PTSD from Rust - does this one look ok or pass?

[jzdogazzz]

First post here. A few years back I purchased an 04 GX and missed rust. I took a quick peak underneath, but being from Texas I was new to rust and just wasn't aware. Big mistake - frame was toast. Took a loss on that and sold it (disclosed).

Now I'm back in the market. I have two options:

1. 04 GX with 215k, timing belt/water pump done at 190k. A few records here and there - spent entire life in Georgia. No rust at all.

2. 07 GX with 210k, timing belt/water pump done at 170k. A few records here and there - spent the majority of its life in Orlando/St Augustine. I'm a little bit concerned about the rust on the seams?

Am I going overboard here or does this one look G2G from a rust perspective? Would like to keep this thing forever.

P.S. only attaching images from #2 - not a single spot of concern on the 04.

 

[iwashmycar]

Thats basically zero rust IMO

 

[jzdogazzz]

Thats basically zero rust IMO

Not something that if I bring it back to upstate SC I'll have to have treated or anything like that? I know I'm probably going overboard but holy crap after I missed it on that first one, I'll need rust therapy to forget it.

 

[rommelrommel]

The seams will surface rust a bit with time and use in any climate pretty much. You could certainly rust convert and paint it, or film it, or whatever to slow it down, but that frame has most of its life left in it.

 

[kwkshift]

How does the rear most part of the frame and rear axle look? If they are about the same as above, I wouldn't worry about it in SC.

 

[jzdogazzz]

How does the rear most part of the frame and rear axle look? If they are about the same as above, I wouldn't worry about it in SC.

Yup all looks like that.

For anyone that cares to give feedback on the two choices, I'm undecided on which to pursue if either.

1. 04 GX with 215k, timing belt/water pump done at 190k. Being sold by a small dealer who purchased it at a Carmax auction. Not surprised to see it at an auction given the age/mileage. They'd never retail it. There were quite a few records in the glovebox (for an auction vehicle). Timing belt/water pump done, valve cover gasket done as well. $10k, dealer has no flexibility.

Lexus GX470 GX 470 LX470 LX 470 Loaded 3rd Row Clean Carfax NO Rust...

Lexus GX470 4WD 4X4, 210k original miles fully loaded leather and power every thing factory install DVD premium sound system heated seats front and rear AC, folding 3rd row seat, roof rack, running...

atlanta.craigslist.org

2. 07 GX with 210k, timing belt/water pump done at 170k. The owner purchased it from a dealer in 2019. He's replaced the rear airbags and has done oil changes, nothing else. He's not much of a car guy from our conversation just liked it and bought it for an overland build that never materialized. Doesn't know any of the service history beyond that. He's at $9.5k.

2007 Lexus GX 470 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

2007 Lexus Gx 470. Blizzard white. All original. Both keys and the valet key with owner’s manual. Timing belt replaced at 163,000 miles. Brand new OEM replacement rear air bags. Non “Nav” model so...

atlanta.craigslist.org

I'm about 2 hours away from both.

 

[Stonefoot72]

Yup all looks like that.

For anyone that cares to give feedback on the two choices, I'm undecided on which to pursue if either.

1. 04 GX with 215k, timing belt/water pump done at 190k. Being sold by a small dealer who purchased it at a Carmax auction. Not surprised to see it at an auction given the age/mileage. They'd never retail it. There were quite a few records in the glovebox (for an auction vehicle). Timing belt/water pump done, valve cover gasket done as well. $10k, dealer has no flexibility.

Lexus GX470 GX 470 LX470 LX 470 Loaded 3rd Row Clean Carfax NO Rust...

Lexus GX470 4WD 4X4, 210k original miles fully loaded leather and power every thing factory install DVD premium sound system heated seats front and rear AC, folding 3rd row seat, roof rack, running...

atlanta.craigslist.org

2. 07 GX with 210k, timing belt/water pump done at 170k. The owner purchased it from a dealer in 2019. He's replaced the rear airbags and has done oil changes, nothing else. He's not much of a car guy from our conversation just liked it and bought it for an overland build that never materialized. Doesn't know any of the service history beyond that. He's at $9.5k.

