Opinions On Underbody Rust

[chris86]

Hi all, I've been looking around for a skyline and found this one on offer from j-spec http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=6084 . It appears to be a decent opportunity, with further enquiries I was told by Craig that its pretty much stock as a rock and the mileage seems legit - although still hard to swallow. Although what bothers me is the rust on the underbody of this car - probably because it has been sitting around in someone's car yard for such a long time - would explain minimal scrapes and good interior condition as it probably hasnt had an owner in a while.

Pictures are available here www.j-spec.com.au/clients/index.php?ID=6084. I've also attached some of the rust ones to this post.

I was concerned that this car may get rejected at compliance due to the rust. Its also a problem in itself and possibly hard to stop. Anyone got any opinions on whether this rust is something to be concerned about as a problem in its own? Also how likely is it a problem for compliance? (Craig also said he'd be willing to do a refund in the case of it being rejected at compliance). Does the landed estimate seem to be fair for this sort of vehicle considering its overall condition?

[BL01]

Price is pretty good. Might be a little suspicious about the mileage on the odo as you can tell by the overall external condition of the car as well as the engine bay pics.

Personally, i wouldn't recommend any of my customers to import in a car with rust but if Craig is willing to do a refund, i'm sure he is confident that the car will pass through.

My 2 cents

[TommO]

I wouldn't risk it. Imagine if it gets here and gets declined for compliance.

Even if Craig offers a refund if it gets rejected, you've got a car with a bit of rust in it, which can often be expensive to repair.

Otherwise, you're right, it does look very clean.. but i'd rather a car that needs a big detail without rust, personally.

[Resin]

mine has under body rust .....(it snows in japan)... mine passed rego /compliance......mine looks worse than that .....its just surface rust ......the rest of my car is fine. But it is up to you

[Beer Baron]

it actually doesnt look very rusty to me? yeah the exhaust has surface rust on it, but appart from that it looks ok for a 1990 model car.

perhaps ask craig if someone can inspect for you, and get their assesment of the rust as it can be hard to judge from pics.

[chris86]

For those who did have rust on parts of the underbody, what can be done about the rust? How expensive is it to repair/treat? My main concern is that once started, its difficult to stop. Sort of like a car's equivalent of cancer, that it will spread and start affecting crucial parts of the car.

[Bliksem]

It doesnt look like very bad rust to me (from what I can see in those pics)

Check the rear quater panels, in particular the rear guards, if its going to rust because of salt on the roads it will be there.

[boj01]

That rust is only surface, and for a 1990 model car to look that good on the underbod shows it has either been looked after or hasn't been on many salted roads. I've seen 2002 model Evo's with rust heaps worse.

If you are worried about it, when it comes in, get the car a hoist and spray the whole underbody with sound deadener to protect/cover/stop the rust.

[predator]

hmm.. well rust isn't really an issue for compliance if it has an import approval under the old 15 year rule. It just has to be roadworthy

But in terms of the car itself, I'd be a bit worried. It looks mostly like surface oxidisation, which you get on any car in parts, but it seems to be over a heap of different stuff and in parts I'm sure its probably a lot deeper - they're the bits you have to watch for. And it's probably just going to get worse.

Depends how much you're paying, but there are a heap of 89/90 models with no rust like that shown (mine for instance)

[chris86]

Thanks for the opinions, I think I won't want to get that car as I'd want to keep any car I get for a quite a while and if it has rust its likely to get worse and be in more places than I'd expect.

[Iron Chef]

Surface rust isn't a problem - that can be sprayed underneath by the workshop to stop it getting any worse. Holes are no good though