Thoughts on undercarriage?

[TonyP]

We purchased a brand new/untitled 16’ LC in August and live in Columbus (OH). After reading threads on this site, I contacted several Toyota dealerships regarding advice on undercoating before the vehicle ventured into its first winter. All advised against and claimed the vehicle was treated appropriately direct from the factory & rust damage is covered under warranty. One service manager admitted it was a problem in earlier model years but should not be a problem on a 16’. Also, there were concerns raised regarding “locking in moisture” and potentially making matters worse.

Like many states around the country, Central Ohio is experiencing sub freezing temperatures and salt covered roads. The topic is definitely a concern and I’m not sure what to believe. We chose the LC based on overall value as relates to reliability, dependability, and resale values. We plan to keep for decade or so. Any additional information or feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Get yourself four cans of Fluid Film and apply them all to the underside of the rig. Do that once per year. It'll stay fresh for the duration. My 200 came from St Louis last year (almost to the day), pretty much no rust when purchased. After one and a half Utah winters (using Fluid Film twice so far) it looks pretty much like new. Aside from the dirt and battered skid plates.

 

[foeix]

We purchased a brand new/untitled 16’ LC in August and live in Columbus (OH). After reading threads on this site, I contacted several Toyota dealerships regarding advice on undercoating before the vehicle ventured into its first winter. All advised against and claimed the vehicle was treated appropriately direct from the factory & rust damage is covered under warranty. One service manager admitted it was a problem in earlier model years but should not be a problem on a 16’. Also, there were concerns raised regarding “locking in moisture” and potentially making matters worse.

Like many states around the country, Central Ohio is experiencing sub freezing temperatures and salt covered roads. The topic is definitely a concern and I’m not sure what to believe. We chose the LC based on overall value as relates to reliability, dependability, and resale values. We plan to keep for decade or so. Any additional information or feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Ramps, an airless paint sprayer and a gallon of fluid film are you friend. Your dealer is only wants to sell you a new car and/or service a rusty truck and increase labor costs.

 

[sPaulp]

Update: Dealer confirmed there were able to turn the KDSS valves with "no trouble" as my salesman put it. So..........

 

[ckkone]

Whats the point of paying that much for a low mileage 200 with that much surface rust. For that kind of money it should be flawless.

 

[linuxgod]

Whats the point of paying that much for a low mileage 200 with that much surface rust. For that kind of money it should be flawless.

I don't think the rust is that bad, I guess. He lives in NY. Even a new model off the showroom floor washed weekly is going to look like that in a few years anyway. I sprayed my 2013 with fluid film this year and even with that given the amount of salt already used in Chicago I don't want to think about what my undercarriage will look like in the spring. Mine had zero rust when I picked it up from Houston in Jan 2016 and after 2 light winters with weekly undercarriage washing it looked pretty close to what the OP showed. That level of rust shown isn't bad and I don't think it should be a significant deterrent.

If you want to argue that $55k is too much to pay for any 2014 then sure some rust in addition matters. But if you think $55k was fair for a pristine truck, then I would argue the rust shown is pretty easily remedied and IMO no more than a $1k hit on the value. Of course you know what they say about opinions.

I didn't check with other LCs are available in his area but the low production means he might have to wait a while to find another, so maybe that in itself might be the point?

 

[sPaulp]

I don't think the rust is that bad, I guess. He lives in NY. Even a new model off the showroom floor washed weekly is going to look like that in a few years anyway. I sprayed my 2013 with fluid film this year and even with that given the amount of salt already used in Chicago I don't want to think about what my undercarriage will look like in the spring. Mine had zero rust when I picked it up from Houston in Jan 2016 and after 2 light winters with weekly undercarriage washing it looked pretty close to what the OP showed. That level of rust shown isn't bad and I don't think it should be a significant deterrent.

If you want to argue that $55k is too much to pay for any 2014 then sure some rust in addition matters. But if you think $55k was fair for a pristine truck, then I would argue the rust shown is pretty easily remedied and IMO no more than a $1k hit on the value. Of course you know what they say about opinions.

I didn't check with other LCs are available in his area but the low production means he might have to wait a while to find another, so maybe that in itself might be the point?

