Thread for classifieds/good deals/questions on purchase?

[mcgaskins]

I hang out mostly in the 100 section as that's what I currently drive, but I'm starting looking fairly seriously at a 200 series. A while back in the 100 section there was a thread for questions about purchasing, is this a good deal or not, does this look normal, etc. kind of questions. Can we start a thread like that here for lurkers looking to pick one up?

I found this one on Autotrader that looks like a pretty good deal - 2008 with 80k miles listed for $31.9k. I see it's in Rhode Island which I assume probably gets a little bit of rust, but I'm not sure. Anyways, curious what you guys think!

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...mt=[TOYOTA[LC[]][]]&listingId=372693726&Log=0

 

[bjowett]

Unfortunately, rust on the chassis is becoming a real issue on the 200. Toyota took a step backwards here.... so any vehicle under consideration needs some belly pictures. If you look at the second to last picture, the lower arm and sway bar can be clearly seen, and they don't look good.

 

[mcgaskins]

Unfortunately, rust on the chassis is becoming a real issue on the 200. Toyota took a step backwards here.... so any vehicle under consideration needs some belly pictures. If you look at the second to last picture, the lower arm and sway bar can be clearly seen, and they don't look good.

It definitely makes sense as I've pretty much always avoided anything west of Texas and north of Tennessee. That picture does show some pretty ugly stuff lurking especially for one so "new". My LC is 16 years old and has no rust I can't imagine ponying up for a 200 to have to deal with those issues!

 

[chrisratz]

Theres a silver 2008 on cars.com with 55k miles for $38k, the carfax shows its been a socal car all its life. There's a gold one in arizona for the same price, with only 23k miles, but I cant tell where its lived since new. I would pay a little more for a car from a dry climate.

 

[mcgaskins]

I agree as would I. I lived in Arizona and Nevada for 11 years, so I know how nice the vehicles are that have never seen humidity. Conversely there can be other issues with sun fade, and dry rot, but if it's been garaged that helps a ton.

Here's a 2010 with 45k miles for $35,750, but something doesn't seem right about it. They used what appears to be file photos, doesn't have plates on it even though it's an individual seller, and there's no real description about it:

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detai...f1Dir=DESC&prMx=40000&aff=national&listType=3

 

[arich]

I live in NY. I always have gotten under the 100s I have owned and our current 200 with a wire brush and a can of rustoleum flat black primer a couple times a year. It I see rust, I hit it with the wire brush and give it a good spray. The 100 looked way better after 10 years than the 200 does after just 3. I've said this before but the suspension hardware on the 100 was cadmium plated while the 200 isn't.

 

[Yossarian]

I have noticed on my 2009 200 (34k miles) that the under carriage has more surface rust that the body or interior has in wear. My 80 had a built in rust preventing system, i.e. a leaky motor

I'm not to concerned about the surface rust as the frame and suspension are stout, and there is not a spec on the body. I've been thinking about arich's method myself, add that to the to do list.

 

[RTaylor]

Good idea on the thread because those questions are starting to frequently pop-up.

Separately, let's talk more about this rust because there seems to be a common theme (perhaps a new thread?). I would like to prevent long-term consequences resulting from rust.

 

[mcgaskins]

Good idea on the thread because those questions are starting to frequently pop-up.

Separately, let's talk more about this rust because there seems to be a common theme (perhaps a new thread?). I would like to prevent long-term consequences resulting from rust.

Agreed - this is the first I'm hearing about rust on 200s and I'm quite surprised! I take my 100 skiing 20+ times a year with mag chloride all over the road, and my 16 year old truck doesn't have any rust!

 

[OsoCruiser]

My 2008 is now listed for sale in the ih8mud classifieds under Vehicle-Trailer Classifieds, Other Vehicles