Buy a Prado that has been on the beach?

[stevenF Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close stevenF]

G'day guys,

I've been looking for a 2008 Prado for a while now and need some advice from people who know...

I've been told I should not buy a used one that has been on the beach - sand in all the nooks and crannies causing rust etc.

I've found one that's fits all my requirements BUT its been on the beach.

Do I buy it or steer clear?

Thanks very much in advance!

Steve

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Steve.

Most Prados have been on a beach. If you use it for what its built to do you will take it on the beach! The better things to look for are has it been cleaned after going on the beach, is it clean underneath, does it has any serious damage underneath?

There is always the possibility that you may acquire a Padro owned by a 70+ year old that only drove it to the shops after diving carefully for 20km to all0w the diesel to heat up properly, but I seriously doubt it.

Mine has been on the beach as has every attendee at any GTG and every person I have had the pleasure of meeting on PP. The true test is how well they care for the vehicle after using at as intended.

Good luck

mlc

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

My 2007 had been on the beach heaps of times, but spotlessly cleaned when I got home, still looked like new when I sold it.


Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I read a comment on here somewhere that said to poke a finger inside the chassis rails and taste some of the dust (yep, that's right). If it tastes salty then the car has probably had some submersion in salt water (as in more than just tyres in the sand).

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

I read a comment on here somewhere that said to poke a finger inside the chassis rails and taste some of the dust (yep, that's right). If it tastes salty then the car has probably had some submersion in salt water (as in more than just tyres in the sand).

I wouldn't try this if a farmer is trying to sell you his rig.

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

mine goes to the beach once or twice a week . it really depends on whether they drove it in the salt water , or got it bogged , or how fast it was driven on the beach .whether they are complete morons , whether they washed or rinsed it afterwards or looked after it . pull up the carpet in the back, or stick a hose up into the wheel arches ,or under the back bumper and see if any sand comes out . if it does then they haven't washed it very well .

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

Respectfully, whoever told you that Steven has obviously never owned a 4wd or has never been 4wding. Almost every 4wd owned within a couple of hundred km of the coast would've been on the beach at some stage. I bought my 1998 model in 2006 and it had been on the beach prior. I take it on the beach a few times every year. It just depends on how thoroughly you wash it afterwards. Mine still has no signs of corrosion. If a car hadn't been washed for months after being on Fraser Island for 4 days then no, I wouldn't buy it. Like others have commented, just feel inside the chassis rails at various spots. If they're clean of sand and gunk then the previous owner was thoughtful enough to flush the chassis rails properly after a beach/dirty 4wding trip. If that's the case then they most likely cleaned the car thoroughly enough in other places too.

The most important factor is how long will you keep the car for? If it's 5-6 years max, then you've got nothing to worry about and there's no point stressing. If it's more like 10+ years then you need to pay a bit more attention to things obviously.

It'd be like not wanting to buy a 4wd that's been regularly driven in the suburbs because it's braked and accelerated off the mark too many times and turned too many corners which will cause more wear and tear. Or one that's spent 2 years of its life in the sun everyday. The mere thought is just silly.

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

I'd be more worried about a car that has resided on the actual coastline. The salt is brought in via wind and stays there till the next wash.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

I think on and off the beach is ok especially if its washed.

a vehicle that os prmarily a beach truck with rust on the chassis, i wouldnt touch it.

[t303 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close t303]

I would worry just as much about one that has been out west over the desert mud and salt pans. Had to recover an aircraft off Lake Eyre years ago, by the time it came out (a month or so) the wheel hubs were half eaten away and any spanner dropped on the salt started to rust within an hour or two. Watch for fresh black chassis paint done as part of the "detailing"; it can cover a multitude of sins.