Too much rust to buy?
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26,053
Likes: 4,329
From: Alberta
I've seen much worse that is quite mild. For now. Apply Fluid Film every year and you'll never have rust issues, having said that my standard for buying any vehicle is no rust at all but I'm willing to travel several hours or more.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 368
From: Atlanta, Georgia
If you live in an area that rarely have salt on the roads then you may get some use out of the RX before the rust get too bad.
I live in a southern state so I would avoid cars with that amount of rust to be honest. However, it do not look as bad as some other RX I have seen on used car lots from northern states. I would still walk away from it in my area. Toyota/Lexus do not do well with rust.
Last edited by carguy75; Jun 12, 2024 at 11:47 PM.
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,208
Likes: 1,735
From: VA
That rust is not very bad, mine is almost like that, just spray it with Fluid Film every year as advised above. You can buy it online or at Home Depot etc.
Just as important for a used vehicle that old are the miles on it and the maintenance history. What does the CarFax state? Where is the vehicle from? What state is it in now?
Go to this link, join the Lexus Drivers Site, enter the VIN, then go to the vehicle health area to see the dealer maintenance and repair history. The site can be cranky, but keep trying. https://www.lexus.com/My-Lexus/account/create-account
Just as important for a used vehicle that old are the miles on it and the maintenance history. What does the CarFax state? Where is the vehicle from? What state is it in now?
Go to this link, join the Lexus Drivers Site, enter the VIN, then go to the vehicle health area to see the dealer maintenance and repair history. The site can be cranky, but keep trying. https://www.lexus.com/My-Lexus/account/create-account
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,208
Likes: 1,735
From: VA
I don't recall you stating how many miles are on this RX.
If you have never owned a car, then you should consider that with any used car, especially one that is 14 years old, that you better have a couple of thousand extra dollars available after purchase to perform additional maintenance and repairs. Also get some insurance quotes. And absolutely have an independent shop check it out, but it looks like you are already doing that part.
What else that is newer can you get for the price of the RX? A Toyota Highlander is the same mechanically as the RX and the Lexus NX is very similar but smaller and a newer design.
Have you considered traveling to obtain a vehicle from farther south? You can search on Cars.com and set a mileage distance from various zip codes to expand your search area and narrow it down further by models and model years etc etc.
If you have never owned a car, then you should consider that with any used car, especially one that is 14 years old, that you better have a couple of thousand extra dollars available after purchase to perform additional maintenance and repairs. Also get some insurance quotes. And absolutely have an independent shop check it out, but it looks like you are already doing that part.
What else that is newer can you get for the price of the RX? A Toyota Highlander is the same mechanically as the RX and the Lexus NX is very similar but smaller and a newer design.
Have you considered traveling to obtain a vehicle from farther south? You can search on Cars.com and set a mileage distance from various zip codes to expand your search area and narrow it down further by models and model years etc etc.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
The car has 67k miles and they are asking $16k. It is from 2010 as I mentioned previously. Lived most of its life in NYC. Was towed in 2020 due to mechanical issues (according to Carfax; no further clarification provided) and failed a recent MD inspection due to faulty brakes. I'm told the brakes were just replaced (guessing not OEM) and the car passed inspection. I've been set on buying the 2010 without the navigation system, but with the backup camera in the rear view mirror, so it's been a little tricky to find, even after a nationwide search.
I read somewhere on here that there's no such thing as a good deal on a rusty car....hence my need for advice
Always appreciate everyone's time. Don't have anyone in my life that can help me with these sorts of things so always grateful!
I read somewhere on here that there's no such thing as a good deal on a rusty car....hence my need for advice
Always appreciate everyone's time. Don't have anyone in my life that can help me with these sorts of things so always grateful!
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 368
From: Atlanta, Georgia
The car has 67k miles and they are asking $16k. It is from 2010 as I mentioned previously. Lived most of its life in NYC. Was towed in 2020 due to mechanical issues (according to Carfax; no further clarification provided) and failed a recent MD inspection due to faulty brakes. I'm told the brakes were just replaced (guessing not OEM) and the car passed inspection. I've been set on buying the 2010 without the navigation system, but with the backup camera in the rear view mirror, so it's been a little tricky to find, even after a nationwide search.
I read somewhere on here that there's no such thing as a good deal on a rusty car....hence my need for advice Always appreciate everyone's time. Don't have anyone in my life that can help me with these sorts of things so always grateful!
I read somewhere on here that there's no such thing as a good deal on a rusty car....hence my need for advice
Always appreciate everyone's time. Don't have anyone in my life that can help me with these sorts of things so always grateful!For comparison, I paid about $16k for my 2015 RX350 AWD with 172k miles on it in my area nearly fully optioned out with barely any rust. So make sure that you are not being ripped off and try to pick up a RX350 with more miles(100k-150k) to save some money.
Driver
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 89
Likes: 18
From: Montreal
Rust is not big at all suspension elements are not a body. nothing to worry about. compare with Canada here it is worse and there are no problems. Price... it all depends on each car individually. for example 67 not 130 twice as much. a bunch of little things it is not known by whom and how it was repaired. if with a good service history then it is possible and high mileage. but if not then in 3 years you will pay different the same money for repairs. I would check the truthfulness of the mileage and bargain for 67. rather than looking for something cheaper and with surprises
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,994
Likes: 609
From: The Jet City
That isn't that bad as far as the rust, as its pretty much surface rust.......As I'd clean it up the best you can & add a couple coats of Gloss black Rustoleum on all the steel suspension parts, I'd even do the alloy rear diff case as well.......!st is to replace the rubber oil cooler hoses w/ steel lines. I wouldn't care if they were replaced w/ new rubber ones either......Also good to do the bank one vct hose, as for some reason Toyota used a steel line spiced w/ a rubber hose unlike bank 2 uses a steel line.
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