Would You Buy This Beat Up Tundra?

Went in to look for a Tundra today and caught a 16' SR (RWD) that came in on trade before it went into detail or inspection at my local Toyota dealer. It has 160K miles, 1 minor reported, 1 owner, and surprisingly a great service history via CARFAX with interval maintenance every 5K/10k miles. There's also zero rust on it. I drove it and the bones feel good, engine is responsive without any lag and shifts great. Felt exactly like my buddies 19' Tundra that I borrowed a week or so ago. The interior is work truck style (cloth seats), with the column shifter, manual seat adjustments and I really like the simplicity.

Here's the catch... this poor thing is beat up. I can deal with anything interior and honestly don't really care about faded paint and the scratches all over. It looks like it would clean up decent with a wash and good exterior detail/buff.

The damage... pictures below - a lot more than "1 minor" back bumper corners both pushed in. Passenger taillight cracked. Passenger rear panel has a 3/4" gash in it. Plastic on the front grill has crack. Varies other small dents and dings. Looks like a work truck.

They are allowing me to get third party assessment of the damage and mechanical functions. They will also run their own safety check and replacements of essential parts like breaks, tires, alignment, fluids, etc.

My out the door price is $12,000. Before any commitment on my end they will do a full safety evaluation and put it on lift. I gave them a list of things to look at including computer code history, frame rust and damage, cam tower leaks, test drive for noise, pulling, and overall driving assessment. SAIS and eval systems and purge pump, or if there are any bypass on system itself. Transmission pan, and making sure the bolts haven't been removed or have any rust.


On top of that I can have a third party evaluate the physical damage as well as mechanical status.

I'm honestly sick to my stomach spending/financing 20K on a used Tundra with the same mileage. Sure they are nice and look a heck of a lot better but I don't care about that. This one literally had more peep in the step than a 15' limited I drove yesterday.

If this thing can last until 250K - 300K (which it has the potential to do) that would be all I am asking for out of it. I'd also like to start leaning/doing certain maintenance on my own with fluid changes and try out some body work eventually. The bones feel good in the engine and transmission, and the 1 owner service record doesn't have any gaps in it.


For 12K out the door, what do you think? Anything else to ask for?

 

Nope

 

Someone had fun with it. Be aware its probably a 4.6l too, not that that's a bad thing, it's just not a 5.7l. I'm assuming since it's missing the 5.7 badge at least.

 

It is a 4.6

 

Due to my choice of Tundra generations, some in here will automatically question my judgement, but I'm going to offer up an opinion anyway.

Assuming all your pre- purchase inspection criteria are positively met, I would absolutely drive the wheels off that thing.
Like you said, if the bones are good, a little ugly doesn't bother me.
Other than the box side, eliminating the ugly wouldn't be too challenging.

My only question is, would I pay $12K for it? I'm on the fence there, especially with the 4.6L

 

to me it looks like one accident that they were forced to acknowledge and at least one that they don't want to talk about. For me its a absolute no but so is a 2wd 4.6 in perfect condition

 

If it has been driving around beat up like that along with those seats, I wouldn't trust that it has been properly maintained.

 

it was listed at 16.5

Thank you!

 

Has a carfax with no gaps, interval service every 5-10K miles

 

If an independent inspection shows no frame/critical damage, I would definitely consider it a possible purchase candidate at 12K if you don’t care about the damage. Carfax is showing routine maintenance has been done. You can refresh the interior for a grand and if you don’t give a shit about shiny paint, you can get a reliable sub-1500 class truck for a decent price.

 

Did you see that Cool Springs Toyota has the super rare "Corolla S" Tundra?
Pretty sure it's the same one with obviously incorrect pics.
https://www.truecar.com/used-cars-for-sale/listing/5TFRM5F15GX106566

Not just on Truecar, but also shows up on the dealer website as a Corolla as well.
https://www.toyotaofcoolsprings.com/auto/used-2016-toyota-tundra-sr-franklin-tn/115272698/

I'm thinking they don't want to show off that "....elegant black exterior finish."
(from the Equipment description.)

 

Are those high water marks on the seats?

 

12k for a 4.6 and 160k and beat to shit? Probably not. $8k would be tempting imo.

EDIT: Oh and it's not even 4WD? So it literally has nothing going for it. Definitely $8k tops.

 

And just to reinforce my post, click glancing around here in Utah and there are a number of trucks in varying conditions for under $12k with under 180k. Hell there is a pretty clean rebuilt title 08 with a 5.7 for $8000. My point just being, if you're looking at that and tempted because it's $12k and that seems like a good deal, that does not look like a good deal where I'm standing and I think you could find better.

https://cars.ksl.com/listing/10392770

https://cars.ksl.com/listing/10374085

https://cars.ksl.com/listing/10018592

https://cars.ksl.com/listing/10091286

 

Nope...

 

Obviously local market conditions apply. That truck looks like a better deal than 99% of trucks at that price point in my area. $12k around here will get you a clapped out 2007-2009.

 

Looks like Dirty Mike and the Boys had a party in there.

 

The stains on the fabric interior of the front seat are probably sweat marks. These interiors are notorious for shwoing sweat stains......thats precisely why I put clazzios on mine. The back seat looks like something spilled on them but nothing a good detail won't take care of. The bumper end caps can be pushed out - they are only plastic. If they're stuborn you can try a heat gun to help coax them out. Or you can replace them relatively cheap. I would make positively sure there is no frame damage. The bed side gash is a problem and WILL rust. Not sure that there would be an easy way to repair that. You could try to stuff it with bondo, sand and paint.....

The 4.6L and RWD will tank the resale value of this - probably why you're getting them to come 4.5k off the asking price.

All that said, with the service records you have proof of, I am not sure if you'd be able to come close to that out the door price on a comparable vehicle. It's a risk, but if your pre-inepsection report comes out in your favor, I would be inclined to pull the trigger if you can adequately address those issues without dropping a lot of coin

 

Only if you can really live with a beat up truck.

I have an 00 Dodge Cummins that started life as a landscaper truck. Bodywork has always been more expensive than it’s worth.

Now people tell me it looks cool. I’ve done lots of upgrades and the mechanicals are in good shape and it’s easy to work on and pre-DEF. It’s done the job for years and I have several people interested in buying it.

But, it’s a Cummins, new injectors, 4x4 long (8’) bed, new clutch, new front manual locking hubs, motor mounts, bed shackles, body beat but not rusty etc.

Edit, if you’re young and won’t put money into it and will start investing, get it for as cheap as you can. Don’t fall in love. It’s only a truck and every car lot has them with more coming next week.

 

No way

 

Bet they gave the guy less than 6k for the trade.

 

What's the status?

 

OP, where are you located at? I have some free OEM tail lights and could probably dig up some rear chrome bumper corners for you and maybe even a chrome front bumper.