How does this frame rust look? Would you buy or stay away?

This is a used 2004 I'm looking at. Do you guys think this amount of rust is acceptable, or should I steer clear?

 

I would not buy that vehicle based on those pictures.

 

What specifically do you not like? Just curious.

 

where are you located? I personally don't like the rust to the bolt and the nut, the rust to the leaf springs and other weight bearing areas. The rust is weakening of the structure, I dont know in comparrison with other 2004 tacomas but I've seen airplanes from 1960's with less rust. That amount of rust in visible areas might be a tell tale sign of worse rust in unreachable areas. I'd probably stay away.

 

If the rust has penetrated to the point where it is starting to flake off, I would walk away. The worst spots are going to be in crevices hidden away from the eye anyways. If everything else looks like that, there is probably a good chance of some perforations. And if not, there will probably be perforating in the not-too-distant future.

 

Again, this is just an opinion from some guy on the internet looking at pictures, but it looks like the frame has a really rough texture to it. So either it has some kind of underbody coating, or its rusty as fuck and somebody painted over it. It also looks like the rear differential has a lot of grease or oil on it and is quite rusty. The lumpy texture all over makes me think that the rust has penetrated the surface.

 

The rust is like scale. Hit that with a needle gun on the shackle and it would turn to dust IMO. I can't understand why they wouldn't coat the shit out of a frame with protective undercoating from the factory after all the BS with 1st gens. THEIR LOSS though for having to replace everything now under recall

 

Get the Vin number and check with Toyota to see if its qualified for a frame replacement. If it qualifies, don't worry about the rust.

 

I appreciate all of your comments. I just asked for specifics because I wanted to educate myself in order to avoid reposting the same question with another truck.

 

Ah, very smart. I'll look into this.

 

Shit that thing has rust all over. Even the keys look rusty!

 

A guy I worked with a few year back, bought a limited, V8, 4x4 Tundra that was is pretty good condition, 110k miles, but was so rusted one of the leaf hanger fell off while it was sitting on the used car lot. He offered $2k cash to the dealer, had it towed to a local dealer and got the frame replaced for free. Bought some new shocks, etc... and I think spent like $500 for shocks, tow, etc... and ended up driving away with a +$10k truck for ~$2500.

 

That frame rust looks as bad as my 85 jeep xj. I'd stay away

 

Just spoke with Toyota. They said the undercoating was done in 2010. And the extended frame warranty expires at the end of 2018. If I got a dealership to do an inspection and they passed the frame, would you guys still advise me to stay away?

 

I would buy it for the right price. If they guy wants to try to sell for retail, I'd go look for something better. But if you can drive the price down a little due to the rust and overall condition, it might be worth your while to take the risk. TBH, I don't think that frame is far off from failing and if it did fail, that would be great because you get a brand new frame (and rental car) for free

 

I got the dealer down to $12,500 yesterday over the phone; can probably get him closer to $12,000 or maybe even $11,500. I think if a dealer passes it with a frame rust inspection, I might buy. If the dealer fails it, then free new frame right? This is all with the premise that it drives/shifts well.... I'll admit though, the other few people in this thread make me less inclined to buy. I'm just not super experienced with these trucks, so your opinions are a huge factor.

 

It's really a gamble that within 2 years, you could either have a truck with a new frame or your frame could fail after 2018, which would leave you with a truck that wouldn't pass inspection and not driveable. I would bring it to someone to inspect the frame and see if it perforated already or close to being perforated, especially near the cats. If your frame does get replaced you could have a Tacoma with extended life/value.

 

I would look it over carefully. $12,500 is pretty high but I don't know what your market looks like; these trucks are in high demand. What are the rest of the specs, what are the options, what is the mileage, etc...?

Tell the dealer you really don't care if it passes, if they want that kind of money tell them to coat it and coat it right. Don't let them coat it with that goopy shit; ask them to do it right. Sand blast it and coat it with something permanent as right now the ONLY think coating that frame is rust. If the frame passes and they aren't willing to do that, I wouldn't pay much more than $9-10k for that truck.

I would then proceed to poor salt water all over that frame until a hole develops and you can get your free frame.

 

I would stay away from it considering the problems these year model Tacomas already have with frame rust

 

I haven't read all the response. I wouldn't buy that truck. My thinking is that rust is cancer of metal. In this case, it sure looks like it will only get worse.