Should this rust scare me from buying?

[NCTroutHunter]

I'm looking at 2005 LC with 144K. Price is great at $10K, but let me know what you think about this rust (especially the door). It was in IL most of its life - service record on Carfax are decent, but also no record of a timing belt so I'd be looking at that straight away. I would greatly appreciate everyone's feedback?

 

[NCTroutHunter]

one more that's a little clearer

 

[JT4runner]

I would stay away! You are in NC. You are a few hours away from TN, GA, AL, FL, SC where you can find a Southern vehicle without rust.

 

[loeky]

Skip. Wait for better options. Not terminal, but deff not ideal.

 

[NCTroutHunter]

I thought you might say that - I definitely have the LC bug and it's slim pickings out there. Thanks.

 

[codename607]

I wouldn't pay $10k for that LC but the rust isn't horrible. I would send him an offer much lower and see if they accept. The rust seems manageable and the plus is the low miles.

 

[Kabanstva]

I wouldn't pay $10k for that LC but the rust isn't horrible. I would send him an offer much lower and see if they accept. The rust seems manageable and the plus is the low miles.

Highly doubt it. He will sell that truck locally no problem. They pretty much ALL look like that around here in the Chicago area. I once looked at a local truck and the guys at the dealer thought I was crazy nitpicking at some minor rust on a vehicle this old. Would not budge at all on the price and just kinda laughed at the whole thing. It might be uncommon in NC but this is a common sight here in IL unfortunately.

 

[dirtEJohnson]

Keep looking. They are out there, CL search is your friend. Found mine that way, same year, similar miles with maintenance up to date and new KO2's, no rust for slightly more than that price. Avoid the dealers and flashy internet retailers. Private party sale and a trip to arid climes will save you from future headaches.

 

[NCTroutHunter]

Great feedback everyone. I’m searching CL and FB like a hawk

 

[blatant]

I would avoid at once. The challenge for you ( or others in this spot ) is getting "stars in your eyes" and fighting within yourself, that this is the LASTLC/LX available, and you must have it at once. (b/c tons of folks are trying to get it) It is not, there are plenty. Time ( and Timing) however, is something you need to work with. I would suggest everyone on here buying from the classifieds from someone with decent time on here and a searchable name, where you can see what's what, the issues they post, the questions they ask. Usually the classifieds here have pretty good disclosure. Where talking about old ass trucks.

As many folks have said before, in so many words, if you're asking about rust, then you already know what you're looking at is not acceptable.

With these trucks, 100's, 200's, and all the earlier iterations, 48 state travel, precisely the south west and western states, will get you a much better find. You should budget that time into your hunt.

What do I know though.

 

[NCTroutHunter]

I would avoid at once. The challenge for you ( or others in this spot ) is getting "stars in your eyes" and fighting within yourself, that this is the LASTLC/LX available, and you must have it at once. (b/c tons of folks are trying to get it) It is not, there are plenty. Time ( and Timing) however, is something you need to work with. I would suggest everyone on here buying from the classifieds from someone with decent time on here and a searchable name, where you can see what's what, the issues they post, the questions they ask. Usually the classifieds here have pretty good disclosure. Where talking about old ass trucks.

As many folks have said before, in so many words, if you're asking about rust, then you already know what you're looking at is not acceptable.

With these trucks, 100's, 200's, and all the earlier iterations, 48 state travel, precisely the south west and western states, will get you a much better find. You should budget that time into your hunt.

What do I know though.

AMEN! Really solid advice - I am definitely willing to travel and your words have definitely encouraged me to just exclude any vehicles with rust. What I'm hearing from you is that if I'm patient something will pop up, I'll be the first guy there (eventually) and there are will be more clean LCs that will come along.

 

[booradley]

Agree. That one looks rusty. I've got one from AL and one from OR. Zero rust. If you are willing to travel they are out there. Good luck.

 

[habakkuk007]

I think that patina looks fine down under. Maybe find a used door, get a quote to install it, and offer the difference. The seller might be one of the super logical types who will accept your reasoning.

 

[hickuptruck]

Everyone saying that oh skip this one and find a rust free one down south.

Well, it's all about a waiting game. And if you don't live in where LCs are rust free, you can be sure there is a line waiting when a rust free good example LC pops up. That also means you probably won't get it either because you live far away. Also, the ones that are rust free, expect to pay a premium on it, rust free 05 with 144k miles? Don't expect anything less than $17k. Thats a $7k difference! Thats a lot of $ for repairs and mods!

Well the one you showed, that doesn't scare me at all, esp at a $10k price. You can still see black paint on the frame rails and such. Oil spray the entire thing every year, keep up with service, and you should be good for 5-10 years down the road

 

[CLEcruiser]

Couldnt agree with you more, rust free is great, but $5-7k cheaper is also great.

 

[2002TLCyes]

Agreed, the advice to skin it assumes for some reason that the buyer has the time and will to keep waiting and searching endless hours instead of taking the bird in the hand. The time and money he spends browsing around looking, and then going to check out the other alternatives (with potentially no better rust conditions) would be better spent on getting this cruiser on a lift and manually wire wheeling all the rust spots and rust proofing them with some spray. He could've already had that done had he stroke a deal with the seller!

 

[sammybones]

WTF? Buy a southern truck. Fly in, buy it, go home happy.

 

[codename607]

I think this topic and feedback is super relevant at this time. As more of us search for LC we still find a large gap in pricing. I for one was looking for something cheap. Since I am willing to put some work into the truck I didn't care so much about rust or mechanical issues. I mainly looked for a truck that was in stock condition.

My overall concern was getting something that was in my budget. Which was really low at $4k. I managed to find a truck local and his asking price was $4k. After telling him my plans and then some negotiating he handed me the keys and we made a deal at $3k. The truck had 340,000 miles and needed some rust repair but it was mechanically in awesome condition. The previous owner took it to the Toyota dealership for every single recommended repair.

With all that being said set up a budget and stick to it. If you can afford a $20k LC get one. If you are willing to do some work you can save a lot of money with a rusted out high mileage LC.

I smile every time I open up my garage and see mine!

 

[2002TLCyes]

I'm curious what you do to repair the rust

 

[Kabanstva]

I'm curious what you do to repair the rust

I bought a 2005 Sienna 3 years ago and the passenger front door had similar rust on the inside along the bottom seam. It wasn't this bad but maybe 70% as bad. The rest of the panels were completely rust free. On the one rusted door, I basically just sprayed Fluid film into the drain holes and on the surface of the rust itself. It's been 3 years, car sits outside and sees all winter conditions. Fluid film turns into semi-hardened black consistency after a few months of driving and at that point very difficult to remove (you'd have to use a paint thinner/solvent of sorts to strip it). I can say the rust has not spread even one bit since the fluid film. Is it pretty? No, but it gets the job done for me and it's in an area that's not visible from the outside.

My old 97 Avalon had the same issue and I never cared to do anything about it, I saw the rust grow from something similar to what that OP posted to MUCH worst, to eventually making its way to the outside of the door panel within maybe two winters. This is something you need to treat asap or it gets ugly quick.

The reason this happens is because salt water just sits inside that bottom door seam and doesn't full drain out from the little holes Toyota has in there.

On a cheap car this wouldn't bother me too much, but there's no way I'd pay over $10k on a vehicle that looked like that.

I bet the upper tail gate of that truck is really rusted judging on how that door looks.