Bought A Used 2010 Yaris Sedan & Customized!

[us13doolittle]

Hi Guys & Gals!

Here's my 2010 Toyota Yaris Sedan that I have had now less than 2 months, but I've been working hard in my customization efforts! I have added:

Exterior:
1) Spoiler with brake light (OEM style),
2) Voxx Alloy Wheels,
3) black fender, door, & body molding,
4) chrome door handles (ABS Plastic as all the chrome is),
5) chrome mirror covers,
6) chrome door pillars,
7) chrome window sill molding
8) HID Light Kit,
9) OEM Fog Light Kit,
10) 2 black "vinyl eyelids" for the headlights,
11) Two of what my Wife calls her "Chrome Eyebrows!",
12) CHROME DUAL EXHAUST TIP MUFFLER PIPE EXTENSION SPLIT

INTERIOR:
11) 4 Stainless Steel Door Sill Scuff Plates with YARIS stamped on each
12) Dallas Cowboy Rubber Floor Mats (of Course--Go Cowboys, Lol!)
13) Custom TOYOTA TRD MANUAL SHIFT KNOB
14) Blue Neon Floor Lights (that can flash with music beat pulses)
15) Fog Lights Selector Switch (on lower left side of dash & steering wheel)


I've got some more work to do on the interior, but ran out of cash this month. So I'm waiting on my next retirement check to get back up to speed, lol! Let me know what you guys think? Too much? Not Enough? Extras I need? Etc., etc???

I think, and you may too if you read on, that the way I came upon my little "black honey" of a Yaris is a fairly interesting story, and may be of help to some of our forums North Texas Readers who are in the market for a good used Yaris--Here Tis Below:

August 1st my wife and I purchased a previously TOTALED 2010 Toyota Yaris from "Raja" at "Makka Motors" in Dallas, Tx.! Raja, who is Pakastani and owns the company, makes a living buying Insurance Company write-off vehicles and rebuilding them, selling them at some pretty incredible prices! Raja specializes in Toyota, Honda, & Lexus rebuilds, many with regular titles, some with salvage titles. Honestly, I drive my cars til they are ready for the junk heap, so a Salvage Title doesn't bother me in the slightest! Raja never bids on vehicles with frame damage, damage to major engine or drivetrain components, and usually doesn't touch cars which have major door damage. He looks for the "sleepers", fender benders, and high end vehicles to bid on.

Amazingly, Raja will share with the prospective buyer the vehicle's Carfax, pictures of the vehicle damage when it was purchased and brought onto the lot. The buyer can watch the daily progress on his/her "vehicle in progress" as the vehicle is repaired/restored. Lol, I was turned onto Makka Motors by a fellow teacher at the high school I have taught at for the past 20 years. My friend, who is from India, is a LOYAL Makka Motors Customer! Had he not "prepped me" about the "Middle Eastern Way of Haggling," I probably would have walked off the lot the first time I talked to Raja! You see, in the Middle East Buyers aren't shamelessly coddled, given complimentary lattes, and every one of their stupid questions politely answered! Actually in the Middle East buyers are treated pretty badly, AND if they leave not feeling so, then they question whether they got a "good deal" on what they just purchased!!! Raja will take you out to the Lot to view what's available, in broken English quote ballpark figures on this or that car, maybe walk away to take a cell call, or even to field a question from another customer! Some Americans would walk away pissed off! However, it's all about culture, and NOT yours! If you hang in there and understand and play the game, you'll come away with a jaw-dropping deal on what you're looking for! With that being said, my teacher friend has purchased 3 cars from Raja, and I now have purchased MY FOURTH--2 for my son, 1 for my oldest daughter, and now 1 for US-ALL FOUR A Yaris! There's NO Warranties of course, as in any used car lot, but Raja has always treated me right--EVEN replacing an air conditioner compressor after SIX MONTHS! Find ANY used car dealership that will do that!

This 2010 Model Yaris Sedan was built in November 2009, and wasn't sold by the Toyota Dealership in Austin until January 2011! The previous owner had it a little over a year, and put 17,000 miles on it before he had his boo-boo (his loss, my gain!). It doesn't take too much damage to a new car for an Insurance Company these days to total out a car. The only damage to it was a broken right headlight, a little damage to the right front bumper, and a very slight crinkle on the hood. The air bags didn't even deploy! Raja replaced all, repainted the new parts to the factory "Black Sand Pearl!"

The Yaris was fixed to my satisfaction, test driven for about an hour on city streets, the highway, and some nice rally turns in the country, before money even exchanged hands (besides a $200 refundable check that wasn't even cashed)! The PRICE? $7,000 + TT&L! It drives like a brand new car--I know because I test drove a 2013 Sedan before I picked my little 2010 up! With the door molding I added to my Yaris, the road noise (typical in this small of car with radial tires) has been greatly reduced to a whimper! All in all, at age 59 I have bought a LOT of cars. Never have I had such a neat and genuine friendship with a car dealer-salesman-haggler! May Allah Bless You Raja!

Doolittle

PS: Any Ideas on what value in $$$ my work on this 2010 Yaris Sedan would add?