Looking at 06 GX470

[rstl99]

I was looking for a used 4th gen 4Runner but this GX470 came up for sale on a local used car lot, they bought it at auction from out of town. N-E truck so there is some rust underneath (doesn't look terminal to me but maybe others can chime in - and yes, I know southern trucks have no rust at all, but what can I say, I live in the rust-belt...)

No service records with it, I went to the Lexus dealership and their system shows very few records, so the vehicle was not serviced at Lexus. It has had 2 owners. Around 135,000 miles. I have to presume the timing belt and water pump will need to be done, and that it costs around $1100.

If I decide to go ahead, I'll get a pre-purchase inspection done at Lexus so I know that everything works, and what it will need. The carfax looks pretty innocuous, at some point there was a minor front center accident that was repaired.

Any thoughts based on the photos, things to look out for? Thanks!

 

[rstl99]

More pics

 

[rstl99]

few more pics

 

[madtoy]

Looks like just minor surface rust. Whether it's a good deal or not depends on how much you'd be paying for it I suppose.

 

[rstl99]

Thanks. Yes, the rust looked salvageable to me. Interior is nice, truck runs well. In a way, it's more luxurious than I was looking for (I have a dog and haul stuff to and from the cottage which is why I was looking for a 4Runner), but it's enticing. I test drove a 4Runner on the same lot (an 07 with a bit less mileage and V6) and the difference was interesting. 4Runner felt cheaper, noisier, less HP of course. Lexus was a much smoother ride, almost too soft and wallowing, but oh so comfortable, and nice amount of HP for passing and getting through traffic. Would be a MPG hit between the two I'm sure.
Anyway, if I decide to go ahead, I'd get the GX tested out at Lexus dealer, because there's a lot of stuff on there I know nothing about, and would want to know that all works before securing a deal. Because any repairs won't be cheap, after sale.

How user-maintainable are these GX470's anyway? I'm a bit of a wrencher and can do some repairs within reason. I'd only bring it into the shop if I had to, i.e. something I can't do myself.

Price? They wanted around $9200 for the 07 Runner SR5, and $9700 for the GX470. 4Runner has about 20,000 less miles on it.

 

[kbahus]

The important places to look for rust are the bottom of the doors, bottom of rear hatch, windshield gasket area, and the rear wheel wells toward the front with the doors open. I live in the rust belt and my Montero looked just like that underneath, the problem was other areas that were not as visible. The body cladding and running boards hide rust big time, they also help produce rust areas as you can't wash behind the panels so the salt just sits there. Also check the engine bay toward the firewall where it meets the wheel wells, that is a common place for problems. Make sure the parking brake works too.

 

[GXO]

You can also look in Atlanta and get one rust free for the same or less money?

atlanta for sale "gx470" - craigslist

 

[rstl99]

The important places to look for rust are the bottom of the doors, bottom of rear hatch, windshield gasket area, and the rear wheel wells toward the front with the doors open. I live in the rust belt and my Montero looked just like that underneath, the problem was other areas that were not as visible. The body cladding and running boards hide rust big time, they also help produce rust areas as you can't wash behind the panels so the salt just sits there. Also check the engine bay toward the firewall where it meets the wheel wells, that is a common place for problems. Make sure the parking brake works too.

Thanks yes all those "hidden areas" make sense to check out. The visible places all looked good, from what I could see anyway (kind of hard to see behind cladding). So I figure the original owner(s) (there were 2) at least washed the car regularly and kept it in the garage during winter. Too bad they didn't also get rust-proofing done underneath, but as I said it looks like it can be addressed. Bottom of doors and hatch all looked very clean and solid. Parking brake worked. I'd get the vehicle fully checked out at the Lexus dealer (for suspension components, AWD etc.). Worth spending $100 or so rather than be stuck with some mechanical woes. I know, these Lexus LX and GX are SO RELIABLE, but at one point any car is going to need money to be thrown at it, and I'd rather not have to do that anytime soon.

This same dealer also had an LX for sale, with around 180,000 miles. Looked GREAT from the outside, and inside was good too, but the underneath was very serious rust!!! One thing Toyota didn't do a great job of in their 4x4's is designing something that could whitstand the winter and salt... Mind you, not many cars CAN put up with that for long.

You can also look in Atlanta and get one rust free for the same or less money?

atlanta for sale "gx470" - craigslist

Yes, there's always "rust-free southern trucks" to make our N-E mouths drool, but I wouldn't drive 200 miles to go buy a vehicle, let alone 950 miles to Atlanta!

 

[Sleepy]

Rust sucks. I live in the rust belt in Iowa and have had good luck in Oklahoma for rust free. I wash it everyday there is any crap on the road and even the frame is still rust free after 2 winters. About a 500 mile drive for me but I love to drive. 950 is a jaunt though.

 

[GXO]

I'll inspect them for you, pick you up from the airport, and take you to get it. You can crash at my place. That drive is awesome.

 

[rstl99]

I'll inspect them for you, pick you up from the airport, and take you to get it. You can crash at my place. That drive is awesome.

Wow thanks Dan, that's very neighbourly of you!
Yeah if it was a little closer, didn't have a dog, yadayadayada...
But thanks, I appreciate the nice gesture.

 

[GXO]

If I had more free time I would offer to drive it and meet you at the NY side of niagara, but I don't