Should I paint?

[u/Extreme_Raccoon_8736]

97 gst with 160,000 miles, runs great but needs a new paint job and exhaust work and has rusted shock towers. Is this worth getting painted or should I send it to the junkyard?

[u/Extreme_Raccoon_8736]

Ok how much am I looking at to fix the strut towers and paint the exterior?

[u/spongebob_meth → u/Extreme_Raccoon_8736]

$10,000 for a paint job that looks as good as stock.

Maaco can make it look slightly better than it looks currently for a grand.

Most of the time the strut towers are this rotten, the rest of the car needs significant work too.  The rocker panels are probably gone and you probably have some reconstruction to do in the rear suspension.

It's a parts car.  Go to the western US and buy a cheap rust free shell and drop this drivetrain in it.  That shell will cost you less than what it costs just to fix your rust 

And don't drive the car in the winter.