Rust on used car I am about to purchase

[kramed]

I have been looking for a car for 2 weeks. How stressful finding one both I and my wife like. I want a WRX, she wants a Cobalt. We compromise on a Mazda 3.

We found a 05 Mazda 3 Hatch at Ajax Mazda which is nice and they have moved on the price. Its 05 Black with 69k for $13,645 + tax. Problem is I found rust and some blistering on the wheel wells. I said I was very concerned but they told me they would fix it as a condition of sale to which I agreed. Did I make a mistake? How much will this cost me in the future and will the dealership do a good enough job to prevent it from rusting again?

[aris]

As long as they fix it right the first time you should have any problems with rust for a very long time

[kramed]

What should I check for then? Do they need to replace the panels or can this issue be done by sanding the rust off ?

[aris]

Their is nothing for you to look at...as long as the body shop knows what their doing then it should not come back

[MAZDA Kitten]

Mazda uses body shops that offer lifetime warranty
The rust on the fenders is very common there is about 100 threads on this :) I had my fenders done but the rust is starting to come back. Too bad the car has been amazing. Congrats on the purchase :)

[Nextmod]

I have been looking for a car for 2 weeks. How stressful finding one both I and my wife like. I want a WRX, she wants a Cobalt. We compromise on a Mazda 3.

We found a 05 Mazda 3 Hatch at Ajax Mazda which is nice and they have moved on the price. Its 05 Black with 69k for $13,645 + tax. Problem is I found rust and some blistering on the wheel wells. I said I was very concerned but they told me they would fix it as a condition of sale to which I agreed. Did I make a mistake? How much will this cost me in the future and will the dealership do a good enough job to prevent it from rusting again?

they will have to put new fenders on, if they just paint over it, it will just keep coming back

[mazda_gurl]

I have been looking for a car for 2 weeks. How stressful finding one both I and my wife like. I want a WRX, she wants a Cobalt. We compromise on a Mazda 3.

We found a 05 Mazda 3 Hatch at Ajax Mazda which is nice and they have moved on the price. Its 05 Black with 69k for $13,645 + tax. Problem is I found rust and some blistering on the wheel wells. I said I was very concerned but they told me they would fix it as a condition of sale to which I agreed. Did I make a mistake? How much will this cost me in the future and will the dealership do a good enough job to prevent it from rusting again?


The rust will inevitably come back. I bought my car from Ajax Mazda and they are good, but im not sure that they will go to the lengths of having the rust completely removed (fender replacement, or metal cut/repaint).

We bought a 3 from them which had scratches all in the trunk (someone must have tried to move a house in that car and threw a big peice of furniture in the trunk) Told them that I would buy the car but I wanted the scratches taken care of. I think they just replaced the plastic from another 3and put it in mine.

We also bought a tribute at the same time and there was a scuff on the bumper. We were told it would be removed by the time we picked up the car. They never took the scuff out.

If you see any signs of rust on a mazda body, stay away from that car. I traded in 2003 P5 with 146KM and the fenders and roof were completely rusted. Same holds true with these 3's. They come certified with Mazda quality rust.

[DaveIrwin24]

i made the same mistake just over a year ago, i got a used 2004 mazda 3 sedan that had paint chips peeling on both fenders, rust on the bottom of the 3rd tailight and rust spots popped up everywhere. The dealership told me they would fix these spots, i rushed it and bought the car thinking they would fix these spots , for the next 3 weeks i tried to get the car in there to fix it and they were being stubborn! i hate used car dealerships, in the spring i took it to a body shop and since the paint was tricolour, and they would have to repaint most of the car it woulda been $2000, i tried sanding down the spots and i got a can of spray balm with the same paint code and tried to fix up the spots myself, it loooked a little better, last month i traded the car in for a new mazda, and because of the rust spots, it was $2000 less for appraisal, i made sure i got my new car rust proofed! :bang

[mazda lover]

i made the same mistake just over a year ago, i got a used 2004 mazda 3 sedan that had paint chips peeling on both fenders, rust on the bottom of the 3rd tailight and rust spots popped up everywhere. The dealership told me they would fix these spots, i rushed it and bought the car thinking they would fix these spots , for the next 3 weeks i tried to get the car in there to fix it and they were being stubborn! i hate used car dealerships, in the spring i took it to a body shop and since the paint was tricolour, and they would have to repaint most of the car it woulda been $2000, i tried sanding down the spots and i got a can of spray balm with the same paint code and tried to fix up the spots myself, it loooked a little better, last month i traded the car in for a new mazda, and because of the rust spots, it was $2000 less for appraisal, i made sure i got my new car rust proofed! :bang

rust proofing will not help Mazdas rust. Its bad metal or preperation before painting and the rust will start under the paint, so how is rust proofing going to help,not

[mazda lover]

I have been looking for a car for 2 weeks. How stressful finding one both I and my wife like. I want a WRX, she wants a Cobalt. We compromise on a Mazda 3.

