Should I buy this Runner?

[RMKH]

Hey All! I'm usually on the 3rd gen message board but I've recently been looking for a 1st gen (which I've found are REALLY hard to come by in Florida). Anyway, on craigslist I recently found this one:

1988 toyota 4 Runner 4x4

'88 4runner with ~140k miles. Looks clean and well taken care of...but it has a small amount of rust (you can see it in the door-frame). Is it even worth contacting the guy? I've never had to mess with rust before on my '97 4Runner so not sure what I'm getting myself into. It seems like a good deal though and I've always wanted a 1st gen. Any advice would be helpful, thanks!

-Ross

 

[4runnerBrett]

Looks really nice and with the miles I think its a pretty good deal. You could probably get him down a couple hundred.

 

[RMKH]

Yeah, I figured I could talk him down at least a couple hundred. I was just concerned about the rust, that's all. What are the main places I need to be checking for rust?

 

[junkyardbiker]

Around the hardtop, rear bumper, bottoms of fenders, and of course bottom of rocker panels. Same as every other old vehicle. I have rust spots inside my upper door frames and the edges of my trans tunnel but nothing bad. I paint on some of that green mil spec rust etcher and don't worry. Come to northeast FL, there's a couple in my area recently going for great prices. I traded to get mine, an old beat up 1996 Chevy diesel for it.

 

[supkar]

Yes, great deal. 22re motors are rare and that one looks really good. They are really going up in price in Ca.

 

[RAD4Runner]

Check around windshield. Chrome trim traps lots of debris (here). Mine looked fine until I had to have windshield replaced.

Therefore, also inspect inside around the windshield. Rust actually grows under the paint, you would not see much around the trim. See examples of rusts spots in my windshield post here.