What should I pay for this Tacoma?
 

This is a local Tacoma that has been totaled by the insurance company after hitting a guard rail. It is a 1997 with 3.4 v6, 5 speed. I have run the engine and all seems fine. It has 102,000 miles on it.

The bumper and valance is bad and the frame is bent where the tow hook is
connected.

Is it difficult to straighten the frame? Can old end of frame be cut off and new piece welded on?

I have inquired about the purchase of this truck and was told $1200 would
get it. So I bid on it. No one else has bid on it.

http://crayaco.home.bresnan.net/Tacoma3.JPG

http://crayaco.home.bresnan.net/Tacoma1.JPG

http://crayaco.home.bresnan.net/Tacoma2.JPG

I should know about it today or tomorrow.

I would think it's worth all of $1200 and more... Drivetrain I would think should be worth $2000-2500... I'm curious why they totalled it, I would think it would wholesale in the 6+K range fixed???

What does it take to total a truck these days?

I don't know why they totaled it. One agent told me the adjusters consider
three factors: age, mileage, and cost of rerpair.

I do not think this is the SR5 series, I think it is just the basic Tacoma.

It doesn't look like the airbags were deployed. If you can get it for $1200, go for it.

I would definitely pay $1200 for it! The damage doesnt look bad and the airbags didn't go off. I would just get an ARB for it and beef up the frame rails too; kill two birds with one stone!

I guess it depends on how you intend on driving it. If this is your kickarounder, go for it. If this is to be your daily, a bent frame would shy me away no matter how big of a bargain you seem to be getting. That thing will never drive the same.

damn! if i could only find something like that locally!!!!

I have straightened a few frames when I tood auto body in high school. Its not too hard to do and you can make them fairly straight. I would recommend against welding a new front section of the frame on.

Even if the truck is unfixable, $1200.00 is not bad at all. Heck, just the alloys off of it should easily get $400.00 off of eBay, not to mention all the other parts that could be sold.

Sounds like a steal to me. I'd go for it.

You can't really go wrong for $1200. A non-totaled Tacoma like that around here would go for 7k+. My sisters friend has a 2000+ Mustang GT and had to have the frame repaired after a wreck because it was bent. Also my friends Tacoma had to have the frame fixed because he was rear ended, so it seems pretty common. I would take it to a good shop that has laser frame/unibody repair, then they should be able to straighten it pretty accurately. I know it can be costly though. If I had a brand new car and the frame was bent in an accident I would want to have it totaled though, for obvious reasons.

$1200 is a deal-buy it!

Thanks for all the advice.

I have placed the bid and should find out today.

Slap it on a flatbed to AL and I'll give you $1500 + shipping for your trouble... :D

If I had not sold my 97 4Runner, I would almost do it.

Spoke with the insurance adjuster this morning and he said they may
still total the vehicle, but the company has instructed him to get a
bid on the frame work first.

So I am still waiting.

You aren't looking hard enough.

I paid $4100 for my truck with 78K miles, and all it needed was a new hood.

Also, you are looking at probably about 500 atleast to be put on a decent frame machine.

I know what I'm talking about here:
http://www.cardomain.com/id/mattyfatty182

Thats a nice truck - actually it looks exactly like my truck. :bowdown:

buy it man!