When "no rust" means "no rust" - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

GottaDiesel · #1 10-16-2003, 11:53 PM

Time to vent -- just got back from a 2.5 hour drive to go see a "clean" "NO RUST" 85 300D -- I think the owner must have been blind on the phone with me last night -- both the "plugs" in the front wells were clearly rusted out. And there was a bunch of rust (almost rot) around the rear fenders...

So what the heck is wround with people? I mean, do they think I'm going to NOT see the rust? ESPECIALLY after I asked about RUST?

UGGGGGGH.

I'll take any tips. This moron, didn't have a digital camera... which I think is BS -- so the only thing I could do was go see it.

2.5 hours of my life somebody owes me.

rickg · #2 10-17-2003, 03:23 AM

You don't show where you live, but in certain areas of the country, I wouldn't even consider ever finding a totally rust free car this old. It would have to have spent it rainy & snowy days in a dry garage. You might have to try looking for a car in another part of the country. Not very handy, I know. Do they salt the roads in winter where you live? If so, good luck. It's hard enough here in the Northwest. They never salt the roads here, but with our endless days of rain, a rust free 20 year old car is still hard to find.
Just a thought.
Keep us posted

R Leo · #3 10-17-2003, 04:32 AM

I looked at a gasser last week...same story. Sometimes, I think that, to some people, "No Rust" means that they don't want the car to have any rust.

#4 10-17-2003, 04:44 AM

Just like my car had a "small dent" in the hatch. Not to mention a $50 missing trim piece and a $80 broken tail light housing AND TWO $45 broken reverse light housings. Talk about overpriced parts. Good thing salvage yards exist

#5 10-17-2003, 04:47 AM

Oh, and I forgot to mention the broken rear bumper mount with the cargo rope holding it on because the home weld didn't hold.

#6 10-17-2003, 10:55 AM

I have to add that "No Rust" should often be interpreted to mean "I haven't looked closely at my car in years except from the driver's seat and I wouldn't have a clue as to where to look anyway." This can be, of course, a very negative clue about maintanance, etc.

GottaDiesel · #7 10-17-2003, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fimum Fit
I have to add that "No Rust" should often be interpreted to mean "I haven't looked closely at my car in years except from the driver's seat and I wouldn't have a clue as to where to look anyway." This can be, of course, a very negative clue about maintanance, etc.

Classic! THAT must be what they mean -- so I need to start asking, "When you walk around the entire vehicle do you see anything that looks redish brown in color that is NOT paint?

God help me.

#8 10-17-2003, 11:56 AM

Have to careful when the seller says, "no rust that I can see".

Code word for rust/bubbling under trim, rot under trunk lining, rust under trunk/door rubber or frame rot. "Well, I haven't looked under the car in 8 years!"

#9 10-17-2003, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rickg
You don't show where you live, but in certain areas of the country, I wouldn't even consider ever finding a totally rust free car this old. It would have to have spent it rainy & snowy days in a dry garage. You might have to try looking for a car in another part of the country. Not very handy, I know. Do they salt the roads in winter where you live? If so, good luck. It's hard enough here in the Northwest. They never salt the roads here, but with our endless days of rain, a rust free 20 year old car is still hard to find.
Just a thought.
Keep us posted

Jerbear,

I thought there were some really clean rides out that way!

My brother lives in Oly and raves about all the clean cool old Subies, Fords Galaxies (he now owns mine), BMW 2002s etc.

GottaDiesel · #10 10-17-2003, 12:30 PM

"no rust that I can see"

BINGO again! But what I don't understand, is why play that game? That is going to make the person look even harder... now you've wasted your own time PLUS the buyer's time.

Why not just call a spade a spade and be done with it?

I should have taken a pic of this last car and then pasted the ad that went with it. You all would have had quite the laugh.

#11 10-17-2003, 01:00 PM

That is true and REALLY frustrating. I once looked at an old Volvo here in New England. The owner told me "no rust" over the phone. I got there and there was rust. His answer, "well, this IS New England. All cars have SOME rust. In general there's not MUCH rust". Unreal. You really have to split hairs with people to get information out of them. Never accept a blanket "yes" or "no" or allow them to say yes or no before you're done asking the question. It's all just a game of ignorance.

rickg · #12 10-17-2003, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by w126
Jerbear,

I thought there were some really clean rides out that way!

My brother lives in Oly and raves about all the clean cool old Subies, Fords Galaxies (he now owns mine), BMW 2002s etc.

It's really a crap shoot. I have 3 old early 80's Audis without a spot of rust on them. But I've seen 10 year old Hondas that have cancer pretty bad. I think it depends on how well the car has been undercoated, ect, and how much time it spent in a garage. These early 80's Benzes are a little better than alot of cars, but they all seem to have rust somewhere, you just have to poke around. I discovered the floor of the left side "well" in the trunk of my SD is about to fall through. And I found up underneath the trunk a bad case of rust developing along one of the weld seams. Bugger!!

pj67coll · #13 10-17-2003, 10:07 PM

How about a 76 Caddy, in Phoenix of all places, advertised as being in perfect as new condition, well maintained, with no hint of rust.

Which turned out to have rust all along the underneath of the vinyl top below the rear windshield, had been rear-ended so the rear bumpter was slanted down at about 30 degrees, and the chrome "fins" in which the tail lights were mounted were pointing upwards away from the car at a sharp angle. One tire was completely flat and could not be inflated the hole was to large and the spare could not be mounted because one of the lug holes in the metal rim had a large crack emanating from it. Oh yes. And it didn't shift out of first because, I discovered the tranny was bone dry!

Gotta love some peoples definition of perfect.

- Peter.

TN-W124 Diesel · #14 10-17-2003, 10:36 PM

... me too, I just went and looked at a "immaculate" 95 300 wagon, and the oil gauge did not work and the interior looked like he hauled hogs in. I drove almost 600 miles to look at a perfect car once, and it was eat out with rust. Liars.!!..