Should I Buy?? (please say yes)

Hello, new to 4runners and this community. Been looking for a 3rd gen to buy for a college car. I found a recent listing through a reputable private dealership for a great deal with 62k miles.
Paint, chrome, engine bay and interior look almost brand new (has to have been babied). dash and center console look like the car just came off the lot, and its marked at a great price! All the mechanicals work perfectly. However there is rust- as expected for a 22 year old car in the midwest.
I've attached some pictures I briefly took, please keep in mind these were taken with flash so the rust probably looks a bit worse than it is. From what I can tell, the tank skid plate and some of the suspension components seem the worst, however I would probably replace all that after I do some stuff to it post-purchase.
I have a good mechanic who did a lot of rust work and saved my '67 scout (basically reworked the entire undercarraige, and I'm also not afraid to get under it with an angle grinder myself. Just not sure what a normal amount is for a 3rd gen. Thanks for any input!!!

 

Thats on the verge of too far gone. I think it could be saved but it would take some extensive work, if not a full frame replacement. The rest of the vehicle sounds great but still not sure if it be worth it. Depends on what you pay and whether you can do the work or have to pay for the work to be done. To be done right, it needs all the rust cut out and new metal patched back, then primed and painted inside and out.

-these spots look pretty bad and would probably need to be fixed. There is a company called safeTcap that sell fix-it sections of frame but i dont think it would cover the area at the too where it is bubbled.



In this photo, it looks like they just plated the frame. I’d bet money they just welded it over the existing rust which is no bueno. They didn't even take the time to paint the plate. Then it also looks to be in bad shape by this forward body mount as well.

 

I am not an expert regarding the rust but the pictures don’t look promising. However, the old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true it probably is” immediately comes to mind. Car dealerships don’t stay in business by being ignorant and selling highly desirable vehicles at “great prices”. These trucks are known for rusting out, it’s a Midwest vehicle and a 22 year old car with only 62,000 miles and is being sold at a “great” price? For your sake I hope I’m wrong. Let us know what you do!

 

@moto932 @Jackstraw just saw that rear mounted plate and I agree with you about that front body mount. I just don't really know what is an expected amount of rust for a 22 year old car like this one, especially with runners' notorious rust problems. per carfax its a MA car, one owner, routinely serviced before this dealership. I also don't understand how every other aspect of the car is in pristine condition!!! Makes it extra frustrating. Thanks for the help though

 

There are endless examples of pristine interiors and bodies, but rust lurking underneath. Almost every example of a 3rd gen that members come on here asking about fall into that category. A 22 year old vehicle from MA was doomed to a rusty fate unless extraordinary measures were taken to prevent it. It's way easier to maintain the interior and paint/body, because they're visible all the time.

 

Buy a Texas 4runner - they are usually rust-free.

 

^^^great advice.

 

Huge pass

 

avoid at all costs...

 

No do not buy
Run away from that deal

 

A few years ago I had a coworker in MA with a pristine 3rd gen LTD. Interior and exterior looked BEAUTIFUL. It was green over tan, my favorite color scheme.

I told her that if she were ever to sell it, to please give me first shot. She replied back that I didn't want it, the frame was rotten and she'd be getting rid of it for that reason.

I also looked at a few others (and Sequoias) that were a similar case.

New England is HARD on vehicles. Mileage really doesn't even matter.