Need some rust advice (pics included)

[Juice88]

Hi All,

I'm looking to buy a 4th gen runner. I found a 08 ltd with extremely low mileage (49k). Its for sale at a Toyota dealership, and I asked for pics of the underside. They put it on a lift and took the below pics. How does this look to some of you experienced buyers/owners/techs?

 

[Juice88]

And one more:

 

[Jstawgn]

Not bad at for 11 YO northern truck. Seems only rust around the weld and rear axle. Off course anybody here from California would freak out look at any hint of slight rust

 

[joabmc]

What rust! I’m in the NE and that could be the undercarriage of a 2 yr old truck....
seriously though, not bad at all. Wire wheel and some Fluid Film and it will look as good as new.

 

[4Point7Lucky]

What rust! I’m in the NE and that could be the undercarriage of a 2 yr old truck....
seriously though, not bad at all. Wire wheel and some Fluid Film and it will look as good as new.

Yeah, the usual POR 15.

 

[Cooperd0g]

My suggestion: move.

Ha, just messing with you. Yeah, for that age an exposure it isn’t bad. If you were to pick up a clean, rust free, one from the south or southwest and bring it back to Boston, that is what it would look like in a year or two.

I think the big takeaway is that the low miles accounts for the relative lack of rust because it was probably garage kept and obviously not used much. Going from limited use to regular use you may end up finding some issues like leaking seals, belts going bad, etc. so don’t be surprised if those pop up in the first 6 months or so.

 

[CarolinaGX]

For a northern car, I don't think it looks too bad. Just plan on having a little more difficulty removing fasteners and such when you are doing maintenance and mods. But, if take a little time, you could address the rust as you go. Use the rust as a bargaining chip when negotiating.

 

[JLee]

It's not that bad, but I'd rather have a 100k Arizona truck than a 50k northeastern truck.

 

[runningdrew]

It's not that bad, but I'd rather have a 100k Arizona truck than a 50k northeastern truck.

Amen! (see my profile pic) I looked at a few 4runners and LXs in Phoenix before acquiring my GX. The price on the 4runners and LXs were too good to pass up. I checked them out, looked underneath and the frames looked like they were made out of rust ants holding hands. Turns out both had come from Chicago (200k miles, don't even understand how they were still on the road) I'd rather but from S. Calif. and drive it home.

 

[Juice88]

My suggestion: move.

Ha, just messing with you. Yeah, for that age an exposure it isn’t bad. If you were to pick up a clean, rust free, one from the south or southwest and bring it back to Boston, that is what it would look like in a year or two.

I think the big takeaway is that the low miles accounts for the relative lack of rust because it was probably garage kept and obviously not used much. Going from limited use to regular use you may end up finding some issues like leaking seals, belts going bad, etc. so don’t be surprised if those pop up in the first 6 months or so.

To be honest, my plan right now is to move to SoCal and drive cross country with the vehicle. Just hoping I can find a decent rustless vehicle here to take over there.

 

[Cooperd0g]

To be honest, my plan right now is to move to SoCal and drive cross country with the vehicle. Just hoping I can find a decent rustless vehicle here to take over there.

Oh hell no! Drive a rental, fly, take a train, anything. If you are moving to the Southwest you might as well wait to buy a rust free one down here.