Buyer's Remorse 4th Gen 4runner Purchase

Hello Everyone

I recently purchased a 2006 4runner SR5 V8 with 26,320 miles after searching for months and watching many sell within 24 hours. At the initial inspection, the vehicle appeared to have some rust in the engine bay and underneath. I didn't think much about the rust knowing how wet Oregon/Washington can be and knowing that the vehicle sat for five years while the owner's health declined. I ultimately decided to purchase the vehicle due to the virtually untouched interior and clean exterior while also driving one way 2 hours, purchasing a 10k cashiers check, and dealing with a quick title headache. Now that I have the vehicle home and can do a better inspection, I feel like the rust is overwhelming. What are your thoughts? Good deal or Bad deal? Total purchase price $14K.

My first course of action is to find an excuse to get underneath and address the rust. I think the Bilstein 5100 shocks and new rims will give me the opportunity to take things apart and gain access to some of the hard to reach places. I plan to use the Rust-Oleum rust convert with an undercoating spray and silver spray for the rust around the battery.

I am so glad there is a community to ask questions and share knowledge for the newbies to learn and become proud owners. This is the nicest, newest, and cleanest vehicle I have ever owned. I look forward to continuously modding and improving this 4runner to suit my wife's needs as well as my offroad/camping needs.

 

IMHO, that rust looks minimal for a 14 yo car. As other have said on other rust threads, wire brush, elbow grease and some rust preventative spray (fluid film or other options) and this car will last a long time.

I don’t believe PNW uses salt the way the NE does so over the course of the next couple weekends, you should be able to take off most of it.

It looks super nice and has a LOT of miles left in her. Congratulations on the new to you 4R.

 

i'ld do her up!

a little bit of work with a wire brush and Rust-Oleum, and some new floor mats you'll be in love with her!

 

Nothing wrong.
But damn 26k miles

 

I just got a variety pack of steel brushed for my drill hopping it gets better reach than the grinder. Thanks for the replies and putting my buyer's remorse to bed. I sold all my weight equipment taking up space in the garage to make room for the 4runner so I can spend any extra time working on it rain or shine.

 

You scored!

 

Had me sweating for a sec! Cheap repair would be good but I really want the best for this 4runner hopping I'll own it for at least 10 years. I'm working from home now so miles will be nothing. I honest did get lucky with the sellers honoring the first come first serve policy and not letting it become a bidding ware.

 

Confused, former NYS resident checking in.

Can you put arrows showing where the rust is?

 

Great buy! I live in Indiana and well that's not bad at all.

 

Maybe I'm just being paranoid! you wouldn't bother trying to remove the rust around the battery, frame, and axle...etc?

 

Just a little surface rust that can be handled. You got a great deal! Only 26K miles! Its not even broken in yet.

 

The owner never had it registered year around, only got temporary permits for camping. Interior feels as if I drove it off the lot back in 2006. Thanks again for the good feedback about my 4runner and helping put the surface rust in perspective.

 

Hi Scott, welcome to the forum! Congratulations on your 4 Runner, she’s a beauty! Wow, low mileage, and a V8! This is a 14 year old vehicle, and where I live most would not go for this long. I live in a snow belt in central Ontario, Canada, just outside the Greater Toronto Area. 5 months of the year, we endure salt, sand and snow. It’s cold, and hard on vehicles. Most are parked outside, and need daily scraping before being driven. The underbodies are sandblasted at high speeds with a slurry of salt and sand on the big highways.
I only say that to tell you that from my perspective, this 4 Runner looks pristine. The battery tray may need to be replaced or painted due to a failure from disuse, but that’s it. Unless you’ve got more photos that show actual corrosion, that minor surface rust on the suspension is nothing, nothing! You lucked out with this vehicle! Congratulations, again!

 

Congratulations on a very nice find!

 

Yeah what everyone else said......your 4 runner looks fantastic for it's age. if you are still unsure have a professional mechanic look at it top to bottom. Only issue I see is the floor mats look gross! & the 4.7L V8 has a timing belt. That needs replacement asap due to it's age.
keep the truck

 

I wouldn’t let that little bit of rust worry you one bit. That things as good as new. There’s new Tacoma’s in the lot with more rust than that lol

 

I have 2006 Nissan Frontier that is sitting at 99k miles. I spent 10 of the last 11 years working overseas and my Fronty just wasn't driven all that often.

26k miles on a 2006 anything is questionable to me.

Did you run a carfax on the vin?

It will show what services were done by a dealer at what miles. Plus will show any accident history at what miles.

 

As a new Englander rust is the way of life ! What I have had very good success with is A scraper and rust Converter spray. It comes clear and in black. Found at your local parts store in the rattle can department. Follow the directions. Then cover with The appropriate paint.

Rustoleum in damp climates will hold moisture under it. Thus advancing the rust.

 

The 4runner sat for 5 years while the owner's health declined and this was confirmed by the carfax showing service stopping in 2015. I found out from the family that he never had the 4runner registered year around but instead purchased temporary tags to go camping. The owner was a Boeing mechanic and seemed to have taken great care of the 4runner up until the point that it sat.

 

As mrmike7919 already said, it will need a timing belt right away. Someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the 4.7 is an interference engine, so don’t take a chance on running it too much until you get it installed for max piece of mind.

 

During my 8 yrs in auto industry. I have seen leather seats that where punctured or torn repaired and look great. I have also seen dashboards get plastic melted to them and a tool applied that gives the texture of the dash. As well as painted to fix scratches.

 

It is from what I understand. Definitely replace the belt ASAP.