As an FYI, about 15-17 years ago when the Canadian dollar was at par or higher value than the US Greenback, many Canadian used vehicles, and especially pick up trucks, were shipped to southern states. Spoke with a couple locals who were clearing 1 to 2k per vehicle doing that. Even dealers here were shipping almost everything 3-5 years old with low miles down south. I was trying to find a decent low mileage truck at the time. Took me over a month to eventually locate one, albeit with more miles than I preferred.
Years ago I was worked a fellow HVAC guy from the Huston area.. He hold me the roof top units have short life because the salty rain... they replace lots of units after 5 years.
I went a salvage yard out there in December and it was terrible 80s model cars look like they had been dipped in the gulf for 10yrs
Back in the 90’s I was down in Florida, went for a couple days to Daytona from Ft Meyers, drove on the beach ( which I’ve done before) and noticed the white powdery substance on the windshield, being curious I licked it, phewwww, salty as hell
Yeah Mark, been there too. When I got back to my side of the state, I had to give my car (2002 Mustang GT then) a thorough scrub down.
It's better to buy a car from a Northern state or province that lived a pampered (garaged) life. Most of the time these cars come with good weather striping, no faded paint, no detoriated vinyl roof, a nice (not sun faded) interior, no cracked dashpad + a working heather system!
I have imported quite a lot of such cars to Europe, it's better to pay more for a good car instead of buying sun baked junk from the South of the US.. And on top of that there are over US$ 5,000 shipping and customs costs, but it's still worth the extra money.
Southern California - I bough this little van out there for next to nothing, and the underside looks like it was just built..
Good solid cars and pick up trucks can be found in southern Alberta where salt isn't used as extensively as elsewhere in Canada and the northern US states.
Any car or truck I've purchased that has lived its life in colorado has been a dream to wrench on. Like 20 year old suspension bolts coming out with hand tools. As others have echo'd, paint can get baked pretty good in the southwest areas but easy to see how clear looks. As long as it's been taken care of it shouldnt be an issue. I did buy a tahoe from texas sight unseen other than pics and the paint was solid but the glass had a lot of scratches in it presumably from sand getting in the window wiper seal as they go up and down. I'm sure it could of been buffed but would of been a lot of work.
I remember when I first arrived in Seattle,(early '90s ) I had a roommate with a 70's Suburu wagon. He had problems with the car and I went out help him. When he opened the hood, my jaw dropped and I said "holy cr@p. it's beautiful!". He thought I was yanking his chain. Not a single spot of rust anywhere. Amazing. You can actually ADJUST the emergency brakes on 40 year old GM products here. Try that in Buffalo NY.
Living in Colorado I can echo what others of said: no structural rust here whatsoever. Mag chloride is used on the roads in the winter in the metro areas so you will see some light damage on aluminum wheels plastic chrome etc. Maria was contemplating an FJ purchase a couple years back and we looked at several used specimens. The FJ sold very well in Colorado and there will be plenty to choose from. That said they are also very hot on the used market and command top $$ and good ones sell immediately. Steve weim55 Colorado
I see 'em all over the place here in the Phoenix area, but never for sale.... Never with peeling faded paint either. Peeps park these things, and any vehicle they can, INSIDE the garage in the desert.
