Requesting Opinions on Rust

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Joined
Dec 31, 2015
Threads
16
Messages
161
Location
Mississippi
Looking at this extremely clean and low mileage 2008 from the Midwest, BUT the rust underneath is more than I’m used to. Should I accept and buy it since this is an otherwise extremely clean 200, or do I run?

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I'm not afraid of a little rust, (everything rusts up here in the great, white north) but that is more than I would be comfortable with.

If it's a really good ($$) deal and you don't plan on keeping the vehicle for many years, then it would be fine. If the deal is not amazing, or you intend to keep it for long-term, I'd keep looking.
 
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Keep looking. The only acceptable level of rust for us southern folks is zero rust. People from rusty states will analyze this thing and tell you to woolwax or fluidfilm or tenderize or whatever it is they do up there to feel better about their rusty rigs but this is a hard no for me.
 
Rusty state dweller here, and I would not be comfortable with that truck. I guess a lot of it depends if you plan to do any mods, or just drive it like it is. Every single nut and bolt will be a PITA on that thing No amount of Fluid Film or other magic sauce will fix that..
 
Move along....... You'll find a better one.
 
I'm not afraid of a little rust, (everything rusts up here in the great, white north) but that is more than I would be comfortable with.

If it's a really good ($$) deal and you don't plan on keeping the vehicle for many years, then it would be fine. If the deal is not amazing, or you intend to keep it for long-term, I'd keep looking.


x2
 
Thanks for helping me take my blinders off. It's just a shame that such a well cared for 200 with less than 100k miles looks so bad underneath.

Heres the ad if y'all care to see the good side of the vehicle. I think they're asking about 4 grand too much if it didn't have the rust, but with it they are asking 7 or 8 thousand too much imo.
 
No bueno. That was neglected.

My 14 year old 4Runner that lived in NJ, PA, and Chicago its whole life looks nearly new due to just a little TLC during the winter.

I’d run.
 
Your profile says you’re from MS and it appears the cars in IL. If you’re local you could take a wire brush to see how deep the rust goes and a hex wrench to test the KDSS.

If not, I’d either try to work the price down or move on.
 
Price is irrelevant, to me. At some point the rust is a deal breaker, and no matter the "great price" it will be a nightmare.

I went and looked a GX470 several years ago at an Audi dealership. The truck had less than 20K miles on it, and had been highly maintained. It already had the timing belt done once, and the oil was changed about every 2K miles at the Lexus dealership, it was crazy. It was pristine inside. Underneath, it looked like it had been parked in the ocean. I was unable to move the spare tire winch. Told the salesman I had zero interest, no matter the price. It was a real shame.
 
... i have to agree with the "frame waxer" on this one.

Same here. I don't think I could sleep at night with that in my garage. I can't believe I even considered it. I guess the mileage, year, 1-owner, and color blinded me momentarily. It's too bad that the po did so much to maintain a nice Cruiser, but neglected the undercarriage. Kind of reminds me of a girl I once met.... I digress though. 👀
 
You should realize that the only people who care about rust underneath are all on this forum. 99.99% of owners could care less. So, no, this car wasn’t abused and i am sure will sell to someone else just fine. Just not southerners on an LC forum.
 
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