Question on rust - please help!

heresjohnnie

Hey guys,

Quick question - looked at a 2003 Almera today, which i like - but had some concerns about the rusting that i found under the bonnet and the undercarriage. see below:







I asked a friend who's into cars and he said that the rust looks largely likes its surface rust and not a major issue. And said that the rust in the last picture is somewhat worse, but more a haggling point than anything else. I'm still not too sure though, so wanted to put it out to a wider audience... do you think this level of rust is something i can live with? Other than these three spots i didnt see it anywhere else and the car is selling for a good price with everything else looking like its in grand condition.

Any advise is appreciated! =]

Solnskaya

that's just surface rust, but being an almera, it will get worse over time if not treated. front crossmembers literally dissolve. I'd be more concerned at the engine condition than that bit of rust. Very tinny car(i have one outside), fairly dull , but reliable enough and not too thirsty though.

Atlantic Dawn

It's pretty much standard for a car of that age, none of that is serious. If you did but it you cut coat it in rust treatment paint to prevent it spreading any more but as it is now I would estimate the car will be long scrapped before any are an issue.

Buckmark

surface rust is nothing to worry about, however the Almera timing chains, gearboxes, rear calipers, air flow meters and engine mountings are, I've had no end of trouble with my 1.5 saloon 2001.

heresjohnnie

Oh dear, yeah - I've read that the chains can be a problem alright, as far as I know this car hasnt had its ones replaced - its an 03, suggesting that it should be ok!? But can you let me know some of the detail around the other problems when you get a chance?! :-/

Buckmark

On the 2001 1.5 petrol engine one I had the first problem I had was it was shuddering when it got to about 2000 revs, but when plugged in for diagnostics showed no fault, was told this was the mass air flow meter, replaced this to no avail, so had to do the chain also. They're rear calipers are notorious for seizing, I replaced both, I was lucky I found 2 in a scrape yard for 80 euro from a 2005 model, fitted them and failed the NCT again and then two handbrake cables (spurious 60 euro), then a top gearbox mounting, mad money new and when I rang around the scrape yards they told me they all go in the Almeras, common fault. Next was the gearbox would'nt go into 5th gear, rang again the scape yards, again told its one of the first thing people ring for as ' they go in them ' . One scrape yard had one and wanted 450 euro for it. I bought 6 new bearings and two seals for the box myself ( 100 euro ), spent a full day stripping , fitting bearings and seals, rebuilding the box. Lots of small things too like drop links and bushings ALL BEFORE 80,000 MILES. I had a 1999 Almera , it was bulletproof, the new Almera is no relation to it. I've been in the motor trade for 15 years, normally very happy with Jap stuff but this car was a disaster.