Pre-purchase rust

Hey! I am looking to buy a 2016 4Runner off of a friend, and the mechanic is not recommending it, due to the rust. Does anyone have any thoughts on whether this amount of rust is worrisome? I'm looking to just drive it for a year or 2 until I can buy new. Thanks!!

 

It doesn't actually look that bad to me, but maybe the mechanic found some truly concerning spots on some critical components

 

Agreed. It’s hard to tell from photos sometimes. Is it appropriately priced?

 

I bet if you hit the worst area you could find with a wire brush, there would be good metal under that (what looks like to me) surface rust. Weld lines always rust first, and sometimes even starts at the dealership when still new.

I keep going back to those pics and can't see anything that would prevent me from buying it...looks like the underside of a 6 year old vehicle to me.

 

Thank you guys so much - that's what I was hoping to hear. It has 120k (mostly freeway) miles, and he'll sell it to me for $25k. It's an SR5, but has tons of upgrades. Attaching a photo. Both front lower control arms bushings are cracked, and both outer tie rods need to be replaced, so that will cost me $2k or so. Really appreciate the feedback!

 

$25k really isn't a friend deal.

 

All due respect, but I think it would be unwise to rely on the advice from strangers on the internet over a mechanic that actually performed an in person inspection of the vehicle.

 

I definitely wouldn't rely on my advice, especially when based solely on 2 pictures. But I think it may be worth a second opinion, or at the very least, finding out exactly (specifically) what the mechanic saw that made them not like it and make a decision based on that.

 

Ask the mechanic for particulars. Pics don't look bad to me!

 

I agree with the mechanic.

 

That rust is not a deal breaker at all.

 

Now hold on just a gosh darn minute! What are you trying to do? Rob us all of our raison d’être?

/sarc

 

I'm new to this forum and need to figure out how to respond to specific replies. :/ Thanks for all of the feedback. I am going to take it to get a second opinion, but I'm inclined to buy it. A mechanic offered my friend $28k for it as is a few months ago, so I'm trying to figure out if $25k seems reasonable.

 

My opinion again $25k isn't a friend deal to me.

 

What's the blue book? Upgrades are not worth much regardless of what the seller thinks.

 

Click the quote button on the lower right of a post to reply to that individual post.

 

Eh, depends where you live. People can "value" a vehicle all they want but different markets will demand different prices. So before jumping on the "cost" bandwagon, gotta look up that particular market.

"Extras" don't bring more value to a vehicle...that's kind of a loaded statement. To the right person they do. You can get 10k worth of upgrades already installed, that's you saving the coin usually and not having to do the work. But one has to be diligent about the inspection. Some people put on all the accessories and baby it. Some people put them on and beat the crap out of it. Should be pretty easy to tell to the buyer if it's worth it for them to either buy everything and do all the work themselves, or buy it as is. Time is money...

That rust doesn't look bad at all. It's surface rust. A wire brush will clean that up and something like POR-15 or a frame coating will take care of that not problem. If you're looking for a showroom truck, then yeah, it's not the one. But with these rigs, and all Toyota's, I think the saying holds true...Tools not Jewels. Use it.

We just bought a 2016 as well, paid more, but 65k on the clock. Surface rust looks similar. When I inspected, it's not a concern. Pretty easy to tap along the frame and listen for differences. I had a 99 Tacoma so I remember the frame issues, but it's easy to hear when you have a dead spot which would indicate deeper than a surface issue.

If you're worried about potential issues down the road, now is the time to knock off what you can and coat what you have access to. Don't worry about what people on the internet think. If it's a solid rig and you are happy with what you got for the purchase price, it's time to enjoy it!

 

Checking book value is a good idea. Same as looking at comparable units.

Keep forgetting to check the location of the poster before thinking pricing; in Canada $25k doesn't get you a 4Runner newer than 2014, so I originally thought it was a pretty good deal.

 

Thank you! I wasn't sure if that would do it. Thanks again

 

Blue Book is somewhere around $23k, but we live in Northern California and I feel like all 4Runners so for more than Blue Book here.

 

With the work needed I think it's an average deal. Not a friend price. See if he will split the repairs-offer $24K.

 

Thank you. Blue Book is somewhere around $23k, but I'm in Northern California, and they all go for more than Blue Book here. He was already offered $28k for it, so I don't think he'll go lower than $25k for me. Every 4Runner I look at has fewer miles, but is at least 33-34k and I'd rather spend $25k, if that makes sense.

 

I was actually just thinking this. Thanks...I think I may offer $24k. Seems fair for both of us.

 

Of course he did.

 

Thank you! This is so helpful. He has definitely taken really good care of it. It's been ridden mostly on the freeway, only gentle off-roading. He lived in Utah for a couple of years, so that's where the rust came in. I'm not looking for a showroom truck right now because we don't have a garage, we live near the beach, and it's going to be sitting in the driveway. If I can deal with the rust a bit now, I'd like to get it, keep it for a couple of years, and get a new one when I have a garage for it (and maybe interest rates aren't insane). The extras feel worth something to me, just because they are things I would add myself and would rather get a truck with them already installed. Thank you again!

 

Ha! No I actually know he did - he's a mutual friend. But he's a mechanic and can do all of the work himself. I am going to have to get $2-3k work done.

 

We all know that was bull shit. Mechanic did not offer over KBB for something that needed repairs just couple months ago.

So said mutual friend was going to offer above blue book? Either you guys have different definition of "friends" or I don't know what I'm talking about.

 

Rust? what Rust! 24K or 25K is basically what you can expect from a Dealer selling it So I would talk it to no more than 24K and get a bill of sale for ummmm.... well you know your gonna have to pay sales tax right? so less is better... Just saying and whoever the mechanic is that is saying don't buy it is full of shit if it is about the rust as for bushings cracked? are they loose? all cars bushing show cracks on the outer sides after a few years and that does not mean it is bad.

 

Toyotas go for over blue book where I live. I just sold my 2001 Tacoma with 200k miles for $4500 over blue book

 

1. This guy is supposedly your friend.
2. It needs work done