Is this too much rust? Need advice before buying.

[drabina]

I am looking at 2002 Tahoe that's for sale locally. The body is in very good shape with a bit of bubbling by the rear door. The rear hatch has about letter size bubbling around the rear wiper. My concern is the frame. It is all covered by rust. Given the car spent its life in North East that's nothing to be surprised with but I am not sure if that's too much rust or not. If this was you buying, would you consider that much rust or move on? I am fine with mechanical work but can't do body/rust work besides wire brushing and covering with POR 15.

 

[Teamiez]

What state are you in? For a salt belt 2002 not rust proofed I am guessing I have seen a lot worse, when you can peel crust it’s not that good, this doesn’t seem like crust.

 

[Teamiez]

But I should add once I bought mine (salt belt) I wish I did the research and went south or to a area without salt and bought mine there, but for the fly I got a nice deal on a 1 owner dealer maintained 01 I couldn’t pass up.

 

[drabina]

I am in NJ so that's probably pretty normal for my area. It is just that it is a bit out of my comfort zone. I guess I will pass on the Tahoe.

 

[OR VietVet]

Buying an 02 means usually needs work and the suspension and all attaching components and brake systems will be tough to work on with that rust I see. That control arm area looks nasty

 

[RED TAHOE LS]

rust comes from inside, it bubbles . Pass on this one.

 

[Tonyv__]

Being from PA. This is nothing. My 08 express van looks like this if not worse. My 15 is on the way…. I will say bolts and stuff are definitely going to give you a headache and rust in your face is always fun. But I wouldn’t be Overly concerned

 

[Tonyrodz]

I am in NJ so that's probably pretty normal for my area. It is just that it is a bit out of my comfort zone. I guess I will pass on the Tahoe.

I'm from Jersey. Doesn't look bad for an 02 at all. Pretty normal for the area. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it if that was my only concern. Hopefully the price is right.

 

[drabina]

Thanks for the replies. The car's interior is in very good condition, low mileage for the year and it rides nice too. Those are the pros. Cons is the rust you see on the photos and the price which is definitely based on the current market. I will pass.

 

[Teamiez]

What price was being asked? I might be looking to sell my 2001 that’s in decent shape for a NY vehicle and documented since new.

 

[George B]

From Wisconsin that doesn’t look terrible. I wouldn't be overly concerned. If you spray the frame down with wool wax or fluidfilm in the fall before the next salt season you will be ok. I would be concerned about brake lines more than the frame.
I also see the control arm bushing is probably shot.

 

[tom3]

I'd check inside the boxed frame areas, stick a finger in any hole and feel for loose rusty junk in the bottom. Look real close at the body to frame mounting area, several closed in areas that hold water, salt, mud, etc. But bubbles of rust on the body is like an iceberg, what you can't see is the bad part.

 

[drabina]

Thanks again guys. I already told the seller that I am going to pass on the truck. I only considered this one because of the low mileage and overall (interior, exterior) condition. Unfortunately, the rust on the bottom was a bit outside of my comfort zone.

 

[KChevy75]

I'd recommend looking for a car that wasn't driven in the salt belt. If buying online, always check the carfax report to see where it has been registered throughout the years in addition to maintenance and accident history. You even have to be careful about buying a car from Carmax, carvana, vroom ,etc. They sell 2+ year old northern cars that looks like that underneath. You then have to go through the hassle of returning it.

 

[91RS]

No way it hell would I buy that.