2002 Isuzu Rodeo sport hard top - worth any effort?

[Tokylon]

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.

 

[Tokylon]

oh and

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.

 

[Frontier719]

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.

 

[KidVermicious]

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?

 

[LittleCaesar]

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.

 

[T4R2014]

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.

 

[Tokylon]

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