Help! Purchasing a branded title 2021 4Runner and wonder what you think!

I am in the process of purchasing a 2021 4Runner that had front end damage. The car fax report indicates the airbags did not deploy, the accident considered severe enough however to be deemed total loss. In detailed history of carfax it says the front end damage is minor. I have photos of the vehicle before it was restored and wondered if anyone out there would be kind enough to review and let me know if you think the damage is so bad that I may have problems down the road. Car looks brand new now, and appears cosmetically they did a good job. Many thanks for your time!!

 

From the photos (I’d love a few from below), it looks like most of the damage was cosmetic and missed the frame. Doesn’t look to be any buckling along the engine bay supports (under fender), where I would expect a high hit to cause a lot of damage. It’s hard to tell from the photos, but it doesn’t look like the bumper support (and by extension frame) moved at all.

I feel like I’ve fixed worse than this and gave it back to the happy owner with no issues.

 

That's looks like a fender-bender for sure. But... in a body-on-frame vehicle like the 4R. It's all about the Frame. Everything else is a component and can be changed. Even if the airbags didn't deploy - energy/force sufficient to bend the body is energy/force sufficient to bend the frame too. So... absolutely have the frame inspected by a certified frame specialist. Most top body shops have one. If not, find one. They will check for (i) structural integrity and (ii) alignment and either pass/fail the vehicle or recommend a course of action and cost.

Even the slightest variation from perfection in a frame (impossible to detect with the naked eye) could translate into hassles later on. Tires that wear irregularly, drivetrain parts that vibrate at weird times, etc.

Sometimes salvage title vehicles can be great deals. Other times, you'll find yourself wishing you'd passed and bought something else that hadn't been wrecked. But, again, start with a genuine inspection of the frame by a certified expert and go from there. It'll cost you a couple hundred bucks and is worth every penny.

Good luck!

 

imho total loss was considered due to labor cost calculated for restoration. front ok, wheels ok, I think its ok. rest is sheet metal.

 

Thanks all for your input, I am having the vehicle inspected at a dealership, which is costing $180 in addition to an inspection ordered by dealership and completed by Carketa in which the vehicle was given an A+ score. I imagine they didn't check the frame using a specialist. A frame specialist sounds like a very good idea, and would not have thought of that because I didn't know they exist.

 

Clarify, Carketa was ordered by the seller, not the same dealership in which I am ordering the inspection.

 

I would guess from the pics that the vehicle was taken to a collision shop where repairs were begun, then they found some hidden damage that caused them to total the truck. (That's why the fender is missing in the pics.) The damage doesn't look all that bad, but something caused them to total it. Trust me, no insurance company wants to total a relatively new vehicle, so I'd wonder what was borked.

The next thing you have to worry about was how the repairs were completed. It's relatively easy (and common) to make the stuff you can see look beautiful, but cut all sorts of corners where the customer can't see it. Remember that hidden damage I mentioned above? Here's where knowing what it was and how it was fixed is so important. Repaired correctly, it might be a fine vehicle. Repaired incorrectly, you might have all sorts of issues down the road. And did the repair shop use OEM Toyota parts (doubtful) or aftermarket parts? There's a big difference in quality and longevity there that a shiny paint job can hide.

Finally, there's the stigma of a marked title. If you ever try to sell it, any smart buyer is going to say it's not worth anywhere near book value - and they're correct. How much less is it worth? That depends on how bad the damage was and how well it was repaired. For most folks, if you're going to hang onto the vehicle for a long time - and if it was repaired correctly - a vehicle like this might work out. If it was not repaired correctly and / or you're just going to keep it for a few years, you want to be able to buy it at a pretty good discount.

 

Hi Cynthia.

I imagine the reason you are even considering a salvage/branded title 4R is for the lower price...