We found a 05 Mazda 3 Hatch at Ajax Mazda which is nice and they have moved on the price. Its 05 Black with 69k for $13,645 + tax. Problem is I found rust and some blistering on the wheel wells. I said I was very concerned but they told me they would fix it as a condition of sale to which I agreed. Did I make a mistake? How much will this cost me in the future and will the dealership do a good enough job to prevent it from rusting again?


Did you have the rust to be fixed on the contract? if not you might be out of luck. or they will keep putting you off. But Mazda has extended the rust warranty for the 2004 and 2005 to 6 years, so see the service manager, have him or her take pictures and have them submit them to Mazda Canada for approval. So if you had it in the sales agreement or not Mazda should still fix it. Lesson, don't buy a rusty car next time. If the dealer says nothing can be done go to another dealer.

[kramed]

It says they must fix the rust on the contract but I am still very hesitant, I am thinking about going and canceling the purchase. I have not yet picked up the vehicle or received ownership.

The car overall is in very nice shape. There are 2 or 3 blisters on the left wheel well ranging from a cm to an inch wide. I didnt see any rust in other places but it still frightens me. I dont know what I should do.

[fatsock]

My question is this...THere are so many Mazda 3s why would you take a chance on one already showing rust, regardless if they are going to fix it or not?

And it doesn't sound like your getting any discount to warrant the rust.

I paid close to what your paying this August for an 08 Mazda 3 GS Sedan.

[mazda_gurl]

It says they must fix the rust on the contract but I am still very hesitant, I am thinking about going and canceling the purchase. I have not yet picked up the vehicle or received ownership.

The car overall is in very nice shape. There are 2 or 3 blisters on the left wheel well ranging from a cm to an inch wide. I didnt see any rust in other places but it still frightens me. I dont know what I should do.

Is the sale conditional of financing or insurance?

If so, then you are entitled to bail out of the sale (just dont go looking for another used 3 in the same lot :chuckle)

If your financing is already approved, and insurance is complete, you lose your deposit. Your alternative is to wait to pick up the car and if the rust is there, tell them to fix it ASAP or cancel the deal.

[kramed]

Deal was conditional on them fixing the rust and a few other minor things.

Could I get the extended rust warranty (3 years or 1?) by going in and complaining?

[VetalM3]

Would you rather take an 07 with no rust and 55k for 18k after tax ? :)

[mazda_gurl]

Deal was conditional on them fixing the rust and a few other minor things.

Could I get the extended rust warranty (3 years or 1?) by going in and complaining?

Not sure that is worth your while.

Others can chime in here, but from what I understand, its "perforation" only. And I dont know if they sell extended on the rust warranty. You will have to have a hole present in order for them to fix it. Thats what Ajax Mazda told me when I bought my car.

Not sure if others got away with having their car painted under rust warranty without a hole being present.

[S.F.W.]

Not sure that is worth your while.

Others can chime in here, but from what I understand, its "perforation" only. And I dont know if they sell extended on the rust warranty. You will have to have a hole present in order for them to fix it. Thats what Ajax Mazda told me when I bought my car.

Not sure if others got away with having their car painted under rust warranty without a hole being present.

I think the majority of members will tell you that rust was covered without their being holes. Once rust appears, Mazda Canada will cover.

[S.F.W.]

Deal was conditional on them fixing the rust and a few other minor things.

Could I get the extended rust warranty (3 years or 1?) by going in and complaining?

There is no extended warranty for rust. Only the standard 6 year(previously 5) rust warranty.

[mazdaskit]

I got mine 3 sedan 07 35k for 13,995 no rust nothing just no power door & sstuff :chuckle

[mazda lover]

I think the majority of members will tell you that rust was covered without their being holes. Once rust appears, Mazda Canada will cover.

+1 ^^^ I have been approved for my rust to be fixed on my 05 and no holes
are you going to leave your car outside 24/7 or in a garage overnight?