Finding a Rust Free 300d
 

Hi Folks,

About 1 1/2 yrs ago I got rid of my 240d that I bought here locally in the Great White North. (East Coast of Canada)

Within the next 3-5 months I plan to purchase a 82 & up 300d (turbo). Since regionally we have a lot of snow & therefore use salt the local vehicles get pretty rust.
(My 240d had floor rust\holes & jacking pt rust big time)

I am thinking about looking for a US car from a "snow free" & hence rust free area. Where geographically In the USA should I be looking?

For example, I always thought Florida cars were rust free. But recently I was told that a lot of the vehicles located near the Altantic Ocean side of Florida were still prone to rust issues due to the salt in the air via the ocean.

So where do I look??

Thanks for your help, geographically challenged here in PEI :confused:

Aivars Berzins

Arizona, New Mexico, California, Texas. These states are pretty much in the southwest section of the US. Arizona and New Mexico are especially dry. Still, have the car professionally inspected first.

Im selling my 300d. Its a Euro, so no turbo :( It was bought in 84 in greece and has been in New Mexico since 88. No rust!

Where to look? Why, all over the car, silly! :D

In all seriousness, Texas cars may have started life in Michigan, Nevada cars may have been in Chicago, etc. Don't go just by where they were sold ;)

Best Regards,
Jim

I bought a 87 300d turbo that was originally sold and driven in Phoenix Arizona. It was and is completely rust free. However, rubber parts and even some plastic parts tend to dry out because of our low humidity and high ozone. Plan on replacing hoses and some electrical parts.
O.

get the vin of a car you look at and check it with a carfax. you get something like 20 for 25 bucksus.

we just got a nice car that still has the brite work on the linkage and filter lids in the engine bay. no corrosion. it started life in tennesse, moved to arkansas and was bought in missouri before being immersed into winter in wisc.

................and I'm a bit flabbergasted that Navy let the old gal head up into the haven of salt and cold.................. :D

The best cars seem to come from Southern CA. FL cars are hit and miss a lot of them come from New England. :D Older people retiring. Talk to Herb P, he could probably snag you a real nice example. You will pay though.

Vegas
 

Find one in Vegas. No rust, cheap air fare, and have some fun while you're there.

I was pondering this the other day. Unless the car was really well taken care of, northern cars are prone to rust and southern cars are prone to heat stress(dash cracks, rear seat coming apart) The 123 are over 20 yrs old so it might be getting harder to be choosy.

Come to California. Tons of them out here at great prices with zero-to-little rust. Just check out this one, recently listed for sale here in the Sacramento area. And this one, I think, is overpriced due to the broken odometer and minor rust:

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/car/54071099.html

Thanks for all the great advice. But, I guess there is no sure thing here.
I was kind of planning to fly to Florida, buy a 300d, visit Mickey & Goofy and drive home. ;)

So, the plot thickens....................

How reliable\safe is it to buy a 300d on EBay, leave a deposit & then fly down to pick it up?

I can just imagine that this would be a crap shoot, if you're relying just on pictures and description to buy a car?

Maybe it is better buying off this forum? Or just buy a cheap 300d so the hit, if the car is a junker won't hurt as much? (or at least until I get home & my spouse sees what I've bought :eek: )

Any ideas?

Aivars Berzins

My 240D came from Oklahoma.

Gambling Fever
 

I would say the uninspected car off ebay is a crap shoot. If it is really good you will pay a premium off ebay. I would agree the desert heat wreaks havok with the interior and rubber, but rust is worse. So pick your poison.

Also there are nice ones to be found in Chicago, but the real good ones are rare and even if you are local you may never find them.

I would be very very carefull with buying any car out of FL this year. Chances are pretty good they are selling them for a reason, like it went for a swim. :rolleyes: