Thinking of buying this 95 tacoma, is this TOO much rust?

Ok I have another thread talking about how I totaled my 07 tacoma, and I am not going to be able to afford truck payments for a while, so I thought I could get an older tacoma for around 5 grand and stack up the cash otherwise.

You guys advised me to go look at this tacoma. I drove 2 hours north to test drive, and scope this truck out, but it had a bit more cancer on it than I expected..

I asked the owner of he'd take $4,000 for it (he was asking $4500) before I got up there, and I still would pay that as long as it'll be a dependable truck for now.

Ok It is rusty, but I checked the ac, 4wd, and most of the electrical stuff and it worked well. It has at least 50k miles left on the timing belt (according to the owner, he had 3 tacos in his lot, and he was doing brakes in a SICK 03 taco in his shop), and new brakes and windshield. He seemed to be a tacoma enthusiast, so I figured the work he has done it good.

I took pictures of the frame by the rear springs, and rear skid plate, and all the body rust I could find.. I want to know, is this too mush rust? Should I not go for this truck? This is THE ONLY tacoma I have found for under 4 grand with less than 200k miles. The frame is a little more rusty than I had hoped, but it doesn't seem to be any more than a lot of surface rust. As far as body rust, I can live with that as long as this thing gets around mechanically for 2 or 3 years while I save up for a nice down payment on a newer taco again.

If I bought it, a new rear bumper, tires(maybe wheels too), fender flares, and an oil bath for the frame are defiantly on the to do list though.

Pics!!! I have a few more but my phone is being a PITA as far as uploads go, and I gotta get to bed.






Frame from passenger side


Driver side Frame



Passenger Rear Wheel



Driver Rear Wheel


A little "hidden" cancer by the grill


Tiny Rust Spot on passenger front bumper


Trailer wiring harness was in the truck bed, but it has a really nice topper, so that may be why it's like that(topper has it's own wiring)

Still to come tomorrow are the worst ones.. Rear Bumper is junk, and there is a nice rust hole in below the extended cab on the passenger side..

From what you guys see, run or snag it?

 

stay away, stay far far away. The 95s are out of the rust warranty. Who knows if the frame has rust holes or extremely weakened rust spots else where.

 

Damn, that rust would scare me away lol

 

aw man.. I was hoping you weren't gonna say that.. oh well

 

I gave the guy 100 bucks to hold onto it too, I hopped that wasnt in too bad of shape.. Now I gotta try to get that 100 back.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvAES6Y9Kfw

That's quite a bit of rust my friend. What all the above said

 

You think the frame is just gonna fold up on the thing? lol now I dont know what to do, I NEED to buy a new vehicle by the end of the week, and I was hoping that was my ticket.

 

Man, i can understand the need to pick up a new truck, but that just looks like all rust. It can only get worse from there. Not only is the frame rusted but the body is rusted too. Im sure you can find a similar truck that isn't a rust pile for almost the same price. To be on the safe side I would really advise steering clear of it. If it were me looking at it the second i peeked under i would have said fuck no and left. You could try and explain to the guy that the thing is in MUCH worse condition than he led you to believe, and you drove all that way only to find something that looks like it would fail frame inspection and try to get your 100 back. But i doubt the guy would be down for that.

 

Do you absolutely need a truck? If not, I'd get some pos DD like a civic or something. That way you only sped around $2000 to get a decent one, and still have money left over.

 

Yeah I know, I knew I'd get good feedback from you guys...I'm willing to bet I'm out 100 bucks though... Shit.. MUST HAVE A TACO!!

 

I don't absolutely NEED a Truck, but it helps a lot when taking the dogs out, hunting, or going fishing, or camping, or when I do do side work for friends... I got by with cars up until I wrecked my first taco, but I tasted a toyota truck now I want one again.

 

it's hard to just forget about. Can you go bit longer without a vehicle and wait for a better truck to come around?

 

I'd offer less than $4,000 on that pile of rust, use the extra for a tetnus booster shot

 

well, yes and no.. I'm currently driving the girlfriend's car, but I kinda told her she could have it back this weekend after I bought that taco.. Now I can't sleep.. This sucks.

 

ok what about this one?? http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/csw/cto/3151394915.html

I'd have to wait and save up some more money though.

 

Well it looks better but looks are'nt everything I'm guessing rusty vehicles are common up there? I'd be very careful when your in a hurry to buy a vehicle, good luck man.

 

just ask for tons and tons of pics of the frame and rust. It looks much better, but it looks like that Minnesota salt ruins everything. Ask if the frame has been coated for the recall. It does look better, but the pics dont tell near enough.

 

Im begining to feel getting an old taco is helpless in this state.... Everything looks similar to the white one posted, What would happen if I got that rust bucket, or a siilar rust bucket, and gave the frame an oil bath? Are they really that prone to failing going down the road?

 

What I would do is ask the owner if he completed the yearly frame inspections from toyota. If it has passed recently, it is still solid and you should buy it.

The black one looks better than the white one...

 

Pass on this one but don't give up. I spent 7 months finding my 2000 Tacoma, reg cab, 4x4 5 spd, with cruise, air and absolutely stock.......in the middle of Nebraska and rust free! No doubt, hard to find but worth it. Installing a new suspension, busings, and pull the box and paint the frame to preserve it as long as possible. good luck on your quest.