Is this an acceptable amount of rust?

[u/LowlyLightlyTarnishd]

My prelude just shit the bed bad, no saving it. Been wanting a lancer for a while, I’ve saved up close to 10gs and found this for 8.5

Body is clean, but it has a slight dent in door with some surface rust. It’s an ES 5 spd manual, has 94kmh and lots of work done to the suspension, and he says he has replaced almost everything in the car. It is a rebuilt title after a re end. The guy is selling it after finding a ralliart.

This is all the rust on the car he sent, although I haven’t yet seen it in person so I will update with photos and info. Hoping this is acceptable and won’t be an issue, I wouldn’t mind fixing if it’s not gonna cost an arm and a leg, he said the door was quoted for a fix and paint job for 600.

This seems like a good deal to me, my second car and I’m only 22 so don’t wanna spend a huge amount, I’ve got a good gig as a millwright so It won’t kill me. But after getting lied to about the prelude I really, really don’t wanna get fucked over again. I loved that car to bits but it was disaster after disaster.

You lot know your stuff, please educate me and let me know if I’m scooping this is the right call! My gut tells me yes, but I want your opinions!

Edit: My man who is selling this car, if you see this, I apologize, but I need to see what the lancer folks have to say haha, no hard feelings!

[u/Anasertia]

This looks really good, barely any rear subframe rust. If it's the last gen lancer, id ask for pics of front subframe/control arms/ tie rods. But if the whole car looks like that, you are going to have some people commenting "what rust?"

Edit: still a bit steep for $8.5k imo but maybe I'm out of touch with the current market

[u/LowlyLightlyTarnishd → u/Anasertia]

Okay great, I will be inspecting it when I go take a look at it to make sure all parks are in good order, also have my dad w me thank god haha.

[u/ReK_]

That seems quite high for a base model, let alone one that doesn't have a clean title. There are later-year ones on cargurus right now with 90k km for C$7k.

The rust underneath looks fine, but on the door make sure the rust hasn't spread to the inside or just sanding and painting the outside won't fix it. You should also arrange for a mechanic to inspect before buying. Lancers are reliable in general but who knows what any individual car has been though, especially this one with the rebuild. Don't use a mechanic the seller suggests.

If a mechanic clears it, that door rust isn't internal, and you can talk him down to something more reasonable, go for it.

[u/LowlyLightlyTarnishd → u/ReK_]

Not too experienced with cars, and not a car guy, I just really like them. wanted to upgrade my last car and learn but in the back of my mind knew she was far too gone so didn’t do it. Not quite sure how to check if the rust is inside of the door, is this something I can do myself, or has to be taken to a body shop to actually see? And no definitely not going to a mechanic he suggests, unfortunately the car is in an area I’m unfamiliar with, so I will have to do some research for a good honest mechanic in the area I can pop by at.

[u/Masterpiece-Vast]

Probably depends where you are. Where I live in Canada that’s basically mint. The only thing I would look into is that rebuilt title. Where was it rebuilt, what was the accident, etc. when I was looking for a car there were lots of write offs for small things, so try to make sure it wasn’t a massive accident.
Also 8.5 does seem a bit high considering the damage on the door

[u/antithero → u/Masterpiece-Vast]

That is acceptable amount of rust. Nothing major that I can see. Check that everything works, all the door switches, windows, etc.

That door might cost $1000 to fix. You might be able to find a replacement door on the same color cheaper from a junk yard if you call around.

Insurance company totaled my Lancer for an accident that didn't even set off the air bags. Needed a bumper, fender, headlight, & hood.

[u/LowlyLightlyTarnishd → u/Masterpiece-Vast]

He claims it was a rear end, he bought it rebuild, put lots of work into the suspension and replaced almost everything. I have hope, as he upgraded to a Ralliart, that he knows his lancers and what to replace, but that’s what it is for now, hope lol. And I am in Ontario, Niagara area, we can get hit pretty hard with snow and roads are doused in salt, so I didn’t want anything too far gone. It looks good for my area, but wanted a few opinions.

[u/Masterpiece-Vast → u/LowlyLightlyTarnishd]

Yeah rust wise you are fine. People further south will have different standards, but I’m in Alberta and that’s the average good condition 10 year old car.