Should I buy? Rust check on a 2003 Taco!

Hey There,

Created an account just to see what y'all think about the value of this car and if it's worth it. I'm pretty green when it comes to understanding rust issues, so I wanted to see if you saw any major red flags or if it looks fairly surface.

It's a 2003 6cyl automatic w/ 4WD. 141K miles. $7K and from the northeast, so the rust is always concerning. Looking for this to be my daily driver out in California.

Let me know your initial thoughts!

 

I wouldn't bother with that thing.

The biggest problem area to look out for is the hanger where the leaf spring attaches to up front.

Welcome btw!

 

Way too much rust in my opinion...remember these frames rot from the inside out, what you see on the outside isn't as bad as what's happening inside the frame. In this case, it's not gonna be good. I imagine that frame will have perforations in it in no time. Not to mention all those rusty bolts and fasteners that will be a huge headache to deal with if/when you start replacing parts.

If you live in CA, look out here for your Tacoma (or in neighboring southwest states). No rust issues to speak of or worry about. Prices might be higher but you'll find the perfect one eventually, and the best part is it won't have any rust on it

 

It doesn't look great to me. Where is the truck?

 

Agreed. My truck that lived in CA its whole life before I got it had no rust and I could use hand tools and NO thread penetrating lube to remove the stock suspension and install a new OME suspension.

My housemate whose 2001 Taco came from Utah, we had to take the torch and sawzall to get the rear leaf springs off.

 

Appreciate the quick responses already! The truck is in NY. Prices are much cheaper up here, but it's looking like its best to search in the SW. I thought it looked pretty bad.

 

Your money is better spent on another rust-free truck. Who knows what is going to happen a few years down the road after buying that.

 

Find something else, that thing looks like a heap of trouble

 

Honestly, I've seen people drive on MUCH worse.

If you can see it in person, take a hammer and tap around on the frame and listen for that change in sound from a bright "ping" to more of a dull thud.

That's a lot of rust though, even if you're only talking about all the bolts and fittings. Gunna be a PITA to work on it.

If you're just starting your search, I'd keep looking.

Something else to consider is widening your search to look at Prerunners as well. There are more of those since they aren't as "desireable" as the 4x4s, and you may be able to find one with less rust.

Then, if 4x4 is really what you really want, it's really not that difficult to convert one to a 4x4. It can be done for $1000, if you take your time sourcing the parts.

 

Definitely run. That's way too much rust, that frame is gonna implode lol. Try to find something in California or upstate Oregon/Washington to avoid salt.

 

Check out this truck instead, I tagged you in the thread too

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...harger-134k-pa-az-truck.651236/#post-22643972

 

Run far, run fast!!! Terrible to work on a vehicle with that much rust.

 

We're running – thanks y'all. It was cheap for a reason.

@eon_blue that truck is beautiful... but we're getting automatic because I don't want to learn how to drive stick (lol) and I want to drive my bf's truck. Haha - sorry!

 

Texas,Mississippi,Louisiana,Florida,Alabama,
California,etc etc that’s where you need to be looking for a ride.Prices in Texas,Louisiana,Mississippi seem to be very reasonable on Tacomas.Stay away from states with heavy snow and salty roads

 

I used to know a girl, SMOKING HOT, and adventurous too. She made absolutely sure I knew she was interested in me. And she had herpes.

Don't get herpes when you don't have to.

 

I find it odd that florida is on the 'safe' list. I moved there about 4 years ago. Everything rusts here. All unprotected metal is rusty. Painted metal has rust. Trees. Trees have rust here... We're surrounded by saltwater, it's in the air.

 

That's not true. Let say you want to pull the engine. Logic says you need a hoist or a cherry picker. That vehicle, just throw a creeper underneath and rock the engine back and forth. Odds are it will fall right out and save you all kinds of time.

 

Don’t buy from south Florida by the beaches but north Florida seems to have clean vehicles.Right now though I would have concern about hurricane vehicles as I imagine there is a lot of them running around.We have salt water here also where I’m from but we don’t have rust issues on vehicles that at least have the mud sprayed off of them after wheeling

 

My 97 has zero frame rust here in the Florida panhandle. The same can’t be said for the bed, which had a plastic liner that was allowed to rub through paint and rust through. All patched up now

 

i would not say that $7k is CHEAPer by any means...