Fixing some rust on the Metro

[deejaaa]

Originally Posted by Daox

It is very time intensive. I'm just not wanting to spend cash on a different car right now. I'd be concerned going through another winter with as much degradation happened in the past year, so the option is to fix it. The price is low as its just metal, primer and paint.

it makes sense to me also. between interest rates, full coverage, initial cost, aero mods and just the hassle of researching and locating a suitable vehicle.
paying someone else to fix rust?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by deejaaa

just the hassle of researching and locating a suitable vehicle.

Good luck trying to find a no-frills subcompact with a 1.0L engine there in the States

[Daox]

The next step after a Metro here is pretty much a first gen Insight (which I have an eye out for, but finding one in good shape and reasonably priced is very rare), or a jumping to the much newer Mitsubishi Mirage. I'm not willing to plunk down 9-10k for a used Mirage just now. So, the Metro must suffice.

Actually, the vehicle that'll most likely replace the Metro is the all electric Mitsubishi i-miev. They're very reasonably priced (less than a Mirage) and will fit my needs very well despite its 'limited' range. I'm actively looking for one of these too. I just haven't taken the plunge yet.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Daox

Actually, the vehicle that'll most likely replace the Metro is the all electric Mitsubishi i-miev. They're very reasonably priced (less than a Mirage) and will fit my needs very well despite its 'limited' range. I'm actively looking for one of these too. I just haven't taken the plunge yet.

Jap automakers are recently whining about the K-car segment to be unprofitable since it's been more restricted to the JDM, but since Mitsubishi managed to get the i-MIEV road-legal in America it wouldn't seem so unfeasible to have a regular gasser K-car federalized.

[Daox]

I'm not so sure the US imiev is still a kei class though. They made it larger to come over here. Its now roughly the size of my Metro. Here are the dimensions:

imiev
Length: 3395mm (133in) vs US imiev 3680mm (144.9in)
Width: 1475mm (58.1in) vs US imiev 1585mm (62.4in)

It gained a foot in length!

Yet, it is still smaller than the Metro, but not by much

Metro
Length: 3795mm (149.4in)
Width: 1590mm (62.6in)

[user removed]

Originally Posted by Daox

The next step after a Metro here is pretty much a first gen Insight (which I have an eye out for, but finding one in good shape and reasonably priced is very rare), or a jumping to the much newer Mitsubishi Mirage. I'm not willing to plunk down 9-10k for a used Mirage just now. So, the Metro must suffice.

Actually, the vehicle that'll most likely replace the Metro is the all electric Mitsubishi i-miev. They're very reasonably priced (less than a Mirage) and will fit my needs very well despite its 'limited' range. I'm actively looking for one of these too. I just haven't taken the plunge yet.

Shirley Slack had one for $10.9 k with 10 k miles if memory serves me.
regards
mech

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Daox

I'm not so sure the US imiev is still a kei class though. They made it larger to come over here.

Anyway, it still has the same platform, which is all what matters regarding the development cost and its payoff. So, even if it became a little bigger to accommodate American crash standards, there might be some room for a gasser version back there too. At least it looks more practical than a Fiat 500.

[Daox]

I've been busy with other things, but have made a little bit more progress. I put another patch in right behind the very first one I made. Remember I said I didn't cut enough rust away? Well I noticed another rust hole behind the first patch so I cut more out and put this patch in.





A little bit of grinding gets those welds down. I've also been shooting ALL bare metal with that rusty metal primer as I go along. It has been rainy here lately and the humidity has been horribly high. I noticed surface rust everywhere I had left, even just overnight. Now it all gets a shot of primer before I'm done for the day.




The big long open strip is the next thing to be welded up.

[user removed]

Let it rust, clean it up next day with an electric drill and a scotch brite wheel, then prime with urethane.

No more rust even after a year outside. Urethane is two part paint but you need a booth and an air suit. Might be something close in a spray can, not sure.

regards
mech

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

After all the patching gets done, are you considering to apply some underbody coating? BTW recently I have seen an old Opel Corsa (similar in size to the Metro) with some patches made out of aluminium-faced asphalt blankets.