Is rust automatically/likely to be a problem on a 2008 Tacoma from the North West - WA ?

Hi there.. So, I'm new to this with a general idea and awareness on the frame rust issue. Obviously "rust is bad, mkay?" .. but I'm wondering how critical is it to avoid. is there any acceptable amount?


SHORT QUESTION: Should I pass on buying a Tacoma simply because it's from the icy-salty north ? We are scheduled to have it professionally inspected next week, but my friend says to not even bother, to keep looking.


DETAILS: I'm looking at a 2008 Tacoma 4x4 with 61k miles.. looks like a nice clean low usage truck... BUT, it spent almost all of those years in Washington state! Now, the private party seller says, "there is no rust on the frame", and I tend to believe him.. .. .. but a friend of mine is insisting to pass on it automatically, simply because it's from the icy-salty north.

I am having it professionally inspected next week, and i can't view it myself until then.. The seller let the post expire or something, but I'm in communication with him and he'll be back in town next week. I can give a little more details on the truck if there's any interest.

Thanks for any help !

 

Worth a look
I treat mine with fluid film/ woolwax every year maybe the owner did the same or it was garaged.
Have someone that’s familiar with these trucks to inspect it especially the frame.
Welcome to the forum.

 

If the frame is good, and the price is good, I would jump on that quick

 

Depends where in WA. And how the truck was used/treated. I’m on the west side/OP and that doesn’t qualify as icy salty haha. Salt from the ocean could still create problems tho

 

Thanks! I'm pretty excited about it.. really looking forward to modding and making it mine

 

The Carfax says Bremerton, WA so.. looks like near the coast, by Seattle.. .. . which isn't icy salty ? that's good!

 

No, it snows like once a year and the county doesn’t use salt as far as I know. BUT, look under and CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY! A lot of beach driving, boat launching without proper care will still fuck shit up

 

Awesome, thanks! you're my favorite person right now!

 

Western Washington doesn't salt their roads. Maybe you'll get some on the mountain passes but even the locals to Central WA don't have to deal with rust. Washington cars don't rust out. Like the others have said, check anything before you buy it. Tacomas rust easily to begin with and WHO KNOWS the history of a 14 year old vehicle. But your chances of finding a good one are very high.

 

Let me put it to you this way. I grew up in WA and we always heard how cars in the midwest/northeast are known to be rust boxes. I never saw it for myself unless a rusty car with license plates from one of those states rolled into town. Then I moved out to Virginia. Where I live is just south of the "salt line," and I'll see cars from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York/New Jersey that have visible rust. You also notice a lot of cars that have exhaust leaks. You also notice that people just don't hang onto their cars as long as they do in the Northwest. All a mix of factors, rust being one of them.

 

Where are you guys from that you think a Washington car is an automatic no-go?

 

Yeah the PNW isn't generally where you'll worry about road salt rusting so much... the places that do get snow, a) tell you to stop being a pussy, learn to drive in snow, and use chains and b) mostly use sand/pumice instead of salt.

I used to see some rusty Yotas in Oregon. They were the ones from the mid '80s, before Toyota figured out somewhat how to make body panels not rust. The same ones that looked like swiss cheese in the northeast... by the early to mid '90s.

 

I am from and still live in East Tennessee. my friend has moved around alot, so i'm not really sure.

 

Makes sense! So you know about the cars from both the midwest and the northeast for sure.

 

King County (home to Seattle) DOES now salt (salt brine) their roads, and heavily so. Idiots even dump it on when there’s only freezing night time temps in the forecast. Then it rains, which washes it off and they follow up with actual salt. But that’s King County/Seattle, the dumbest place in WA!

 

Others pretty much covered it. We generally don't salt roads here in WA. BUT do a thorough frame inspection anyway. You never know until you see for yourself. You don't want to be that guy that spent money on a truck only to have it fail inspection where he lives because the frame was toast. I actually ended up here because I was researching what to look for in used Tacomas and found a thread on it.

Edit: Post in the PNW thread if you want to be sure on the local salt situation.

 

You guys are all great! I'll definitely be getting it inspected.. all I can do for now is wait excitedly for 7 long days

 

Bremerton is a Navy town. Be wary of "I'm deployed but my friend will handle the sale" scams

 

Big cities generally use salt to prevent traffic jams and accidents. Other parts of the state use lava gravel.