2007 Lexus GX 470 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

2007 Lexus Gx 470. Blizzard white. All original. Both keys and the valet key with owner’s manual. Timing belt replaced at 163,000 miles. Brand new OEM replacement rear air bags. Non “Nav” model so...

atlanta.craigslist.org

I'm about 2 hours away from both.

07 has VVTi (more HP), if that's a consideration....

 

[kwkshift]

My worry with the white one would be the possibility of the flaking paint.

 

[jzdogazzz]

My worry with the white one would be the possibility of the flaking paint.

Due to how much time it spent in Florida or is that an issue with this color?

 

[jzdogazzz]

07 has VVTi (more HP), if that's a consideration....

I'll be towing a small camper (2k lbs) so I would imagine that wouldn't hurt.

 

[rommelrommel]

Due to how much time it spent in Florida or is that an issue with this color?

An issue with the colour.

Aside from that I'd be all about the 07.

 

[jzdogazzz]

An issue with the colour.

Aside from that I'd be all about the 07.

Think it's worth it to mess with the frame at all if I do get the 07?

Also, is there anything that can be done to help with the paint? It will most likely be parked in the driveway unfortunately.

 

[rommelrommel]

No, the white seems to peel or not. Might be related to climate but you can’t fix that.

Wouldn’t hurt to hit it with a converter spray or some rust encapsulating paint. But really, that frame is very good and has tons of life in it.

 

[tampacruiser95]

No concerns at all

 

[markthegrea]

I have a 2005 with VVTI. In the high mountains it is a dog on 87 octane. I put 92 when at elevation and it still is no bull. I wouldn't consider a pre 2005 now.

We travel at elevation a lot! If you don't, then maybe it won't matter. My 2005 has zero rust (from Florida, oddly).

 

[Rednexus]

Rust of "02" is not bad at all. However, I'd still look inside the frame to verify that it is OK, paritucalrly just behind the PS front tire where the AC drain line drips down.

If the inside checks out, I'd powerwash the underside and hit it with a DIY coat of Woolwax Black (outside) and Fluid Film (inside the frame) and touch it up every 1-2 years after that. My '07 definitely looked worse than that, the same treatment has totally stopped the rust for 2 years. I have not touched it up in ~18 months but will this fall.

Do you mean NW Arkansas by "NWA"? If so, that is a moderate rust area, so any GX you bring home should get a undercoating treatment, even if it is pristine, just to keep it from ever getting bad. If you don't undercoat a Toyota in an area that uses road salt, it absolutely will start to rust within a few years due to even minor salt application. I really like the lanolin based Woolwax/Fluid Film products as they are so cheap/easy to apply and work well.

 

[jzdogazzz]

I have a 2005 with VVTI. In the high mountains it is a dog on 87 octane. I put 92 when at elevation and it still is no bull. I wouldn't consider a pre 2005 now.

We travel at elevation a lot! If you don't, then maybe it won't matter. My 2005 has zero rust (from Florida, oddly).

We pull the camper through NC frequently so it sounds like VVTI is the only way I'll go after reading a bit more on it.

 

[jzdogazzz]

Found one more that has two minor accidents on the carfax and it spent its first few years in NY before ending up in Roanoke, VA. 170k, no indication on when timing belt was last done, but it's probably the cleanest truck I've seen so far. At least I think it is? The owner bought it one year ago as a secondary vehicle and only put 2k on it. He noticed a whirring noise from the rear end and had that replaced during his time of ownership. Receipt shows $2k for that. Disabled and doesn't need two vehicles. Anyone care to give their two cents on the photos? 06, 170k, $9500

 

[jzdogazzz]

Also, I'm not even in the rust belt or anything like that so it's not like I'm limited to rust vehicles or anything like that. I'm in SC, originally from Texas. I check Dallas, Houston, Austin all day. Any other markets I should be checking? Would rust like this be normal even for those markets and I'm just paranoid as hell?

 

[kwkshift]

I’d check the Phx market too but you’ll probably have to add about $1600+ to the price for transport.