Help judging frame rust 2002 tacoma

I am looking at a buying my first tacoma, my first vehicle actually and I found a 2002 tacoma (1-owner, 45K miles, $17,995). It looks like a clean car, but i'm not sure if its priced high? and I don't know if the undercarriage is too rusty? these are the photos the dealer sent me...

I need advice please!!!

 

that is very high to me, you can get a bigger 2nd gen for that. the leaf spring looks a bit bad. but an in person check and a mechanics visit might prove me wrong. I wouldn't pay that much. But the frame looks ok. Check the leaf spring mounts, and where the frame bend up and down around the cab. and phone camera look at the inside of the frame rails might not hurt either. Rust is way too much work for me to deal with.
keep in mind you can buy a 4x4 new tacoma for 26,000, so for eight grand more you can get a new truck. I would definity pass

 

even if you get a new one with the utility package the rear seats sometimes come up on the for sale or trade section. or you could just say you are looking for them.

 

Someone gave that frame a half-assed undercoating to conceal the rust so I’d consider that price way high.

I wouldn’t be afraid to own that truck if it’s only surface rust, just not at that price.

What you want to avoid is penetrating rust. The best way to find out is rap the frame all over with a hammer, especially wherever the rear springs attach to it. Or have a mechanic you trust examine it for you.

 

2002, $17,000, too high

 

I paid $15.5 for a 45k mile 2004 Base model 4x4 2 years ago. And it had less rust. $18k is way high for a 18 year old truck that's sat for most its life. Just cause its got low miles, doesn't mean every thing under the hood is gonna be peachy, learned that one myself.


But that frame is definetley hiding something. Looking at those driveshafts tells me that whatever its hiding probably isn't good.

 

That frame has been painted to hide the rust. I would pass, for that price the frame would have to look like a virgin

 

Way too much.

 

LOL. Glad you asked before buying. Price is ridiculous.

 

Can I get rust like this treated?

would it be worth asking for a much lower price then getting the rust worked on?

 

$13K is all Id pay, and thats with a minty fresh undercarriage.

 

I would just move on to a different truck. There is no treatment except elbow grease to get all of that junky undercoating off to evaluate the frame. The price they want is ridiculous and says they won't come down enough to make it worth it.

 

The black coating on the frame is probably “rust encapsulator”, so it’s already been “treated”. If you are capable of doing the work yourself then maybe a project car may be worth it. Otherwise keep looking. For $18K you can get a new Civic.

 

KBB is 9.5-11.5k but as shitty as the undercarriage looks more like 8k cash

 

did they furnish you with a carfax or equivalent to show where its history has been

where are you located?

 

yeah there's Carfax available, looks clean. The dealer got it at auction.

 

are there other 'similar' or near similar Tacoma's for sale in your location to evaluate one against the other?
45k miles seems to be pretty low mileage, which may be good or not good, its probably the reason why the dealer is pricing it up there!
these dealers sure seem to be playing some whack game anymore, I have seen it in my area!

any there any private sellers in your location without a dealer 'markUp'?
do you have any information if that is original frame or had been replaced years ago?

 

Too much. PASS

 

Super sketchy that the dealer got it from an auction.

 

2nd gen gets my vote for that price