My neighbor has a 2wd 2002 Isuzu Rodeo Sport Hard top that they are desperate to sell. They mentioned as little as $400. The only damage i can see to the body is the front bumper was hit and pushed in a tad. The interior is nothing special, but that doesn't concern me too much. I would use this car for my daughter to drive.

Here's the real issues: It's been sitting for 2 years. I looked underneath and the catalytic converter (i think) is split and rusted out. The last time it ran (a year ago) it was very loud due to this i imagine. Probing further, i noticed a fair bit of rust underneath and saw some rusted through areas, i believe, were in the rear frame on either side of the right rear wheel. I could almost push my finger through in the spot on the close up picture.

Any thoughts on this vehicle? I realize there's not much to go on here but its kind of a neat vehicle that my daughter would like if i could get it to run. I am not a mechanic by any stretch but the thought of having a project vehicle does sound like fun. thanks.

I forgot to mention: It does not even turn over at this point. Probably a bunch of bad grounds due to the rust...is my guess. They told me it needs a new battery, but its a 2/13 battery and i would think it would at least attempt to turn over.

thanks again.

I've always been a fan of the 2 door rodeos and amigos, however; my thoughts are below:

Rust is a fickle b**** and not something you want to deal with--the car will cost MUCH more than $400 in the long run. and the sort run. it will cost more than $400.

Next, the thought of my kid being in a car with structural issues is enough to wipe this vehicle clean off my list. Kids are the most precious cargo. Having a cool car is great, but having a safe car for a kid is tantamount.

I'd say no.

I'm all about a project for the sake of a project, but a perforated frame is nothing to mess with. I image frames for those are hard to come by, so the alternative would be basically pulling the body in order to really clean and patch the frame the right way.

A body pull is not a horrible prospect, and it'd give you an excuse to pull the engine and rebuild it while it's off, but how much effort and money are you wanting to invest in a car your daughter is going to wreck a year after she gets it?

Fun does not equal safe.

With that amount of frame rust it looks like it would fold up quickly in the slightest fender bender. I would not want my ex wife to drive that. However, her mother comes to mind....

Tell them to call the scrap yard for the $400 so that the car will be off the road for good.

If the frame was fine I would say yes, but in this case it is worth more in parts. Isuzu's are not worth much in resale at this point so it would be easier to find a nicer one than to fix this one. The automatics in these Isuzu's are total piles too. My friend is about to rebuild his Rodeo's transmission for the second time.

Very good input. Thanks. I thought y'all might feel that way! I'm gonna suggest they part it out and scrap the rest.