Well I did an actual inspection of my car today. It was the first time I actually was able to go and really look at it in a few weeks since I purchased it - i never really had a chance to look at it before.
Anyhow, the car seems very rusty underneath, rustier than I remember my 4th or 5th gen being (then again age is one of the largest determining factors here).

Is the rust in these pics excessive? I am considering getting rid of this car. When I initially looked at it, I spent at most 10 minutes looking at it and driving it before I decided to pay for it. I just need this piece of junk to last me for 2-3 years, at which point I plan to push it over scarborough bluffs.

I am thinking that I should have stuck to my original plan of buying an 04+ Acura TL 6speed instead.

 

For sure, 100% the flash on the camera makes that look worse than it is... It's all surface rust... About what you'd expect on a 5th gen of almost 10 years of age.

my 2002 doesn't look much different (a little less) But nothing is perforating. It's all just surface rust.

 

I am considering taking a drill, a wire-wheel, and taking off as much of the the surface rust as possible. Then will coat in POR-15, followed by rubberized undercoat where necessary and finally bring it to Krown for an oil underspray.

 

Sounds like a good plan buddy.... KROWN Is the best there is.. I've had my cars done with it before.... Great product. If you do what you plan, and get it Krown'd every year, you'll be golden.

Make sure you pay most attention to the rear wheel wells though. You probably already know that is a very common problem area.

 

Yeah the rear wheel lip is a terrible location too. I plan on doing the Squrrel82 fix of opening the folds, sanding down, covering in POR-15, closing the seam, using seam sealer, and paint.

 

I'll probably do that this year too.. I'm also hoping to not have to drive my 2k2 in the winter next year and in the future (If I still have it)

 

looks way better than my car LOL

 

dammmnnnnn, my 2k max isnt anything like this. Maybe it is cause im from the south "yall". lol

 

i dont look so bad ... when i buy mine it was really bad... just do your homework and enjoy your car

 

Hey King, mine has some good amount of surface rust to. The harder metal such as the trailing arms, rearend and such have started to rust under the paint so it chips off in those big flakes. I dont think the Japanese cars are made with the best metal or sealed up great where 2 sheets of metal meet. Ive been under German cars such as BMWs that have years and winters on them and they dont look half as bad. I gotta clean mine and paint it up. Mine doest look like yours in the front, the arms bolted to the frame for the control arms are still silver, but the rear is a different story. My oil pan is BAD to. Def need to take off and clean or get a new one.

 

I don't see anything beyond surface rust which is normal for a 7+ year old car used in snow/salt. I would doubt you'd find many other vehicles in significantly better shape used under similar conditions over the same period (excluding DeLoreans and galvanized cars).

 

That's not that bad, u should see the 2002wrx I was looking to buy until I looked under the thing
0_0 what I looked like after seeing that.

 

It can be very depressing seeing all that rust underneath. That's why reading comments like that are so supportive:

And Craig is spot-on about what a camera's flash can do to highlight the surface rust and make it look insanely fugly.

If you're still really concerned, the opinion you need is that of a trusted mechanic after he gets it up on the lift and analyzes the situation. Personally, I'm with 2slow on this assessment: looks normal, and nothing to be worried about.

 

POR 15 stands for Paint over Rust, so all you have to do is buy there metal ready spray, and Paint Over the Rust. Wire wheeling all that rust will take you months.
Metal ready from POR eliminates the rust, adds a thin layer of zinc phosphate to the surface and etches the metal for the POR 15. much easier to do.

http://www.por15.com/METAL-READY/productinfo/MRG/

 

That rust isnt bad at all. Trust me my car has more than that underneath I can guarantee it

 

My 2k1 has just as much rust as yours and I wash it all the time to get the road dirt and salt off. I live the the north and winters are rough and the salt will get everywhere. But if you only want the car to last 2-3 years then just drive it.. Putting POR-15 won't make it go any faster or run any better. Put you money/time in changing out all you fluids, change plugs, and cleaning the MAF and TB like I just did this past week. This will make the car more enjoyable to drive and you will forget about what is underneath.

 

Yeah that is DAMN I dont have none of that but I guess its because it's really really cold where they are or Snowing cause DAMN but in Cali. only rains a little in San Dieg

 

Well its a combination of the snow,ice, salt etc etc, those of living in S.Cal or the South etc should not have this issue. My car doesn't have any rust except for where the parts are welded together.

 

The area you should be looking after is the subframe and radiator support.