For Sale 2002 LX 470 150k

I've been reading the threads and looking for a LX 470 for a while. Been messaging with a private dealer for a few days about a 2002 they posted for $13k. They sent me the Carfax and two things stuck out: 1) Seller is in Texas, but the LX 470 spent a lot of time in Colorado, and 2) they have only had it for a few months. I dug deeper into the car history, and the seller left a review for the used car dealer and thanked them for finding her a "keeper."

I asked for pics of the undercarriage because I was worried about rust. She sent the two pics below (other pics were sent earlier in the week). Does this look like a paint job over rust? When asked her response was "surface rust but not bod at all didn't go deep it was between Colorado and Auston not bad at all."

Red flags?

 

[MongooseGA]

It's kind of hard to tell with the glare in the first pic but the sway bar looks pretty clean to me.

 

[ChuckMag]

When I was looking for my first rig (98 4runner, when I was 16), I was wary of any paint on the undercarriage. I am in a state with more rust concerns (CO), and any paint I saw was an automatic red flag for me. It's a trick that some scummy used car dealers in Colorado use to push crappy cars at inflated prices on unsuspecting customers. I am not saying this is the case here, but personally if I see any significant amount of paint on the undercarriage, I abort and keep looking. Have you asked why she is selling the car? Tell her you saw the carfax and noted the quick turnaround. Usually there is a good reason, but when people are trying to ditch a lemon they will come up with inconsistent stories or clam up and stop responding.

Do more research into the dealership she bought from and see their inventory and the state their vehicles are in. Ask them for undercarriage pics of their other older SUVs (pose as a buyer if you need) and if you even think you see paint on them, it should be concerning. Now if all else comes back normal, then you may want to inspect the car yourself if able before making the final purchase. Undercarriage pics are amazing tools if the seller is trustworthy, but it is too easy to hide significant rust if you want with a cropped pic or improper angle of an undercarriage.

 

[sammybones]

Run away. Be patient. There are better ones out there.

 

[IH8CALI]

I'd be more concerned with the leaks than anything else; unless that's water? The paint on the underbody can be a sign of a cover up attempt, however I spray my truck frame/underbody with a flat black in an attempt to PREVENT rust, rather than conceal it. I'd walk, but more due to the quick turn rather than anything else. Nobody buys an LX and 2 months later decides to "go a different route".

 

[henerd]

Thanks for the input. I held off and now it is sitting on a few different sites. Looks like no one is biting.

 

[IH8CALI]

Nobody likes to hear this, especially me; as stated above, patience is key. I waited almost a year and a half for the "perfect" one for me. Hang in there!