I'm thinking of buying a sapphire cossie towards the end of June is there anything i should look out for? like common rust spots and things like that?
thanks rich....

 

Rear arches, sills, rear chassis legs that sort of thing mate. Just check it thoroughly and you should be ok

 

find out if someone here own's it first

the chassis rails towards the rear of the car tend to go first
insides of the doors too at the bottom tend to rust out as well
accident damage
hpi etc too

 

What other people have said about rust etc.Check date stamps on the wings to see if they're original (along lip inside of bonnet) front panel should be date stamped and bootlid on underside.You got someone to go with you? I always take a second pair of eyes myself

 

If you are not used top cossies, my advice, take someone who is, especially for the test drive.
Rust will be evident due to age of car, but other damage such as mentioned accident bodged repairs can be very costly to put right, so must be reflected in price.
Rear arches are not going to leave you any change out of Ł500.
I wouldn't worry about original dated wings, as if they are from 1986 etc you know that rust is going to be under the pain in places.
Accident damage is more likely to be a problem that is harder to spot, which is why it would be best to take someone with you who knows about these, even if you have to bung them a few quid.
tabetha

 

check for rust on the inner wings by the front strut tops, front floor pan joins can rust, front jacking points crushed can crack.
play in trailing arm bushes, noisy diff/engine, smoking badly etc

And def check the numbers in floor by drivers seat look genuine, get an HPI done too.


Mart.

 

under the header tank on the ns inner wing,under the rear bumper,the ends of the inner sills,all round where the seat mounts are fixed to the floor,inside the sunroof hole,check under the boot carpet especially around the area where the floor meets the inner wheel arches.thats the most least obvious places to check.arches etc can be bulled up to make the car look good for selling!remember and hpi it too!saved me from buying a stolen 3 door once!

 

ok then thanks for the help ill keep all this in mind,
i dont have anyone who knows about these that much only my mate but he knows as much as me about them, but ill prob take him alone with me to have a look and help me spot things.

 

AA/RAC etc do inspections, money well spent if not too sure ?
tabetha