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General Category >> The Cafe >> Guidance on buying a car from the North
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Message started by stewmills on 03/16/18 at 17:09:48

Title: Guidance on buying a car from the North
Post by stewmills on 03/16/18 at 17:09:48

You guys in the snow ridden states, I need some feedback on buying a car that lived it's first 35K miles / 3 years in MI. It is a '14 Ford Escape. Looks fair in general but there are parts of the under carriage that look like it has seen its share of road salt. Also, the exhaust and muffler have corrosion I presume from road salt exposure and the muffler has two black spots that look sketchy. See photo.

I live in AL and we never see road salts so I don't know if this is expected and not a huge deal if we get the car really cheap, or a sign to walk away?

Comments?
Thanks!

Title: Re: Guidance on buying a car from the North
Post by stewmills on 03/16/18 at 17:16:29

Also, this car is "certified pre owned" which they say it had to pass a 114 point inspection, but how much value is in a certification from someone that approves their own certifications, right?

Title: Re: Guidance on buying a car from the North
Post by Dave on 03/16/18 at 18:05:40

Do you plan on keeping it for a long time? If so....buy a southern car. I used to live up in the snow belt and cars rusted away pretty quickly. New cars are better than old ones where - but there are still areas that continue to rust away. Rocker panels, bodies around the wheel wells.....even worse is the brake lines that rust away and the fittings are so corroded they are tough to replace.

It is far cheaper to just buy a nicer southern car than it is to try and fix rust.

Title: Re: Guidaas nce on buying a car from the North
Post by stewmills on 03/16/18 at 18:28:00

Thanks Dave.

My brother, who is from GA but has traveled up North quite a bit and is a car guru, said pretty much the same thing. So, it's 0 for 2 from two very reliable sources for the Escape. We'll have to pass and keep shopping 'locally'.

Title: Re: Guidance on buying a car from the North
Post by zipidachimp on 03/16/18 at 21:25:42

rust never sleeps!................. 8-)

Title: Re: Guidance on buying a car from the North
Post by batman on 03/16/18 at 22:12:46

I've never seen rust that goes from black to brown to splatter. if this is the 4 wheel version , it might be the rear differential leaking,( grease being blown back hitting the muffler and cooking) far worse than a rusty muffler that can be replaced cheaply. Rust isn't black and usually creates holes in a muffler. If it's the two wheel drive version then it's salt being thrown up by the rear wheels that hits the muffler ,there's nothing to stop it , as these are front wheel drive.

Title: Re: Guidance on buying a car from the North
Post by MMRanch on 03/16/18 at 22:36:08

Stew , my wife has a 07 Impala . The first time I got under it to change the oil I was amazed to see so much aluminum and fiberglass . One of them from Yankee country might not be so bad ? Its a bigger size car that contently get better than 30 mpg. the wife averages 31.? almost all the time on local driving.
3.5L v-6

Title: Re: Guidance on buying a car from the North
Post by stewmills on 03/17/18 at 07:06:43

MM. That's funny because we are trying to get out of a white 07 Impala. It is for my maw in law and we need to get her in something up higher and shorter wheelbase and with the backup camera and sensors that the Impala doesn't have.

Title: Re: Guidance on buying a car from the North
Post by MMRanch on 03/18/18 at 21:54:13

Stew , you recon ya might get more for your Impala if ya sold it Up-North ? :-?