You’re browsing used cars online. Suddenly you see it – the car from days past that was at one point your dream vehicle. However, there is one major problem – it doesn’t work. Often times, people will sell old cars for someone to have as a DIY project. However, depending on what is wrong with the car, it may not be worth fixing – or even possible to fix. But how can you tell? What are the signs? GM Outlet Parts is here to help you find out how you can find out if a car is worth fixing!
Corrosion
If you’re buying a used car to make it look like new again, then you’re going to want to give the car a good look. If you live in an area that gets lots of snow in the winter, then you’ll likely see corrosion on the vehicle’s exterior. That is because these snowy areas will often times use salt to get rid of the snow/ice – and salt, unfortunately, is extremely corrosive to vehicles.
A little bit of rust isn’t the end of the world – but often times on older vehicles you will see the exterior corroded so much that pieces of the car had literally fallen off. Unfortunately, when a car is in that state it’s not really worth fixing.
Look at The Frame
When you’re checking out your dream car, take a good hard look at the frame. It will be your first indicator of whether or not that car has seen any accidents. If a frame is bent out of shape, you may not be able to achieve your restoration goals.
In most cases, the seller will tell you whether or not the car has been in an accident and you can assess the damage yourself. However, there are cases of shady dealers who will try to hide this damage. That’s why no matter what, it’s always a good idea for you to check out the car in person and take a good hard look around the frame.
Look For The Little Things
The thing about cars is they’re full of different wires and hoses that are all interconnected. If a wire is frayed or snapped, the whole engine can blow as a result. Before buying that fixer-upper, take a look in the engine.
Cars that have been sitting in a driveway for a while often times become a new home for critters. These critters can bite through wires and hoses and render the engine useless. While some of these issues can be fixable, it may not be worth the trouble depending on the price you’re paying for the vehicle.
When you see an old restoration project, it’s easy to get caught in the clouds. The dream of restoring an old vehicle is a great one and one that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime. Unfortunately, if these vehicles weren’t properly cared for it may be next to impossible to actually restore. Make sure you check over the car thoroughly before purchasing!
Leave a Reply