"minimal rust"

I've been on the hunt for old trucks to flip for a few months now, perusing all manner of facebook marketplace and craigslist ads from Miami to Virginia.  I've seen many that give credit to the work that rust had done on those poor beat up trucks, and some that don't.  Today I made arrangements to go see an $800 87 F150 in Miami.  The ad said the truck had "minimal rust" and in our messages he said it in was in good shape.  There were only 3 photos, but they looked ok.  Body was straight, tailgate was in surprisingly good condition, etc.  So I go down with low expectations, but I brought a trailer.  I arrive and we walk into the backyard and I look at the truck.  There is a hole the size of a small soccer ball on top of the roof over the passenger door, the back window is partly missing, and opening the door rains down rusty sheet metal.  Why do people do this? Do people buy these cars after being mislead? Yes, it was a really cheap car, but I drove an hour one way and in the photos it had a rear window (he said it had just fallen out, but it was plexiglass.....).  I'm just curious if this actually works for people.  

Idk, I think it is blind, purposefully ignorant, optimism. They realize that their pile isn't worth what they've been telling their friends/family/wife, and value their pride more than the difference between the fair market value and their boasting. 

Like a steering wheel in my pants, it drives me nuts.

My man, you need to ask for better pics. Also, there is no reason they can’t send you a video walk around these days. It’s super simple, and every phone does it. If the guy is so old school he can’t use a smart phone, the either he’s a trustworthy old man, or a meth twerker. 

In reply to Trackmouse :

It was west Davie- sometimes I feel bad about asking for a video for such a cheap truck. 

"Some Rust"

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Showed up, took it for a spin, and couldn't believe how bad it felt. Look underneath?

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Holy crap. #Titanic. Guy started talking about a frame replacement....

The windshield had a (badly) faked/swapped safety inspection sticker (VIN didn't' match, etc), the title was notarized but also unsigned (big no-no in PA), and of course, the guy was Russian and his 'friend' selling it was 'out of the country.'

Most sketchy CL non-transaction I've had.

It's funny how widely opinions vary on rust. Living in Georgia, there are vehicles that I would write off that my yankee-transplant friends classify as "Not too bad."  To me, if you say "rust free" in a CL ad, I better not find the first identifiable patch. anywhere.

But I don't care what the reason, if you're selling a car that has a damned HOLE in it, you better post a picture and an explanation in the ad!

The hole thing is pretty inexcusable. But, in general, I think people just don't know how to buy and sell cars, what they're worth, or their likely market. 

I always figured that was just a northern thing. I once looked at a jeep the guy posted as being mostly rust free. Pictures looked ok, get there and its missing rockers and floorpans. 

dropstep said:

I always figured that was just a northern thing. I once looked at a jeep the guy posted as being mostly rust free. Pictures looked ok, get there and its missing rockers and floorpans. 

Well if the rockers and floorpans are no longer there technically those parts are 'rust-free'. 

Just your typical TJ rust.

Just go ahead and turn your search south west. By the way Virginia is too far north for rust free cars! 

I usually look in Cali, Arizona, NM, Texas, Nevada for older cars. Newer stuff I am a little more open to.

Looked at a Volvo 544 once, labeled as rust-free. Took a look at the topside: "Hmmm, I guess he meant "no visible rust holes"". Took a look at the bottom: "Hmmm, is there any place that isn't rusty? Perhaps over there near the BROKEN SUBFRAME".

I'm surprised that this thread only has one photo of a jeep and no photos of an old toyota pickup. The owners of both of those have very strange ideas when it comes to minimal rust.

In reply to maxonroad :

Great idea, except your average $1200 hooptie seller on Craigslist usually can't even be bothered to take pics of obvious defects stated in the ad. Typical interaction seems to go something like this:

Ad states: "Rust in passenger side fender and rocker panel." (Ad shows one crappy pic taken from drivers side.)

Email seller: "Hi, I am interested in the ___ you have for sale on Craigslist. Your ad states rust on passenger side, do you have any pictures of the rust? I would be coming from a couple hours away to see the car and want to be sure it's worthwhile first"

Seller's response: "info is in the ad DID YOU REED IT itsa cheep car i ain''t taking no more pix I NO WAT I GOT!!!!" 

maxonroad said:

Come on people, you can never tell by the photos about the average vehicle condition. It's just like those Instagram polished photos of women who in a real life look completely differently! They adjust the right angle, lighting, pose - everything to look better than in reality.

The same with the vehicle photos. I wanted to quit buying cars via Internet, but the prices are way better there, so I had to find a compromise. One of my friends who is car dealer told me about the software they use to show their remote customers cars from every side and corner possible. You can see how it works link removed

I think it is a great way to avoid "minimal rust" problem. Since then I ask whether dealership or individual sellers about such software or simple ask them about the video tour. You can do the same to be safe and avoid wasting your time. 

That's a very interesting canoe you're paddling

YOu do realize the nation is in the middle of a drug epidemic right? Junkies and reality are pretty much mutually exclusive.