Rusty KZJ78 undercarriage... too much?

[todddos]

Hi all, very tempted by importing a special KZJ78 Prado I've had my eyes on. Undercarriage pics are, well.... not what I'd like to be seeing.

I posted this in the import forum, but it would be great to get a weigh in from folks who own an LJ or KZJ.

Interested in hearing your opinions. Do you think this is just a shoddy, lazy undercoating attempt? Or an attempt to disguise a completely and horribly rusted undercarriage?

Do you think it's remotely possible to descale and undercoat upon import?

On top of the rust, there seems to be some damage to a body clip and some possible impact repair in the first picture.

Thanks guys!

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

Looks like someone painted over a bunch of rusty parts. I'd steer clear of it if I were you.

 

[todddos]

Agreed. Perhaps I'm just looking for folks to confirm my common sense here haha.

Problem is, very rare trim package that's JDM only. I've been looking for it for over a year. Also, very low mileage and interior and the rest of the exterior are way above average.

 

[Waikato Willy]

I know in New Zealand the KZJ78 barely rusts at all unless left near the sea, I think from factory they did a good job of underseal and paint work on these so to bomb the underneath with gloss black looks very suspect!

 

[JuanJ]

Hello,

If I remember correctly, Japanese regulations require painting the undercarriage black. I remember reading somewhere that JDM cars' underside must be freshly painted in order to have it registered.

It looks like this truck's belly was painted time and again. No visible rust bubbles or paint peeling, though, but image resolution plays tricks.

Higher resolution pictures or, better yet, someone to physically check for rust.





Juan

 

[roscoFJ73]

Looks like if come from some place where they salt the roads or it was used on the beach a lot and never washed down. All my 7* series were 100% rust free in those areas even after 20 years or more.
If its rusty down there, it could mean there is substantial body rust hiding under paint

 

[roscoFJ73]

Problem is, very rare trim package that's JDM only. I've been looking for it for over a year. Also, very low mileage and interior and the rest of the exterior are way above average.

Take off the rose coloured glasses. If you want a 7* series, get a good one. Anyone who obscures rust is capable of all sorts of dishonesty Think rolling back the mileage , shoddy engine work ect.
Good things come to those that wait.

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

What Rosco said ^^^