If he bought it from a dealer then there was something wrong with the car. A dealer WILL NOT sell a car on the street for less money than he can get at the auction---why would he? There are auctions in every city---every week. That car would have brought over $10,500 at the sale maybe more. I sell cars and here are all the 04's that have sold in last 35 days. If it was private, I would still be surprised---it would have been the cheapest in the nation at that price. Just look on Autotrader.com.

06/23/10 DENVER Regular $11,000 29,641 Above WHITE 6G P Yes
07/02/10 MANHEIM Regular $10,400 34,300 Above RED 6G A Yes
07/02/10 AYCOCK Regular $8,600 38,910 Avg GRAY 6G M Yes
06/23/10 NASHVILL Regular $10,000 39,466 Above RED 6G A Yes
06/15/10 RIVRSIDE Lease $8,100 40,695 Avg PA4 GRY 6G A Yes
06/24/10 FRDKBURG Lease $9,200 40,900 Avg WHITE 6G A Yes
07/09/10 MANHEIM Regular $8,500 48,107 Avg GRAY 6G A Yes
06/16/10 DENVER Regular $9,600 49,518 Avg BLUE 6G 6 Yes
07/08/10 MANHEIM Regular $10,200 49,698 Above RED 6G A Yes
06/30/10 NEWBRGH Regular $8,000 50,684 Avg RED 6G 6 Yes
06/17/10 W PALM Regular $8,100 54,154 Avg SILVER 6G A Yes
06/22/10 FAAO Regular $9,900 54,156 Avg BLUE 6G A Yes
06/30/10 DALLAS Regular $10,600 55,986 Above WHITE 6G A Yes
06/16/10 MINNEAP Regular $9,000 56,600 Avg RED 6G A Yes
07/07/10 NADE Lease $5,900 58,206 Below GREY 6G A No
07/09/10 MANHEIM Regular $7,900 65,645 Avg SILVER 6G A Yes
06/24/10 FRESNO Regular $8,000 68,656 Avg RED 6G A Yes
07/08/10 GTR TMPA Lease $8,000 69,547 Avg WHITE 6G A Yes
06/23/10 SEATTLE Regular $7,100 70,322 Avg COPPER 6G A Yes
06/16/10 NADE Regular $6,500 81,072 Below WHITE 6G A Yes
06/15/10 FAAO Lease $4,100 81,560 Below GRAY 6G 6 No
06/16/10 HRSNBURG Lease $6,100 90,560 Below BLACK 6G 6 Yes
06/22/10 GTR TUSC Regular $8,000 90,634 Avg SILVER 6G A Yes
06/29/10 DAL DLRS Regular $7,200 96,709 Avg WHITE 6G A Yes
06/17/10 ATLANTA Regular $7,100 110,360 Avg WHITE 6G A Yes
07/08/10 FRDKBURG Regular $5,900 112,550 Below LT BLUE 6G A Yes

I just went to look at a "deal" an 04 with 35k for $10,900. The car had been hit on three corners and painted ALL over. Yes, low miles. Yes, clean Carfax. But the car was not worth the money in my opinion---too many good ones out there.