Originally Posted by Flip2k3
I think i'm pretty ok on what to look for.
Rust on sills, bootlid, bonnet, under bodykit, under door sills, boot floor etc.
Check for new panels and how well they've been done.
Smoke on start-up and whether it continues when its warm
Knocking, weird noises, bearings etc.
Other than that I should be ok.. 2 of us going so if i forget then he'll pick up on it.
sills - pull the door rubbers off, as they are going / gone, it will be rusty in the corner. get under the car, and where the jacking point is, around there, look at the sill, i will gaurentee you it will be rusty (as you prob know, its where the water drain is for the sunroof) it all depends how bad it is.
boot, the boot floor doesnt tend to rust, but the back panel does, again, pull off the boot seal. and also check below the rear lights on the inside, the panels tend to rust a bit.
inside, check if the carpet is wet, again, this is due to the slam panel join leaking, or worse case, its where the front struts are welded to the bulkhead, water gets behind, and rusts through to the car, and when it rains, thats where the water comes in. unfortunately, you can never tell how bad till you remove the dash and carpet.
rear arches, have a prod about.
same for front
engine, make sure you see it started from cold. and then started after its been left for about 30 mins from hot. they are the times you will see smoke if there is any. and obviously look for smoke when he is on boost, off boost, and when you accelerate and back off the throttle
