I remember back in my 280zx days rust was a major issue. Here I am 28 years later looking at an 04 350z but it has a bit of rust. I'll attach 2 pics. The bubble rust is pretty apparent, but would this be a deal breaker for you? I would more than likely immediately get it fixed but I'm not sure how much that will cost, etc.

Figured I'd ask the experts on here.

Thanks.

 

I wouldn't really care because I would be rolling the fenders and then just fix it, buy i would deff deduct from the price I would be willing to spend on it.

That being said if the fenders are rusted out like that other parts will also be ugly and rusty.. The w brace underneath will probably need replacing, the support on the back of the subframe will probably look horrible, the diff is probably a big chunk of rust, and the front engine cradle and support brace are probably not in great shape... So check all those out if you can before you come up with a price.

 

It's where that rust is located that's concerning. Nissan uses zinc undercoating on all body parts and rust is usually not a problem unless there's body damage. The rear fenders/quarterpanels are notoriously difficult and expensive to repair so caveat emptor.

 

Rust? What's that?

Oh wait, I remember now. That stuff was outlawed here in CA many years ago.

Seriously, unless a car is 40 years old and I'm willing to deal with/cut out "some" rust to preserve the heritage of a car, I don't touch 'em. "Purchase price cheap" means nothing where rust is concerned. You just get charged the diff between a non-rust car and a rusty car at a different location.... a body shop.

 

If you live in a place that has snow and they use salt and chemical ice melt in the roads, then you drive in the roads... You will have some rust eventually that you need to deal with.

Its just another kick in the ball's that comes with snow.

I wish they all could be California...... Car's... bedoo bedoo bedoo bedoo...

 

i just bought a car with minimal steel on it

 

I wouldn't buy a rusty car - learned that a long time ago. It's like an iceberg, if you get the metaphor.

 

^Same. If I really wanted the car and those were the only spots, I may let that slide and just fix it myself.

 

I'm near Scranton with a much nicer rust free Z I have been kicking around selling. PM me if you're interested

 

Had a Z31 that was rusted in the exact same spot. Repaired it, but the rust returned about a year later. Body shops always say that rust will ALWAYS return, just a question of when. I'd pass on it for this reason.

 

Bad body shop

 

If there's rust in one spot, there's probably more hidden. I will never buy a rusty car again because it's too difficult to work on. Anytime I would try to unscrew or unbolt something I would just strip the rusted heads. How does the under-body look?