Rust Bucket??

[T4Rnewb]

I'm looking at this T4R on ebay and it looks awesome except for in the pictures of the tires you can see the undercarriage and it looks like there is a good bit of rust. Living in the southeast I am not very familiar with rust on vehicles from up north so I just want to be sure I am correct in my assumption that this vehicle should be avoided if due to the amount of rust that is visible just from these pictures. I am considering this vehicle because it is pretty much exactly what I am looking for (2002 sport edition 4wd under 150k)
Any and all opinions are welcome!
Toyota : 4Runner: eBay Motors (item 140473102450 end time Nov-08-10 11:59:02 PST)

 

[99-4runner]

I personally would not just because it doesnt have the e-locker. BUT as far as rust.. i wouldnt be TO concerned.. you could always have a shop or someone sand away the rust and spray the undercarrage.. thats what I did. But it looks like a great 4runner if it had the e-locker I would say slide on in balls deep :boink:

 

[T4Rnewb]

I personally would not just because it doesnt have the e-locker. BUT as far as rust.. i wouldnt be TO concerned.. you could always have a shop or someone sand away the rust and spray the undercarrage.. thats what I did. But it looks like a great 4runner if it had the e-locker I would say slide on in balls deep :boink:

are you talking bout the push button center diff locker? because it does have that, all 2002 4wd models had it. I am a bit of a 4wd nube, but i'm almost certain thats what you are referring to

 

[rjaudi]

He was talking about the rear differential lock available from 96-2000. A rule of thumb is if you don't know what it is, you probably don't need it. It doesnt seem to have alot of rust. I would get it coated if you bought it though.

 

[Maritimer]

If you are from down south it probably has more rust than you would like. Personally, I'd search until I could find one from somewhere that doesn't use salt.

 

[Nelsonmd]

That is a decent price, not a screaming deal or anything.

The rust doesn't look too bad (mine is certainly worse), but I think it is more than you would like. In the SE you won't get much rust, so I think you could find a better deal locally somewhere, with less rust.

It doesn't seem like a bad deal though if the rest of the vehicle is exactly what you are looking for.

 

[T4Rnewb]

That is a decent price, not a screaming deal or anything.

The rust doesn't look too bad (mine is certainly worse), but I think it is more than you would like. In the SE you won't get much rust, so I think you could find a better deal locally somewhere, with less rust.

It doesn't seem like a bad deal though if the rest of the vehicle is exactly what you are looking for.

descent price at the moment, but reserve not yet met! buy it now is at 13,900.
The only reason i'm considering this one from the north is that I can't find what I want in 4wd in the southeast.

 

[Nelsonmd]

descent price at the moment, but reserve not yet met! buy it now is at 13,900.
The only reason i'm considering this one from the north is that I can't find what I want in 4wd in the southeast.

Oh, I didn't notice that. That is an outrageous price.

 

[Maritimer]

$13,900 is NO WAY!! I got my 2001 with same mileage, same options, and same rust, and it was only $8000 CAD.