Once you get all the inspections done, and if the 4R passes the tests for the frame and repairs being up to snuff, you will have to be the one to decide if the discounted price for the salvage title vehicle compared to a comparable year used with clear title would be worth the savings, and the fact that it was repaired. As stated above, you'd pretty much have to decide if you want to keep this vehicle 'til the wheels fall off, as it is a difficult task selling a salvage title vehicle down the road. Not impossible, just difficult.

I personally have had multiple salvage title vehicles in the past, and they all were solid, with no issues from any of the repairs. I don't currently have any of them, I was able to trade/sell them each time.

Good luck with this one.

 

Thanks Gary, I appreciate your input.

 

long term plans matter.

i’ve had a couple of salvage title vehicles that were solid for years. i kept them long enough where the salvage title was immaterial relative to the market value of the car with a clean title.

 

I have looked at the value of these vehicles and am saving around $10k when comparing with our local market. I am getting a full coverage warranty at least for the first year or two so I am covered for any issues that may arise: Carchex, seem reputable, and costs $120/mo. And yeah, I can't afford a full price 4Runner, especially one that is a 2021 and with 13k miles on it!

 

@cyntafe I would check with your insurance company before you get too far. Alot of states will not insure a title that has been identified as salvaged or totaled. I ran into that issue about a year ago.

 

Maybe source a front clip from a rollover?

 

My thoughts. What shop did the repairs? Is it reputable? Ask them to show you the specs of the frame and how much if any damage there was. Minor tweaking is fixable in most cases. What kind of parts were used? Aftermarket? The headlights, grill, fenders, plastics, if aftermarket will fade and wear much faster than OEM parts. If the car, checked out by a 3rd party passes all the tests, it was repaired using Toyota parts, I may consider a salvage titled vehicle if the discount was 25-40%.

 

Another thing to check, based on the type of damage, is whether all the safety sense features are working as intended, considering it's a 2021.

 

I have asked the inspection to include safety sensors as well. I asked them for the shop that does the restorations as well as rundown of items replaced.

 

What is the asking price?

 

This was our 2015 that was totaled in November 2021. None of the airbags was deployed in either vehicle. They said that some weld points in the engine bay were non-repairable. (That’s the “victim” from the other vehicle who went to the hospital when the police officer showed up and offered an ambulance.) You just never know what kind of damage was done by looking at it.

 

Wow, the vehicle damage doesn't look that bad. How did you find out the weld points in engine bay were non-repairable? I would imagine the inspection would turn up this kind of thing but one wonders...

 

$34,500

 

And that's $10k under comparable non-salvaged vehicles?

 

I know this is a very difficult car market, and it's just one person's opinion, but there is no way I would spend $35K on a salvage title 4Runner.

 

I would under certain circumstances. I would have to be very confident in the repairs, no major frame damage, the quality of parts had to be OEM and some type of warranty. All of this being verified by a trusted 3rd party mechanic or shop.

 

10K more and you can have a new one.

As to the OP's question, I wouldn't pay that for a salvaged title 4R.

 

A new SR5 Premium without a sunroof is closer to $48k. $10k is a lot of money to me for a vehicle, especially since I only paid $18k for my 2008 4R.

 

It’s a hard call…. $35k for a salvaged title 4Runner with 13000 miles, I would pass and keep saving for a new Base model SR5 4x4 for $41K

 

And if the vehicle is not repaired 100% properly and something else down the road goes wrong, you'll end up paying more. Salvaged Toyota vehicles also void any remaining warranty on them.

Yes, 10k is a hard pill to swallow, but the peace of mind is worth it.

 

Another good point. Better off buying couple year older, few more mile vehicle in your price range.

 

No f'n way am I paying $34k for a salvaged title.

A 2021 doesn't get totaled for no reason.

Unless the threshold to the insurance company is low thats gotta be $20k + in repairs.

State Farm told me my tundra wasn't going to be totaled unless it was over 50%. Repairs came in at $24k and they some how said mine was worth $52k last year.