I'm starting to get more and more worried about my Jeep making it through the winter. I don't know why, but over the last few weeks, the rust has increased tenfold and I haven't even been driving it. Its not just the rust spreading from known issue areas either (like the rockers), but its starting to pop up all over under the paint. I have some above my doors, on my quarter panels, roof line, pillars and a bunch of other places that didn't seem to have a problem just a few weeks ago. Not sure why all of a sudden this started happening. My wheels also just started rusting at the weld seem, and of course they're 4ish months out of warranty. Combined with the findings Rick is making on his XJ, I'm thinking I should dump the thing sooner than later too. I did check various suspension mount points and at least they still look and feel solid.
Question becomes, what do I replace it with?
A buddy of mine just bought himself a 2nd gen Lexus IS as a winter beater (after considering E46 M3s, E9x 328/335s, W203 C55s, W211 E55s and a bunch of others). At first I made fun of him a bunch for it, but then it got me thinking that at least temporarily, it might not be the dumbest thing in the world. I started searching for them on my local CL, but a few of these came up so I changed gear because I didn't think I could get them so cheap.....
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/d/1999-lexus-lx-470-california/6340899125.html
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/d/2000-lexus-lx-470-4wd-1-owner/6337988958.html
LCG did mention to me that the V8s had crummy timing belts, but this 6s had a chain. This is the only 6 I could find locally though
https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/d/97-lexus-lx450-suv-truck/6344931075.html
This one would be the best (obviously... minus the sticker on the hood), but its out of my hypothetical price range
https://saginaw.craigslist.org/cto/d/1996-lexus-lx450-landcruiser/6339318625.html
EDIT: Just found this one. Would love to have that setup, but that mileage is scaring me off
https://annarbor.craigslist.org/cto/d/1997-toyota-land-cruiser-fj/6304627817.html