How much would this rust lower price of car if you bought it?

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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
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I cannot take this anymore so I want to sell this 2004 MPV. Based on miles, others around here, etc. let's say it's worth about $5500 private party without the rust issues. WITH the rust issues, per pics below, how much do you think that impacts the value; how much of a hit should I accept from somebody offering to buy it in light of this?

Thanks for input :)

rust1.jpg

rust2.jpg

rust3.jpg
 
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SickBeast

Lifer
Jul 21, 2000
14,377
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Just take a dremel to that rust and then apply some touchup paint. You might need some body filler where it's really bad, but it would take you less than an hour and would save you $$$.
 
Bignate603

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
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I grew up in upstate NY, the land of snow and road salt, and on a cheap car I wouldn't even blink at that kind of rust. If you're in an area where rust is common people will be more accepting. Here in AZ I got a Cherokee for almost nothing because it came from up north and had a bit of reddish tinge on the drive shaft from surface rust.

If you're worried about it I'd do the touch up paint. None of it looks like its in a horribly noticeable area so if the paint isn't perfect it they'll probably never even notice it.
 
XZeroII

XZeroII

Lifer
Jun 30, 2001
12,572
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That's really not bad at all, but it makes the vehicle look unattractive. So it's not the fact that it's rusting, but rather the fact that it's dirty and ugly looking. As someone else pointed out, just spend an hour fixing it up and you'll easily make up the cost.
 
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CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
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I'm the wrong person to ask, because I basically refuse to buy any Mazda product based on exactly what is shown here.

They all do it, and they all do it early.... If I'm paying my hard earned $ for a car, I want it to not be a pile of dust in a few years.

That being said, I'm not really sure it will effect the resale all that much as long as there are no holes or major damage. That door seem rust is really common protege's as well.
 
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CurseTheSky

Diamond Member
Oct 21, 2006
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I'm from CT, plenty of snow / salt / etc.

I'm really picky about cars, so for me personally, it'd knock at least $1000 off the asking price. Generally speaking, if there's rust there, there's hidden rust elsewhere. Between my fiancee's family and mine, we have a '95 Eagle Vision ESi, '97 Ford Taurus, '99 Hyundai Elantra, '03 Chevy Malibu, '03 Chevy Malibu LS, '03 Mustang, and multiple 2005 and newer vehicles. None of them have any rust on the doors or wheel wells, and the surface rust below is pretty minimal. All except the Mustang are driven during the winter, and all except the Mustang are kept outside all year round.

The Taurus and Elantra both have multiple mechanical problems (but minimal rust), and the Eagle is a bit more rusty underneath than all of the others, but then again, it's 15 years old...
 
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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
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CraigRT said:
I'm the wrong person to ask, because I basically refuse to buy any Mazda product based on exactly what is shown here.
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I know a guy with a Mazda 6 with more winter miles than my van and it has no rust, but when I look around at other MPVs I do see a lot of rusted ones.

Have you looked closely at ones in canada--do you notice they are more rusted? I wonder if there's any objective large numbers of vehicles studied that indicates certain brands rust more than others.
 
exar333

exar333

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2004
8,518
8
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Skoorb said:
I know a guy with a Mazda 6 with more winter miles than my van and it has no rust, but when I look around at other MPVs I do see a lot of rusted ones.

Have you looked closely at ones in canada--do you notice they are more rusted? I wonder if there's any objective large numbers of vehicles studied that indicates certain brands rust more than others.
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I sold my Mazda 6 about a year and a half ago when it started rusting (again). The driver's side rear wheel-well rusted out after only 3.5 years and replaced it within warranty. The passanger side started 2 years later, and I was done with it.

Liked the car, but will never buy Mazda again.
 
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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
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ExarKun333 said:
I sold my Mazda 6 about a year and a half ago when it started rusting (again). The driver's side rear wheel-well rusted out after only 3.5 years and replaced it within warranty. The passanger side started 2 years later, and I was done with it.

