looking at 97 with 50k, but theres some rust...

[pjb4runner]

Hello All-

(warning: no pics)

Went to check out a 97 SR5 5speed with around 50k miles recently being sold for 8k - was apparently used as a 2nd car for bad weather only (in New England/NY area) everything seems to check out - no major wear and tear (history checks out), but with such little use it seems like some things are corroding including some parts of the frame in and around the engine bay with blistering and paint bubbled up along the welds - doesnt seem like a huge issue now, but thinking it could be in the future - unfortunately i have no pics, but I'm just wondering how preventable further rust is once its started as long as its not in a critical state yet -- and what anybody thinks about a 97 with that little use being subject to moisture and corrosion just sitting for so long...kind of a mixed blessing...

*also wondering how much frame rust treatments usually cost...

 

[quicksilvr]

Hello All-

(warning: no pics)

Went to check out a 97 SR5 5speed with around 50k miles recently being sold for 8k - was apparently used as a 2nd car for bad weather only (in New England/NY area) everything seems to check out - no major wear and tear (history checks out), but with such little use it seems like some things are corroding including some parts of the frame in and around the engine bay with blistering and paint bubbled up along the welds - doesnt seem like a huge issue now, but thinking it could be in the future - unfortunately i have no pics, but I'm just wondering how preventable further rust is once its started as long as its not in a critical state yet -- and what anybody thinks about a 97 with that little use being subject to moisture and corrosion just sitting for so long...kind of a mixed blessing...

With no pictures, it's hard to be sure.....but I say: STAY AWAY. Once it's started, to fix it right you are going to dump a bunch of A) time or B) money into getting it fixed. Personally, a 4Runner from the NE that was only used as a winter truck would be the absolute last option on my list of potential 4Runners.

 

[GladeRunner]

I would rather have a vehicle with normal mileage and useage than one with little mileage (for a 16 yo T4R!).

Non use means that the belts, tires and other rubber items are prob dry rotting. And they still may be original which means lots of money up front to make it DD worthy.

I d walk away from this one. Don't be lulled by low mileage, find a vehicle that was driven freq and most likely had regular work. The rust is the least of your worries.

 

[pjb4runner]

A bit more about the history - the previous owners bought it new and had it serviced at the same dealer yearly - apparently they had all recommended services done when they went including belts (timing also in 2006 at 30k miles), plugs/wires, brakes, and all fluids, (called the dealer to verify) - struts are original though - really my main concern is the rust - trying to figure out if its just surface rust as of now - and if its worth taking the chance and getting a treatment done so itll last...
would like to let a dealer look at it, but dont know if that will be an option - guy says there are other people coming to look at the car this weekend, so Im guessing it wont last long...
oh they would also get the car detailed when at the dealer and the chrome bumpers have no rust - its just the frame im concerned about

 

[Brian757]

A bit more about the history - the previous owners bought it new and had it serviced at the same dealer yearly - apparently they had all recommended services done when they went including belts (timing also in 2006 at 30k miles), plugs/wires, brakes, and all fluids, (called the dealer to verify) - struts are original though - really my main concern is the rust - trying to figure out if its just surface rust as of now - and if its worth taking the chance and getting a treatment done so itll last...
would like to let a dealer look at it, but dont know if that will be an option - guy says there are other people coming to look at the car this weekend, so Im guessing it wont last long...
oh they would also get the car detailed when at the dealer and the chrome bumpers have no rust - its just the frame im concerned about

Well, the maintenance COULD have been done to keep it a DD, but it wasn't driven at a normal rate, which if your going to make a DD out of this, things will just start breaking quickly on you. Dealerships normally perform maintenance on a mileage schedule. So everything doesn't get replaced that necessarily needs to.

And with rust, see if you can bring sandpaper with you when you go to look at it. It sounds silly but the best way to determine the porblem is to attack it firsthand. It sounds funny, but what is the owner going to say, "Hey! Stop sanding my rust!"

How much are they asking? No pictures?

 

[pjb4runner]

saw the car yesterday - theyre asking $8000 (private sale) there are pics but theyre low quality- the exterior is in excellent shape as well as interior-- everything works - just dont know if the price justifies the low mileage if frame rust has started, even if its just on the surface now -- its around joints/welds etc - i know its normal in the area (like on my tacoma, but that has 190k) trying to figure out if its worth double what a 4runner with average miles would cost

 

[JohnsD90]

Shit I'll sell you my 4x4 5 speed 100% rust free (Arizona truck) 4Runner for $8k with 215k miles and a new clutch, and I'm in NY too!

When checking for rust on the frame I take a screwdriver and a hammer and hit the spots I think are not strong and I do this at various points on the frame.

 

[danthemanx07]

My 4runner came from the NE, Boston specifically. I bought it because it was well below the price of anything comparable in my locale, $5k for a 1998 3.4l 4wd e-locked with one owner and 95k miles in 2008. 4runners are pricey in the South. Something similar at the time was running $7-10k here.

At the time I did not understand the extent of deterioration created by the conditions up there. That being said, all that any of the rust has really cost me is time. Nuts and bolts are much more difficult to get off/out. I have had several head round off creating more trouble. Other than that though, I have no frame issues and nothing else has been adversely affected.

So in hindsight, if I were tight on cash, I would do it again. If I had the money to spend a little more in another market where rust was not an issue, I would do that.

Obviously, there is a cost/benefit decision to be made, but you are probably the only one that can weigh in on that one, but at $8k, I would likely be looking elsewhere. There are too many nice 3rd gens on this forum alone that don't suffer from rust problems. I wouldn't be afraid of higher mileage 3.4ls either. They wear well...