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Location: San Ramon, Seattle, Anchorage, Reykjavik
2,254 posts, read 2,736,702 times
Reputation: 3203
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I've used a product call POR on the frame of my old Land Cruiser. Converts surface rust, is paintable, and stops all future rusting. I wish they coated frames inside and out with that stuff.
Age of car? Where is rust--on the frame, on the suspension, or in the fenders or engine compartment?
A little rust in a snow and salt state is not unheard of. Depending on the age, if it is rusted through and spread widely or really nasty, then maybe walk the other way.
It is like porn: you know it when you see it. If it bothers you, don't buy.
No salt is allowed on the roads in Oregon and I live 75 miles from the sea. Some rust will appear on older cars, but it's not much of a problem around here. When buying a used car, research its history and make sure it's never been driven near a saltwater area or in a state where the damage wintertime road-salting causes to the environment, is not taken seriously.
Location: San Ramon, Seattle, Anchorage, Reykjavik
2,254 posts, read 2,736,702 times
Reputation: 3203
I find the posts from people who don't live in the midwest or northeast interesting. Sure, we all have the luxury of buying a car with no rust. We may just need to travel. However, if you live where they use road salt that car you traveled so far to buy will have surface rust on the suspension, nuts, bolts, etc within the first week of driving on salted roads. So, you have to decide what's worth it to you. A perfect car that quickly turns into a typical winter car, or some museum piece. When I lived in the midwest I just sucked it up, bought a used car locally, and went on with my life.
I have 3 cars over 10 years old and live in the Midwest. No rust problems but I do wash them frequently in the winter. The key is a good underbody wash. Many people get the cheapest car wash and it does not do a good job and hence their cars rust.
I find the posts from people who don't live in the midwest or northeast interesting. Sure, we all have the luxury of buying a car with no rust. We may just need to travel. However, if you live where they use road salt that car you traveled so far to buy will have surface rust on the suspension, nuts, bolts, etc within the first week of driving on salted roads. So, you have to decide what's worth it to you. A perfect car that quickly turns into a typical winter car, or some museum piece. When I lived in the midwest I just sucked it up, bought a used car locally, and went on with my life.
Right!? If you want a 100% rust free car in the midwest, it's going to be brand new or maybe 2 or 3 years old at most.
Now you don't want something that's rotting away to rust, but cars with a little surface rust can still drive fine for years. You do want to avoid major rust, like holes or major bubbling and flaking. However, even then it could be worth it if you're in the bottom end of the market.
I used to live on the west coast. What we considered rusty enough to be only good for scrap is considered clean, fresh sheetmetal on the east coast and midwest. It's a completely different mindset out here where winters eat cars badly.
This is the Fiat 124 I bought for $100 and drove home, and then restored. I'm not afraid of rust:
If you look at the bottom of the car and there is a little rust, would that be ok as long as you rustproof the car every year?
edit: location is Midwest where it snows a lot.
a lot depends on things like, is the rust surface rust right now, or are there rust holes. how much rust repair are you willing to do? how much can you get the price dropped? rust proofing wont stop rust, in fact it likely wont even slow it down.
and to tell you the truth, in places were they use salt on the roads, there is no such thing as a little rust. look under the car carefully, and look in every nook and cranny, and i bet you will find more rust.
I have 3 cars over 10 years old and live in the Midwest. No rust problems but I do wash them frequently in the winter. The key is a good underbody wash. Many people get the cheapest car wash and it does not do a good job and hence their cars rust.
How much is a good car wash and how frequently did you wash your cars with it?
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