Rust Issues

[SCRunner12]

So I'm looking at a 99 highlander and it has some rust. Being from California, I'm not too familiar with rust so I'm hoping some of you East coast guys can give me some insight. DSC03057.jpg picture by desertwheelin - Photobucket

Does this look like a reasonable amount of rust to deal with? I plan on cleaning it up and painting it, but I don't know if the damage has already been done. Pic #36 worries me a little bit, but i have no clue.

It has 118k, 4wd (no locker), timing belt and water pump done recently, 9k on tires, new front brakes and he is a yotatech and IH8Mud member. His lowest price is $6700.

 

[Hepar]

That's more rust than I would want to deal with, but I'm sort of picky there.

 

[01KY4R]

It looks pretty beat up from the pics. I would definitely check it out in person if that is feasible for you. Pic #26 is the one that worries me. It looks like some sort of frame repair.

For the right price... anything can be a good deal!

 

[JohnsD90]

I wouldn't be too concerned it doesnt look like too much rust, but feel free to express your concern to the seller that why am i gonna gonna buy a rusting truck for this price when i can get one that has a clean frame for the same prie.

 

[rjaudi]

That rust isnt that bad. Mine was worse, especially if you are bringing it to an environment that wont be harsh. I would pass on the truck because it doesnt seem nice for 6700 especially with no locker.

 

[JohnsD90]

That truck is not worth $6,700. You need to repaint the hood, fix the rust, fix all three sections of the rear bumper and do the tailgate, i would offer the guy $5,250. And i wouldnt pay more than that.

 

[Mr. Leary]

I will echo the sentiments above. Not worth the asking price.

The procedure for removing rust is time consuming and labor intensive. It involves chemically neutralizing the rust with muriatic acid, sanding, then applying a special primer to keep the rust from returning.

If you don't mind spending a couple days working on the truck around noxious fumes, then a truck in that condition would be an acceptable purchase for around 5k.

 

[SCRunner12]

Thanks all for the responses. The rust does look manageable, but not worth the time and money. This was the first time I saw pictures and it was worse than he let on. I'm probably going to pass unless he can really drop his price, which won't happen. I would have to fly down and drive back 7 hours as well, so that price and the 300 for travel is not worth it. Plus I don't have the time on my hands to make it rust free.

 

[quicksilvr]

Ha! That's nothing! You should see my truck. I wouldn't even try to "fix" any of that rust, just put some Fluid Film on it and call it a day. It's not very bad at all.


But what everyone else said is correct, the truck is way too rough to be asking $6700 for. I'd give $5k for it.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Thanks all for the responses. The rust does look manageable, but not worth the time and money. This was the first time I saw pictures and it was worse than he let on. I'm probably going to pass unless he can really drop his price, which won't happen. I would have to fly down and drive back 7 hours as well, so that price and the 300 for travel is not worth it. Plus I don't have the time on my hands to make it rust free.

I even think 5250 is too much...

 

[SCRunner12]

I will throw out $5500, but he probably won't budge. I'll keep searching.

 

[2runnersnyynyg]

Over priced? The pics of the frame are not that bad! Mine was 100x worse than that and a wire wheel and spot treatment at best for that one.
My frame was worse, and the rust came off in sheets! I used the frame spray treatment that they are doing on taco's during a slowday at work when we were set up for frame sprays, I wouldn't even adress that frame, paint is rough and the 3-4 hour dent on the gate,plus paint and a hood repaint are gonna cost money.
Around here you would be at 1500 for the dent and paint alone!
5k is even a stretch for the body stuff alone. He would have a hard time getting what he's asking clean.

 

[maxspeed96ct]

lol thats not rust.
Come to new england ill show you rust.

I think that thing looks good, but the crunch in the rear hatch is another thing.....

 

[SCRunner12]

For here if the paint was clean and the dent wasn't there he would have no problem getting 6700. I wouldn't even deal with the dent, but the hood would have to be dealt with. I'm passing on it.

 

[2runnersnyynyg]

I will post some pics so you can see how much rust came off my 99.
The tech at work that sprayed my frame would have kissed me if my frame had that lil bit of rust! He said it was worse than any tacoma he ever sprayed!

 

[SCRunner12]

Yeah the worst amount of rust I have on my 95 is on the exhaust pipe and it really isn't much. I never have encountered rust like that before so it looked horrible to me.

 

[SCRunner12]

Well the guy emailed me back and he said he had offers over 6k already and was getting a deposit tonight. Seemed a little pissed that I offered 5500. If it had a locker it would have been a different story, but at the shape it was in, no deal.

 

[2runnersnyynyg]

keep your money let him deal his paint fade,and dents to some other schmo.
you saved money and headaches
here are some pics of the amount of rust that came off the frame of my 99

 

[2runnersnyynyg]

it would let me put all on kinda blurry iphone pics,and there is still more that is not worth adressing!

 

[SCRunner12]

Wow I now know what rust is. Yeah I wouldn't have been excited about the purchase and all that I would have kept of the highlander options is the hood in the end, so not worth the extra $ and headache. Plus I have a sport hood sitting in my garage waiting for its new home, so I wasn't too excited for another that I would have to deal with.