Stevo F Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Been toying the idea of going to take a look at this SUS. http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/4879641090.html The seller says there is no other rust that what is visible in the pics (which I feel I can repair). However (directed to those you with Subie's in the rust belt) is it typical to have rust in more important structural areas underneath (like front or rear sub frame) when the quarters rust like this? Otherwise, sounds like it might be worth a look for $900 (even though I am not in the need for another car right now). Owner says he has replaced the headgaskets and the car drives well. I'm not sure if the entire exhaust or just part of it needs to be replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyposeur Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Ouch! That is repairable, but will require a lot of work to do properly. The professional way to fix it would be to cut out a panel from a donor vehicle and weld it on and go from there. I'm not a pro, but I did take a couple of community autobody classes. The undercoating does a good job of keeping the body from rusting underneath but you'd have to crawl under there and take a look of course. The subframe components will probably be a little rusty but usually just look bad although they are fine structurally, at least in the case of my 95 L. But I do remember a guy posting that his components were just crumbling away. What sucks is you really have to make sure you cut all the rust out because even a tiny bit will lurk underneath and come back. It's a bummer since I repaired my wagon and some rust is bubbling back up on my rear quarter. But I didn't do any welding. Seems like an ok deal for a good running vehicle though. If I was going to do it again I'd go the junk hard and cut out panels and pay a pro to weld them on and I'd do the rest, but I think it would be $1500 or something crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo F Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 Thank you. I've done similar repairs cutting out what I could and pop riveting in new metal and they seem to last for a few years, at least. In those cases (like on my Nissan truck) I had a little more surrounding metal to work with. I was mainly wondering if, by the time the fenders rust this bad, woudl there alsdo be structural rust issues that aren't easily seen. In comparison, we bought a 2005 Impreza (from PA) a year ago and it has two very small bubbles at the rear fenders, but the front subframe was nearly rusted through at one spot on the drivers side (luckily it was easy to replace once I got the bolts loose). The rear subframe is rusty, but appears solid, while the backing plates for the front brake rotors literally crumbled apart when i replaced the rotors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyposeur Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Yikes! Personally I'd pass on that car since I am finished trying to fight rust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo F Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 I hear you and here in VA most of them don't have rust (our '98 Legacy from MD is so far rust free) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnegg Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 other than price, what do you like about the car? wheels bumper leather sedan not the ej25 that blows head gaskets? i don't buy rust. it is too easy to find even if you did not knowingly buy it. killer rust areas, rear strut bolt holes. but this is rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjkroll Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Eh, I've seen that on every 90's legacy. Than again, I live in MI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo F Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 EJ25D but recent head gaskets & timing belt. I like the look of the car and the higher stance and the scooped hood (like the Outback). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesleySands Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 That's the way mine looked, and it was from Fauquier Co. Va. Then a deer hit me and just shredded my rear quarter panel, revealing a lot more rust than I thought I had. That's the SUS right? I did like the look of them, but I needed an Estate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo F Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share Posted February 8, 2015 I do like it because it's an SUS (especially the higher ride height). I heard more back from the owner (on why it needs an exhaust system. Per the owner "whole exhaust it fell off at college her daughter left it there brought the car home went back to college left the car home". Wow- I wonder what it would cost to replace the whole exhaust- probably why he priced in at only $900. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivant Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 If it's got rust that badly there, where else has it got bad rust. I would go over the body with a microscope just to check that there isn't anymore. Who knows what a bog job could be hiding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo F Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share Posted February 9, 2015 I'm not going to bother looking at this one. If the whole exhaust system "fell off" or was ripped off, there is the cost of replacement parts plus whatever might have gotten damaged when it came off. Chances are the floorboards might still be solid, but the exhaust likely succumbed to rust, and the suspension, brakes, and subframe are likely pretty rusty too. Even if I could do all the work myself, likely the cost of the car would go over $2K without dealing any other potential issues it might have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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