Would you sell a rusted Tundra?

jbtoy · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 09:44 PM

Thought I would throw this out there and see what people think on this issue.

I have seen comments lately regarding rust issues with some First Gens. I am not
using this comment from a poster to single him out, just the general example here:

I checked out my frame after reading this thread and was not happy with what I saw. A mechanic looked at it suggested that I sell it.

How do you sell a car/truck that you know is not safe?
How does a mechanic make this kind of statement?

I am not looking for who is to blame or why this issue has happened. I am asking, doesn't it make more sense to fix it, ask the OEM for support, or if the issue is serious enough, expect a recall option?

What does Tundra land think? Curious, and not a slam on anyone or the issue for some owners with this problem.

dav_dman · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 10:12 PM

i hear ya man. i couldn't do it. But i'm not broke and jobless either so it's not a hard call for me to make. I'd sue toyota in small claims and get 3000 bux anyways. (sm. claims limit in my state)

BackInBlack · #3 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 12:30 AM

See the pics of my 2000 AC. It passed inspection but it's getting bad. I really do enjoy driving and working on my Tundra and I will keep it as long as it's save to drive and then it will go back to Toyota via some sort of buy back or extended warranty, or I will sell off what I can then scrap it. The body still shines and the interior is like new but the bottom is rotten. I have a claim number that was assigned by Toyota and they are investigating. We'll wait and see. Bottom line is people have come to associate the Toyota name with quality and I could not sell my Tundra to someone knowing the truth about the rust and decay to the frame and components exposed to the elements here in the northeast.

jbtoy · #4 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 04:41 PM

I realize after I posted it was a loaded question...who would sell a rusted tundra...

So, the real question is, why would a mechanic that should know better make that type
of comment.

How does a mechanic make this kind of statement that you should sell it, if it is no good for you, it is no good for the next owner? Right?

Jaynelson · #5 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 04:50 PM

Everything has its price....as long as you disclose the issue(s) to the buyer and he/she knows what they're getting into. What they do with it after that is their problem. If you sell it as "mint condition" and you know damn well it's not, probably won't be getting Christmas cards from the guy...if ya know what I mean.

highlevel · #6 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbtoy

I realize after I posted it was a loaded question...who would sell a rusted tundra...

So, the real question is, why would a mechanic that should know better make that type
of comment.

How does a mechanic make this kind of statement that you should sell it, if it is no good for you, it is no good for the next owner? Right?

If you disclose it and are completely honest about what you are selling then at least you are coming from a decent place of integrity. Unfortunately it seems to me like that particular quality is not as common in people as many of us would like to see. This society seems to have declined in that honesty, integrity, golden rule type of area.

Don't know the mechanic but know of mechanics (and other people) like that. And perhaps the mechanic actually did not intend for the rust to be hidden during the sale, maybe the mechanic just knows it will get worse and the vehicle needs to go bye bye.

I really love my Tundra... and would do all I could to fix her and keep her. I don't know if I would sell a rusted anything? I suppose like what was stated... if I was struggling and had to feed my daughter, then I would sell, but I would not be dishonest about it. Everything thing would be disclosed!

ThirdHorseman · #7 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbtoy

I realize after I posted it was a loaded question...who would sell a rusted tundra...

So, the real question is, why would a mechanic that should know better make that type
of comment.

How does a mechanic make this kind of statement that you should sell it, if it is no good for you, it is no good for the next owner? Right?

Wrong. You're looking at this on a very superficial level. It may be "no good" for your purposes, but buyers can have very different needs.

You assume that the new buyer is going to use it as a daily driver, work truck, etc. Who's to say that an individual isn't looking to score a good farm truck for $3,500? Then when the frame finally renders the truck unuseable, he'll pull the motor and other parts for his next beater.

That's just one example, and there could be many more. As long as the rust is disclosed, there are zero ethical issues.

matts · #8 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 02:42 PM

I am poster whose original comment was excerpted into this thread. I would never sell a rusted vehicle to someone without telling them about the issue. I would not want someone to do this to me and it would violate my integrity to do it to someone else. I was passing that comment on as an illustration of the extent of the issue.

BUT, if you did sell it to someone telling them about the issue and that there is a good chance that Toyota will buy it back potentially at 150% of KBB value, that's a gamble that some people would be willing to take.

That and some people need parts vehicles, which mine would be great for. Everything except the frame is mint. People that don't know Tundras actually think it is new.

jbtoy · #9 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThirdHorseman

Wrong. You're looking at this on a very superficial level. It may be "no good" for your purposes, but buyers can have very different needs.

You assume that the new buyer is going to use it as a daily driver, work truck, etc. Who's to say that an individual isn't looking to score a good farm truck for $3,500? Then when the frame finally renders the truck unuseable, he'll pull the motor and other parts for his next beater.
That's just one example, and there could be many more. As long as the rust is disclosed, there are zero ethical issues.

In the context you present, I fully agree, and I am aware of the side options available to move a "not quite for use as a daily driver". Not implying or inferring that people may be unethical. But, there are enough horror stories out there in "car/truck" land, where full disclosure is not practiced. That leads to "buyer beware" and at least do your homework up front. I am not affected by this issue, but, I think Toyota should deal with it up front, get it off the board and move on. Toyota makes a great 2nd Gen, but, if this issue stays in the public light, from a marketing perspective, I think it will hurt or taint the perception of quality. Just my view on this.