The appearance of things can be deceiving.
This could be very interesting, friends. This Toyota 4Runner is certainly a shocker. But, we are more interested in hearing from you dear readers. This is because people living in northern latitudes that have salty winters and snowy temperatures will likely have a very distinct opinion than those who live in the warmer, salt-free areas. We’re interested in hearing about the different opinions so please comment below.
Before we move on to the SUV , let’s talk about this SUV . This 2003 model, according to Toyota Maintenance had lived most of its life in New York, before moving to the West Coast. This is not an official Toyotachannel, but a channel dedicated to the care and maintenance of Toyotas. The mechanic is apparently not familiar with American rustbelt vehicles, as it’s based out of California.
He claims that this Toyota is very the vehicle. This type of corrosion usually has at least some clues, whether it’s rusty fenders, bubbles around fuel doors, or rusty fenders. The SUV appears to be a well-kept vehicle from the outside. However, underneath it is literally falling apart. One side of the front core support has completely rotted away, while the other side would have likely rotted too if there hadn’t been any additional metal welded in. The frame has some extra metal, but it still looks like the Titanic underneath that silver body.
We have a lot of Motor1.com staffers who are based in the region. This could be due to salt-covered roads in winter. The engine’s top is covered in salt spray, which indicates that there’s a lot of corrosion. The video also shows that the 17-year-old 4Runner has covered just 130,000 miles. This equates to an average of 7,647 miles per calendar year.
This SUV may have sat for a long time. Vehicles parked outdoors, especially on grass or dirt, can suffer from water evaporation. This can cause corrosion under the hood and leave the body intact. Although we don’t have the full history of the 4Runner, the excessive underbody corrosion and mileage suggest that it is at least plausible.
This SUV, regardless of how it happened is an excellent example of why used vehicles should be inspected thoroughly. The mechanic in California isn’t sure the Toyota is worth keeping around. But, we know that people from the north have seen worse. Motor1.com reader, what do you think? Are you worried about a rolling deathtrap? Or is this just another rust belt machine that needs to be properly repaired with oil and torches?