jrsavoie
Recruit
Now days, you also have to look for flood vehicles more than you used toI get that, but you don't have first hand experience of what vehicles last in the Midwest like I do. Im not trying to be a dick, but im more of an expert on this subject then you are.
4runners up here will have zero rust on the body and the frame will literally be rusting in half. See it all time. There is a good amount of cars and trucks that do the same thing up here. The list of vehicles i would own is extremely small. Fluid film can help but most shops don't do a good enough job getting it INSIDE the frame. Plus you have reapply it once a year. It will wash off on areas that get hit hard from water/snow on the underside. I touch up my wife's honda every fall. I pulled all the fender liners and splash shields off. Think I put close to 3 gallons on that car initially.
Personally i would never buy a new car when you can get a certified used car for alot cheaper and still have a factory warranty. Our Honda was 3 years old with 30k on it when we got it. Since its certified used it carried the factory warranty. I always stress to people the importance of buying a certified used car if your not buying a new one.
Not keeping a car for more than 5 years!? Personally I keep them till I can fix them anymore. I expect to get over 15 years out of our Honda. My tahoe is over 20 and has been a daily driver in Ohio its whole life.
There is nothing wrong with buying a used car up here if you stay within a few years of the current model year. Which most certified used cars are. If you want some older then obviously I would look out of state. Or find a place selling "southern " vehicles. Just have to be careful as many have been wrecked, fixed and resold up here.