Here's the story.....97 LX450 for sale, no lockers (K292 code on the door), 65,000 miles. The stealership is asking $14,995. But, it has a rebuilt title. I pulled the carfax and everything checked out with what I have been told. Called one of the previous owners (most recent) and found out that it had been hit on the driver's side front. Fender, hood, grille and supposedly radiator were replaced. The sheetmetal has "TOYOTA" stamped into it, but no VIN sticker on the panels, further verifing what I have been told.
I spent about 2 hours with it last night and aside from a few scratches and the hood not lining up perfect (it's a little high on the driver's side), I did not see anything seriously wrong or evidence that anything horrible happened to it. The truck is in Iowa, and there is a law (which has changed in the last 5-6 years) that if a vehicle sustained more than $3000 damage, it must be issued a salvege title. The law later went to $5000 and now is half of the retail value of the vehicle. The salvage title was issued when the law was either 3 or 5k, I'm not sure which.
The frame did not show any signs of being straightened or welded, motor mounts looked good. Brakes did sqeak just a bit, but it stopped nice and straight, with no other weird noises. I could not get the birfs to make any noise, they sounded a felt good.
I am going back to look at it with someone else that has experience with salvage cars Thurs. night. I thought it would be nice to have another (objective) set of eyes check it out. I am thinking of setting a limit at $14K, and hoping to agree on a price in the $13k range. I would like to know what everyone thinks and if you have any advice as to something else to keep our eyes open for, feel free to share. Thanks.
Tony
I spent about 2 hours with it last night and aside from a few scratches and the hood not lining up perfect (it's a little high on the driver's side), I did not see anything seriously wrong or evidence that anything horrible happened to it. The truck is in Iowa, and there is a law (which has changed in the last 5-6 years) that if a vehicle sustained more than $3000 damage, it must be issued a salvege title. The law later went to $5000 and now is half of the retail value of the vehicle. The salvage title was issued when the law was either 3 or 5k, I'm not sure which.
The frame did not show any signs of being straightened or welded, motor mounts looked good. Brakes did sqeak just a bit, but it stopped nice and straight, with no other weird noises. I could not get the birfs to make any noise, they sounded a felt good.
I am going back to look at it with someone else that has experience with salvage cars Thurs. night. I thought it would be nice to have another (objective) set of eyes check it out. I am thinking of setting a limit at $14K, and hoping to agree on a price in the $13k range. I would like to know what everyone thinks and if you have any advice as to something else to keep our eyes open for, feel free to share. Thanks.
Tony