Is this too much rust?
 

I'm looking to buy an S2k and have looked at, and driven, 4 now.

Honestly the average standard hasn't been great, and my budget/intended use wouldn't suit a mint one. But yesterday I went to see one which looked so good. The bodywork was almost perfect as was the interior. It drove ok apart from a slight juddering under load which felt like a U joint that was worn... Easy fix and the price is ok so that i can look past.

HOWEVER there is a lot of surface rust on the suspension arms etc. Sills seemed fine but I wanted some opinions on the state of this.

Should I run far away?

(Sorry for the average at best photos, I wasn't able to lift car so best I could do)


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...3307d0007.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...d72852154.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...756d51c4c.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...d723f2050.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...d1260c2db.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...9485bb38f.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...899e23110.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...05f5803a5.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...f2a592335.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...281f29bf7.jpeg

My opinion is that it seems like a lot of rust that you can see. Body panels (which you cannot see) --- may really be bad. :(

How does it look in the engine compartment and the trunk area? Door sills? Lower parts of front and rear?

Hi windhund,

Thanks for replying. They're both pretty clean.

That's what is weird is the rust is only on the big stuff underneath. I've not seen that before. it's looks like it's just super aggressive surface rust.

If you can tell I'm kind of trying to justify this to myself, but might need somebody who knows these cars well to tell me I'm being stupid.

Car has 79k miles, 2008 car.

This car has just gotta be a Brit car. Lots of them look like this or worse. Rust seems endemic in the UK and Ireland. Post this on that section of the forum.

(PS: Make it easier on us by posting your location in your profile. You can see I'm in Virginia and we'd not touch that car here but it may be "normal" in the UK. Doesn't seem unusual.)

-- Chuck

Haha. YEEEEEEP. We love our salted roads and constant dampness.

I have tried to update the profile Hopefully it shows now. Have also posted in the UK forum. Thanks mate.

I dunno. A lot of salty roads in its history...

Are they asking a good price? :ponder:

Lindisfarne Run For Home - Bing video
Never seen one that bad,was it parked in the sea ! :thumbdn:
would say 4-5k on suspension work inc new suspension,<oem not available>& bolts chopped out and rebush<they Will all be seized..>so coilovers needed in near future.<drive it 1k and will leak.>

That's well rusty, bruv

But considering you're in the UK, maybe not as rusty as other examples. Maybe try to find one that was stored during winter?

I have seen the underside of over 4000 S2000s. That one pictured is in the top worst 10%.

You will have a great challenge getting it aligned, as all the eccentrics are likely seized.

But in the end, it is usually the components (as pictured) and not the body structure that are rusted. The body, as far as corrosion protection, is among the best of the best cars ever built.

Thanks for the replies everybody. The search continues. Seems that red cars are relatively rare in the UK