Liked the car, but will never buy Mazda again.
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Pathetic. When you say rusted out do you mean it had actual perforation (holes)? I presume so, since it was replaced under warranty?
 
exar333

exar333

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2004
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Skoorb said:
Pathetic. When you say rusted out do you mean it had actual perforation (holes)? I presume so, since it was replaced under warranty?
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Yes, the sheetmetal was rusted-through in the wheel-well. The car was extremely well-mainained and it was a shame to have the body damage it had. I sold it the minute I saw rust starting on the other side, because it only took about 6 months from start to perforation on the other side.
 
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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
ExarKun333 said:
Yes, the sheetmetal was rusted-through in the wheel-well. The car was extremely well-mainained and it was a shame to have the body damage it had. I sold it the minute I saw rust starting on the other side, because it only took about 6 months from start to perforation on the other side.
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Horrendous, really that is.

I have this at the dealer this morning and they have a collision shop. I'll see if they have any input.

BTW it's not just an hour job to correct this rust. I've shown you where it's really built up but there are tiny specks on ALL of the body panels and it takes a good 45 minutes per body panel; like 6 hours work of clay-bar work to get them shining. I did half the car of that earlier this year but the specks came through again. What I have shown here is just the worst spots.

I could remove this and put touch up paint but I am positive one more winter and it would be worse than this anyway.
 
jlee

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
ExarKun333 said:
Yes, the sheetmetal was rusted-through in the wheel-well. The car was extremely well-mainained and it was a shame to have the body damage it had. I sold it the minute I saw rust starting on the other side, because it only took about 6 months from start to perforation on the other side.
Click to expand...

Wow..that's bad. Even my 10yo 198k Tacoma had a damn good body on it! Too bad the frame was junk :p
 
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CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
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Skoorb said:
BTW does anybody know why nobody is making plastic panels like Saturn did? That seems a damn good idea.

Hmm, old article, though.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KJI/is_6_116/ai_n6210254/
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It is a good idea. my 1996 Saturn is spotless on the outside.
It is why this car is going to be my winter commuter.

Only thing you have to watch out for is the rest of the car.

I take good care of my subframe as well (which are commonly rotten on S-series 10 years and older)
 
alkalinetaupehat

alkalinetaupehat

Senior member
Mar 3, 2008
839
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You're getting old, Skoorb. I think a year ago you would've proclaimed triumph when you took a Saturday to make your MPV look good again.

Must be the Prius effect.

(Protip: Find a can of Bug, Tar, & Tree Sap Remover, use it on the flecks of rust, and then wash/wax. That stuff gets the rust flecks off, but also takes the wax with it.)
 
PhoKingGuy

PhoKingGuy

Diamond Member
Nov 15, 2007
4,685
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One of my friends mom had an like a mid 90s MPV, it rusted out as well.....



In southern california....
 
jlee

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
Skoorb said:
:)

When I was at Mazda today their collision shop estimated 6-8 hours per door to have them ground down and painted and no guarantee it wouldn't re-rust in 6-12 months. They didn't recommend bothering. Basically as I thought. I'm actually surprised it would take a pro that long to do it but I guess they'd do a very good job.
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Wow, for that much labor I wonder if it may even be cheaper to have them reskin the door...
 
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SickBeast

Lifer
Jul 21, 2000
14,377
19
81
OP I don't understand why you don't just spend $30 on a dremel and grind it down yourself. It's easy and I can't see it taking more than 2-3 hours.
 
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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
SickBeast said:
OP I don't understand why you don't just spend $30 on a dremel and grind it down yourself. It's easy and I can't see it taking more than 2-3 hours.
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I just got a quote from a shop at it taking 10X that long! And even then it's likely a temporary fix. Yes, I could take my $22 angle grinder and grind off the rust, cause a huge mess of sparks, remove the rust and a great deal of actual sheet metal, throw some Walmart touch-up paint on it and sell it private party before the rust starts with a vengeance the week later but I won't do that to somebody :)
 
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