Thanks, great insight and some very good points. I am specifically targeting model years '13-'15 and have been looking (for many weeks) for a low mileage, 1 owner, pristine rig. Other than the rust that you see in the pictures/video, the rig checks off all the boxes...18k miles, 1 owner, blizzard pearl/black, not a single carpet stain or ding/dent, and is Toyota certified. Maybe someone can enlighten me, but man I have been looking all around and comparatively speaking, $55,400 for a '14 with 18k miles, certified, pristine condition (dealer is willing to install BFG AT/KO2 instead of OEM tires if I pay extra $400), seems to be a very good deal. Obviously, the only hiccup is the undercarriage which most have agreed can be remedied with a wire brush, rust treatment, paint, and then annual fluid film. Ironically, it appears that there is a VERY good chance that i will be moving to the Portland OR area within a couple of months for my company. So, since I am 99% sure that is going to happen, future NY winters are irrelevant albeit I have no idea how bad Oregon winters can be, or what havoc they cause on undercarriages.

For what it's worth, I did call about a '15 today with 29.5k miles,1owner, southern rig with zero rust, not certified, black/black for $57k. It too is a very clean rig.

 

[SWUtah]

Thanks, great insight and some very good points. I am specifically targeting model years '13-'15 and have been looking (for many weeks) for a low mileage, 1 owner, pristine rig. Other than the rust that you see in the pictures/video, the rig checks off all the boxes...18k miles, 1 owner, blizzard pearl/black, not a single carpet stain or ding/dent, and is Toyota certified. Maybe someone can enlighten me, but man I have been looking all around and comparatively speaking, $55,400 for a '14 with 18k miles, certified, pristine condition (dealer is willing to install BFG AT/KO2 instead of OEM tires if I pay extra $400), seems to be a very good deal. Obviously, the only hiccup is the undercarriage which most have agreed can be remedied with a wire brush, rust treatment, paint, and then annual fluid film. Ironically, it appears that there is a VERY good chance that i will be moving to the Portland OR area within a couple of months for my company. So, since I am 99% sure that is going to happen, future NY winters are irrelevant albeit I have no idea how bad Oregon winters can be, or what havoc they cause on undercarriages.

For what it's worth, I did call about a '15 today with 29.5k miles,1owner, southern rig with zero rust, not certified, black/black for $57k. It too is a very clean rig.

Bought my 2015 LX570 for $65k in July 17k 1 owner miles CPO, color I wanted clean carfax, serviced at Lexus oil/ filter every 5k miles. When I bought CPO LX570's were going for between $64-69k. Give them the additional $400'for the KO'2s and enjoy your new ride. (Black walls out on the KO2's)

 

[linuxgod]

Bought my CPO 2013 with 49k miles in Jan 2016 for $49k. Ended up settling on tan/gold instead of salsa red or metallic gray because the price was $4-5k less than the going rate. It's 2 years later but you're looking at 1 year newer vehicle with 40% of the mileage. I would've thought low 50s so $55k doesn't sound out of line. It looks like nationally there are a total of 11 CPO 2014-2015 LCs for under $60k and the price seems pretty reasonable for the year and mileage

https://www.cars.com/for-sale/searc...t=price-lowest&yrId=56007&yrId=51683&zc=60202

 

[m3fan]

My 1999 4R got top trade-in dollars after 7 years of winters untreated. My brand new 2006 4R got top money when it was totaled after 11 winters. My 2005 LC 100 got great trade-in money after 12 winters. There is zero value hit due to undercarriage surface rust. There is no KBB index for this factor, there is no insurance factor or any other valuation factor of any sort. Nor does any shop say "oh it's rusty underneath, that'll be more expensive to maintain". They just fix the damn car like any other car.

That said, I get it. I undercoated the hell out of my 14 200 with Fluid Film this fall because I would like it to stay clean under there. It's important to me even though it makes no sense. Just understand that it makes no logical sense but if it's important to you, again, I get it.

When I was shopping for a 200 I looked at 4 different 200's from around here, all 14s, and they seemed pretty darn clean. Just barely showing undercarriage rust on seams and front hooks. Mine came from the south and it only looked incrementally better FWIW.

