Looking to buy a civic hatch - found one that has good mechanics but there is a lot of rust on both rear quarters above the wheels, passenger is way worse. Owner says it cannot be repaired - is this true? I like the car and may buy it anyways but it would be great to know. I'd like to keep it forever or at least 10 years or until flying cars hit big. thx

 

It's fixable, but It'll probably come back after a couple of years. If you're keeping the car in the long run, just look for a rust free one.

 

No it can be fixed. the entire car is metal, you can cut it out and weld in new metal anywhere you want. The owner is just not informed.

 

http://www.fixmyrust.com/Category/21

Metal patch panels for sale there.... would just need to cut out the rust spot, fit that and weld it. Then paint. Costly if you're not gonna do it yourself.

 

It is fixable, and rust wont return if you have it or do it right. Using a patch panal is ok, dont need to use the whole panal just cut out what part is needed and make sure to use kitty hair bondo as it is water resistant.

 

why not see how cheap you can get the one with good mechanicals, and look for a rust free one with a blown engine, kids blow them up all the time being stupid, swap the parts and you are good, if there is that much rust you can see, what about the structural rust you can't see? you are going to come out ahead putting two cheap ones together, It can be fixed, but is it worth the time and effort and money?

 

If you are a welder or know your way around welding, go ahead an get it. I'm sure you can cut out the rust spots an well new sheets in

 

the question is is it worth the time to do all this work, and possibly miss some serious rust issue, or find a rust free shell and start swapping parts? if it's rusted due to road salt, you will never get all that stuff out, they rust from the inside out, the salt gets into the body as dust, and then combines with moisture, even condensation, and eats the body from the inside. I grew up in the north, and always had to deal with this crap, different cars, same body rot