89-4run

Admins never moved my thread to here so I started a new one in the "right" forum: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/my-89-4runner-rear-ended-108273/

So, "their" insurance company ruled my truck as a total loss. They offered $3500. Is this reasonable? I personally feel this is a "tad" low. I researched and found an 89 v6 SR5 5spd in Cali that sold for $4500, but had fewer miles than mine had (160k vs 225k).

Let me give you some background info on my truck. I have almost every receipt for work done on it dating back to '97. I bought it in '96.

Having said that here are some of the things I've replaced or added:
Past 5 months:
Installed brand new Turn Signal/Wiper arms (oem)
Brand new front brakes/rotors (oem)
Brand new rear brake shoes/turned drums (oem)
Brand new spark plugs (oem)
Repacked front wheel bearings

Here are some recent things:
Geolander AT tires (2005)
Optima Red Top battery (2004)
Custom stereo (2004) separates installed up front, 2 amps - 1 for stereo and 1 for 10" in subwoofer incased in a custom fiberglass casing in the back, and new interior side walls built inplace of the plastic ones. Matching carpet.
Linex rock guard (2004)
Steering column covers top and bottom - brand spanking new (2003 oem)
BRAND f'ing new dash (2003 oem) - 1 of 2 LEFT in the COUNTRY!
Badland bumpers (2003)
Bushwacker Flares (2003)
Custom muffler setup (2002)
Fake bead lock rims whatever they're called (2003)
In the past 4 years, new belts, starter, spark plug wires, alternator, rotor/cap, K&N airfilter, the list goes on.

Other than replacing the engine (225k miles) I've proactively replaced and maintined everything. It runs extremely well.

No body damage. No rust. No previous wrecks. Tires rotated and balanced religiously.

They haven't said officially how much I could buy it back, but it would be maybe around $600 (a guess). First estimate to fix - $4000. I just don't think I would be safe in this vehicle if I fixed it - at least as my daily driver.

I'm pretty much screwed aren't I? I'm not expecting millions, but damn, they just don't care what you do. Everything is deemed "maintenance".

What would you do?

pruney81

Try to plead your case and get more money out them. Buy it back and sell it off for parts

Stogieguy

It's "their" job to pay out as little as possible. I would do as much research as possible on finding similar vehicles for sale & show them the evidence & never agree to their first low ball offer.

slosurfer

you really have to search local, prices can change drastically from area to area. Find what local ones are going for, and good luck.

yotaknows

I tried to get a loan on a 90 excab, but the asking price was 2k higher than the NADA price. Our Toyotas are high demand vehicles yet the ins and banks don't take that into account. Sorry about your truck. You might get asking prices off Craigslist to plead your case. Good Luck

stock87

I don't get it. Maybe the pictures are deceiving, but the damage didn't look TOO horribly bad in your other thread.

I'm assuming the rear part of the frame is bent (behind the rearmost leaf spring mounts), but is it damaged anywhere else?

That thing is far too nice to get rid of, IMO. Buy it back, save $$ for a frame swap if it's that bad. Body wise, it looked like only the tailgate needs replacing, maybe the floor panel would need a new chunk welded in.

91ToyTrck

I have to agree with the take the moneyy buy it back and ...
a) sell itt for parts
b) buy another same year 4runner and swap everything over then sell the rest for parts
c) move on to your next vehicle with the money...start over

Insurance companies don't give you many options.

Bigblock

You can't sell it yourself for that much!Take the money and run!They made millions of those things.

89-4run

Thanks guys. I'm actually sort of glad to know that I'm pretty much ˟˟˟ced with pretty much any option I take. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't overlooking anything. I've never been in an accident before and now I'm forever scarred at how they handle this crap.

I did bitch enough to the next "higher" up guy and he is willing to sit down and look through all my receipts and see if there is more "room". He is also going to meet me at the truck and look at it personally with me. Their first offer was $2500, which was a comparison to 89 4cycl deluxe models. Mine is an SR5 V6. That pissed me off right away. Their "adjusted" claim is $3500 (so called second offer).

I might just ask and see if they will let me part with some of the accessories and I can sell them (like my 2 amps under both seats).

Anyone need anything? I will try and snag it.

89-4run

Actually, reading back through, maybe I don't quite understand the concept of "sell it for parts". Does that mean posting various parts on Ebay, Forums, etc? Or is it more to sell to junkyards like YotaYard in Denver?

89-4run

since cwiech is getting activity on parts, I might as well show some pics of my interior. This is more to get a feel if I could sell some things, and if I do sell parts I will move this to the classified section... (ps i don't have the vehicle in possession yet and not sure i will buy it back yet)

the whole panel is custom made with a custom panel to the jack. surprisingly, the new carpet is a perfect match. (yes the floor carpet shrunk somehow over the years - thats 8lb padding underneath)

thats a fiberglass enclosure for the subwoofer - the rest is particle board I think.


look at that nice shiney 2yr old oem dashboard


custom install on doors, map pockets removed:

trythis

I say take the cash, buy it back, fix it with the cash. Even if you are out $300 in the end, you are gonna spend that much re customizing your next rig. If nothing else, take everything you put into it out, and keep it for your next rig. They don't appear to be paying you for your time, so take it back.

CJM

Buy it back and fix it!