2nd thoughts on 4Runner's Overseas Past

Hey everyone, first time poster here. Thought I'd get some perspective from ya'll regarding a situation I found myself in today. Have been looking for a white 2014 SR5 Premium 4WD around souther Cal and located one a few hours from my house. It had been incorrectly listed, but after getting some pictures from the dealer emailed to me, I drove down to see it. For whatever reason, my spidey sense said something wouldn't be right, but the miles were low, the price right and it was the first vehicle that fit the bill, so out I went.

Test drove the car, and it seemed fine. Slid underneath it, and was met with way more rust than I expected. Exhaust was very rusty, especially bolts holding sections of it together. The nuts look completely frozen. Rust on the frame (not a ton, but definitely there) and cross members. Walked around and saw a Virginia sticker on the windshield and wondered whether it was on the coast, or in an area where the roads were salted. Made note to my wife that there was a Jane Goodall Institute sticker as well, just out of interest because she studied anthropology. Called a friend who had more experience with cars and rust around Virginia and texted a few pics and he remarked that it looked a little excessive, but overall what he said allayed the worst of my fears. Now we're in a dry climate, won't get any worse, kind of typical for Japanese cars these days. The dealer handed my a printout of the CarFax, and it said the car was imported in Maryland, then spent about 8 months in Senegal. My wife looked at each other as our wheels started to turn. Senegal? A city in the US that just happens to have that name? Or really West Africa? But...The Jane Goodall sticker. Dealer asked the staff member who took the trade in if they remembered the people...yep, folks from Africa. Then I couldn't shake my next thoughts. Third world roads. Monsoons. Mud caked on the undercarriage. Then Virginia. The dealer wouldn't budge from around $31,500. 23,000 miles. Near perfect interior, only small blemishes on the paint. I really was tempted, but my gut just said...pass. So I did. Thoughts?

 

trust your gut, if you feel weird about it now why buy it and have that in the back of your head going forward.

Also welcome to the site

 

Yup. I would definitely pass on that one. The right one will come along.

 

I think you made the right call. Who the hell knows what that thing went through. I bought a Volkswagen once against my gut. Man that thing was a pile. Hated that car.

 

Good thing you passed it up. You would be regretting it very soon.