Rust - how bad can it be?

[lost in espace]

I bought a 195,000 mile 2000 Galaxy for £600 quid in January, including a years test and ticket. I considered this to be top shedding. Upon purchase the nearside passenger outrigger seemed to have evaporated. Nevertheless this has been a 100% reliable shed, performing no end of house moves, holiday trips with 5 kids, dog, luggage and bike. It has been flawless despite the last cambelt change being about 70,000 miles ago, and I have covered about 7,000 miles in her.

The mot is now looming in a couple of months, and I am getting a bit worried. See photos below, comedy paint removal courtesy of Le Mans decals. The holes x2 are in an area away from any seat belt anchorages or structural components (this may not be strictly correct).

Is it going to pass an MOT without serious welding? Personally I suspect the rust has seriously weakened the footwell and the crash protection may well be affected.

The rust is just behind the front wheel where there seems to be an outrigger.

[b14]

I wouldn't want to be in an accident in that - particularly as rust that bad normally means that other areas of the car will be similarly weakened. Not sure though if it would be an MOT fail.

[V8forweekends]

100% MOT fail in my book (I am not an MOT tester) welding needed, but it's not terminal (unless there's more elsewhere you haven't found yet).

[LOW4LYFE]

Put a st load of the strongest tape you can find over the holes, just before you take it for MOT.

A tester isn't allowed to remove it to look for a hole.

[McSam]

No chance, IMO - I've seen far, far better than that fail spectacularly, and I wouldn't much fancy driving my kids around in it either.. I would be wondering what else was hidden from view!

[lost in espace]

The rest is much better, however thats comparing to the other side :-o The rest of the car is pretty solid.

Here is a pic of drivers side. I think my mind is made up and I will scrap it.

[robinessex]

I believe there is a You Tube of a rusty car being crash tested. NOT GOOD. I'm off to look for it.

[BoRED S2upid]

Is that a hole? was it there when you bought it?

[lost in espace]

BoRED S2upid said:

Is that a hole? was it there when you bought it?

Yes it was there when I bought it. I probably should have walked away and reported it to VOSA.

[guru_1071]

by the time you have picked all the thick rubber underseal off either of those outriggers and rubbed it with a wire wheel those holes will be MILES bigger.

the water gets stuck between the metal and the rubber underseal and just fizzes away.


I bet there is at least a couple of days of welding and making good.

[TooMany2cvs]

lost in espace said:

Here is a pic of drivers side. I think my mind is made up and I will scrap it.

That's _definitely_ within 30cm of a suspension mount, so absolute fail.

[soad]

Looks pretty bad, be on a lookout for a new shed?

[lost in espace]

Thanks all, its a sad end for my faithfull friend, I will pull off all the decent bits including the captains chairs and ebay. Then send the bones to the scrapper.

[lost in espace]

soad said:

Looks pretty bad, be on a lookout for a new shed?

Yes onto the next shed. Got my eye on a Grand Espace of all things, and I swore never again.

[IroningMan]

lost in espace said:

Yes onto the next shed. Got my eye on a Grand Espace of all things, and I swore never again.

Just so long as it's not a 2.2...

[Lozw86]

I would not be transporting my family around in a rust bucket..