So I checked out an 03 Track model in my area this weekend. Original adult owner, less than 80kmi, no modifications at all, and pretty good condition in general. However...there was a significant amount of rust on both rear wheel wells. Just on the little lip of metal where the fender rolls over into the arch. It doesn't appear to be a problem anywhere else on the car, and it's just sheetmetal, but I've never seen a rusty Z before. I looked underneath and there is a little oxidization on some bolts, but no rusty suspension components or anything. I wouldn't even consider the car, except that the price is very right. The owner said he'd been quoted $1000-2000 to fix the rust (cut out the area and weld in new metal).

Any thoughts on this?

 

This thread needs some photos.

 

Since you live in an area where the use of salt& other stuff on roads in the winter is common,I'm not surprised.From what you are describing,sounds pretty minor(the guy was quoted 1-2k to fix??).Guys roll their fenders all the time.This part of the wheel well
is bent back.If this is all it is,sounds like a DIY project...if the rust can be ground off,primed
well,painted.You don't see the area,right?

 

Yeah I should have taken some photos when I was there, but it didn't occur to me. I've asked him to send me some. If it's really limited to where I saw it, I wouldn't be that concerned, but I couldn't get it up on a lift, and I'm hoping when you see it, I can get some more opinions.

 

It's all downhill from here. Wouldn't you rather spend a little more on a solid Z than one that's only going to get worse?

 

Look For a Z in another state

 

if you don't repair it yourself it could be very pricey to fix/replace. i'd pass on this one.

 

So here are the pictures. The bad spot is the rear left, the little spot is the rear right. Is there any chance it is limited to just this metal?

 

rust isnt like aids, its usually just limited unless you let it spread

 

This is the result of a minor ding that was not fixed properly. To fix probably requires sand, prime and paint.

Pass on this Z.

 

Even if the price is really right?

 

Think about it this way If it was inexpensive to fix the seller would fix it before selling.

 

Keep in mind that the rust isn't just on those two spots. Those are the spots you can see, but knowing cars (very well actually) that have rust, there's plenty of it that you can't see. Usually cars start rusting inside-out, like the doors, rocker panels, frame rails etc..
Did you look the under body of the car on hoist? I'm 100% positive that you would see rusted bolts, seam welds, flaky or soft metal spots etc..
Granted, Nissan built the Z a bit better than some of their 90's cars (i.e. 240's) but no matter what, they will rust if they are driven in the winter where they use salt on the roads.

I live in an area where cars start rusting after only 1-2 winters, because of the salt that they use.

I would pass on the Z and look somewhere else, namely down south. Simple as that.

 

I second that.

 

You are from boston. . .me too and I drove down to NJ to get my 350z. No rust with 145k miles. I would look towards that area. I paid $7400 and there were $3200 in aftermarket parts installed on it.