because there are good parts in there.
Response to happybird (Reply #2)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
multigraincracker
(34,069 posts)You can google local dealer car auctions and watch the on line sales in real time. Ive bought a few and haul them for local dealers. Right now prices are very high as there are vehicle shortages. That means they are looking for repairable cars and trucks and paying more for parts cars like yours.
You could sell on graigslist and someone might want the tranny.
Good luck.
Best_man23
(5,122 posts)In this case, with the rusted frame, the parts are greater than the whole. They'll remove the usable parts and sell them on eBay Motors or Faceborg Marketplace.
If you choose to sell the vehicle, I would fully disclose the frame corrosion issue, meaning you will not get much for the car. If I was restoring a similar Toyota, I would view your car as a "donor car", meaning I would buy it with the purpose of taking the parts I need for mine, then send the rest to the auto salvage yard. Once the vet group takes the usable parts for selling, the rest will go to the salvage yard.
If you scrap the car outright, most auto salvage yards will only give you a couple hundred dollars to take it off your hands. The way they see it if you're taking it there, chances are no one else wants the car.
Another option is to see if any of the local high schools or trade schools need cars for their auto tech students to work on.
SheltieLover
(59,599 posts)List on fb / craigslist.
Once it's picked clean, sell frame to boneyard for scrap price.
Or list "as is" for parts, but you won't get much.
Pull engine & tranny & sell. Besg to have receipt for tranny rebuild with VIN # on it.
Good luck!
SheltieLover
(59,599 posts)Most require a certaon # of posts to list parts for sale. 👍
LakeArenal
(29,797 posts)They love Toyotas and everyone drives old cars that they keep running.
Our mechanic is driving a 1984 Rav 4.
Our 2011 Kia we shipped from US. Lost its transmission here it took 9 months to get it fixed. So we bought a 2001 Nissan for $4000 Our mechanic says hell be able to keep it running forever.
Once the Kia was fixed we sold our 2011 Kia for $13,000. Twice as much as the blue book in US.
bucolic_frolic
(46,973 posts)They know car values. If it were 30 years old it might be worth quite a bit more especially since it's a Toyo.
Also, at least near me, there are local repair shops that sell used fixed-ups on the side. Hard to believe in this car market they wouldn't buy almost anything that runs. They can fix them for a fraction of what they have to charge customers. And there are we buy cars companies. I had a bid from one once. It wasn't a lot, but it was a cash offer.
doc03
(36,695 posts)or replaced the frame. I have a 2006 that they recalled to inspect the frame about 5 years ago I was shocked when
they told me the frame needed replaced. I had only drove it on roads with salt a few times. Prior to 2006
they recalled and crushed them. I saw hundreds of them pass my house going to a scrap yard for years. They
drained the fluids and crushed them, they weren't even permitted to remove any parts.
I was talking to a women around that time that owned a 4 Runner. The frame on her 4 Runner was totally rusted through
and Toyota would do nothing for her. It is the same frame.
Sorry they won't fix yours either.