Worth it?

[david-b]

Hey all;
Question. My g/f has a 2000 Hyundai Sonota with just over 100k miles on it (warranty over). I drove it the other day and the steering wheel had to be all the way to the left to drive straight. I told her to take it in for an alignment. We took it to Midas and they picked it up and the entire front sub frame is rusted through. It's so bad that it's being held on by literally just the top part of the frame. They quoted ~$500 just for the part used then of course labor which I'm sure is pretty intensive.



The question is, do you guys think it's worth it to fix it? I looks like it's welded in place, which seems to me if you cut that out and weld in another cut out sub frame, that it may not be as strong as from the factory. Any input on that.

The car until we figure it out is NOT moving.

[ned032002]

Is everything sound mechanically or is there lots of other things going wrong w/ the vehicle.

[david-b]

Originally Posted by ned032002

Is everything sound mechanically or is there lots of other things going wrong w/ the vehicle.

Engine was rebuilt by dealer at I think like 60/70k. Cosmetically the car doesn't look that great. Needs new front bumper, scratches, dings... It does run pretty decent though.

EDIT: FYI this subframe piece holds the front suspension and 2 motor mounts on it.

[Thor06]

So it would be like $1000+ to fix a $3000 car? Difficult dude. Does she have money laying around for a different car? Could you fix it? If it were me I'd let it sit until the snow is mostly gone, then I'd go to a junk yard and rip a subframe from one of those, and fix it myself or just say fuck it and buy a beater.

[david-b]

Originally Posted by Thor06

So it would be like $1000+ to fix a $3000 car? Difficult dude. Does she have money laying around for a different car? Could you fix it? If it were me I'd let it sit until the snow is mostly gone, then I'd go to a junk yard and rip a subframe from one of those, and fix it myself or just say fuck it and buy a beater.

Not really on all of the above. See, since it's welded in, it would take awhile to rip one off a car, then rip if off hers, and then weld the new one on. And I don't know how well my welding would hold. This is kind of a key part in the structure of the car. Not really something I would want to mess up on.

[steviek]

ohh thats a toughy do yoiu think you could get any tyrade in value for it at the dealer and maybe they won't find out about the huge problem

[david-b]

Originally Posted by steviek

ohh thats a toughy do yoiu think you could get any tyrade in value for it at the dealer and maybe they won't find out about the huge problem

I don't think anymore than a couple hundred bucks (even if it were fine). I suppose a good coat of paint and the outside would look pretty good. I'll try to take some pics tonight of the car if I remember. But like I said, I don't think it be a decent amount as a trade in.

And it's hard not to find out about that. Steering wheel has to be all the way to the left to go straight, when you hit a hole it bounces all over the place, creaks and pops like it's about to fall apart... ya they'll notice it

[vanilla gorilla]

Fix it and either keep it or sell it.

[Thor06]

Oh holy shit, the subframe is welded in? Cut your losses man, I'd strip it of every usable part and make one hell of a craigslist ad.

Our subframes are bolted in aren't they?

[david-b]

Originally Posted by Thor06

Oh holy shit, the subframe is welded in? Cut your losses man, I'd strip it of every usable part and make one hell of a craigslist ad.

Our subframes are bolted in aren't they?

Ours are yes. I'm going to go under the car this weekend and take a closer look and see what all we can do. I took some pics (obviously) and going to take to my shop and see what they recommend and price it.