 

[arich]

MAny of us have been saying this for years. Wire brush, a couple can o Rustoleum in the Spring and Fall and clean up the welds. The 100 in comparison did not have any surface rust at 10 years old in NY.
I would not be concerned based on the pics. We can all help you getting that looking good.

 

[SWUtah]

My 1999 4R got top trade-in dollars after 7 years of winters untreated. My brand new 2006 4R got top money when it was totaled after 11 winters. My 2005 LC 100 got great trade-in money after 12 winters. There is zero value hit due to undercarriage surface rust. There is no KBB index for this factor, there is no insurance factor or any other valuation factor of any sort. Nor does any shop say "oh it's rusty underneath, that'll be more expensive to maintain". They just fix the damn car like any other car.

That said, I get it. I undercoated the hell out of my 14 200 with Fluid Film this fall because I would like it to stay clean under there. It's important to me even though it makes no sense. Just understand that it makes no logical sense but if it's important to you, again, I get it.

When I was shopping for a 200 I looked at 4 different 200's from around here, all 14s, and they seemed pretty darn clean. Just barely showing undercarriage rust on seams and front hooks. Mine came from the south and it only looked incrementally better FWIW.

Damn I hate it when somebody rational comes on here speaks truth to us fanatics

 

[Charlie Coyote]

Damn I hate it when somebody rational comes on here speaks truth to us fanatics

Newbie here . New 2017 LC, as in 1400 miles on it. I've had Tundras for 16 years and put 400k+ miles on them. First LC. Live in South Dakota,USA. We do use salt here but I have never once worried about the under carriage on any vehicle. Never had any rust on the body but a small bit on a 1997 tacoma.

Seems on a vehicle this expensive I'd worry even less about rust?? Am I wrong/nuts? Wouldn't be the first time.

I'm likely to end up in light off road situations pheasant hunting and fly fishing in goofy spots of Rockies, and driving in snow and ice 3 months/year. Sole purpose off roading is unlikely.

 

[SWUtah]

Newbie here . New 2017 LC, as in 1400 miles on it. I've had Tundras for 16 years and put 400k+ miles on them. First LC. Live in South Dakota,USA. We do use salt here but I have never once worried about the under carriage on any vehicle. Never had any rust on the body but a small bit on a 1997 tacoma.

Seems on a vehicle this expensive I'd worry even less about rust?? Am I wrong/nuts? Wouldn't be the first time.

I'm likely to end up in light off road situations pheasant hunting and fly fishing in goofy spots of Rockies, and driving in snow and ice 3 months/year. Sole purpose off roading is unlikely.

It will rust if you don’T clean up and repaint the bottom every year takes less then one hour

 

[Charlie Coyote]

It will rust if you don’T clean up and repaint the bottom every year takes less then one hour

As in, parts will rust through? Or, is it just surface rust?? Thanks.

 

[SWUtah]

As in, parts will rust through? Or, is it just surface rust?? Thanks.

Yes surface if you live in an area where they use that salt on steroids. So come the spring you get under your rig with a flash light and look for any areas that are discolored and or have developed some surface rust. Welds, nuts bolts. What I then do is after cleaning and nutralizing the rust I use a can of rustolumin hammer coat and spray the area. Then I use the remainder of the can and spray frame rails weld seams and axles and every thing else that's metal. As the years go by and the paint coverage builds up you will find less rust. I've always washed my vehicles once a week and made sure the bottom was washed. I know if you live in the rust belt and park your car in a heated garage at night the exposure to salt,moisture,heat and freezing cold will enhance rusting.

 

[Charlie Coyote]

Yes surface if you live in an area where they use that salt on steroids. So come the spring you get under your rig with a flash light and look for any areas that are discolored and or have developed some surface rust. Welds, nuts bolts. What I then do is after cleaning and nutralizing the rust I use a can of rustolumin hammer coat and spray the area. Then I use the remainder of the can and spray frame rails weld seams and axles and every thing else that's metal. As the years go by and the paint coverage builds up you will find less rust. I've always washed my vehicles once a week and made sure the bottom was washed. I know if you live in the rust belt and park your car in a heated garage at night the exposure to salt,moisture,heat and freezing cold will enhance rusting.

Thanks for the clarification. Greatly appreciated!