Repair, Salvage or Part-out?
09-26-2014, 01:57 PM
#1
Repair, Salvage or Part-out?
I need you guy's opinion on something. Long story short, GM's sub-par corrosion protection has left my wife's 2006 Cobalt SS structurally unfit to drive any longer. The rear subframe mounts have completely rusted off and detached from the body. My wife is very attached to this car and there is nothing else currently out that she wants. So.. being that the car only books ~$9K in good condition, I am at a cross roads of what I want to try to do with it. My thoughts are:
1. Find a cheap running base model Cobalt coupe and transfer all the SS specific parts over to it. This is not all that labor intensive for me and would provide a driveable vehicle for her in the interim. The tough part would be finding a good Arrival Blue base model for a decent price.
2. Find something else that she likes (I found a TBSS for a good price that she is warming up to). Part out the SS specific parts then scrap the frame and remaining body. I figure I could make $5-6K on the engine, transaxle and interior alone.
3. Find something else for her and sell the car to a salvage yard. I am not sure how much I could get for the car doing it this way. This would be the quickest way to get rid of it.
4. Try to repair the rusted out under-body. I think this would be the most labor intensive and expensive option as a donor chassis would likely be needed.
And a few pics for your viewing pleasure...
Subframe attachments as they are now
Flaking exterior clearcoat
How the car looked when I changed out the rotted subframe two years ago (been telling her we need to do something with the car since then)
1. Find a cheap running base model Cobalt coupe and transfer all the SS specific parts over to it. This is not all that labor intensive for me and would provide a driveable vehicle for her in the interim. The tough part would be finding a good Arrival Blue base model for a decent price.
2. Find something else that she likes (I found a TBSS for a good price that she is warming up to). Part out the SS specific parts then scrap the frame and remaining body. I figure I could make $5-6K on the engine, transaxle and interior alone.
3. Find something else for her and sell the car to a salvage yard. I am not sure how much I could get for the car doing it this way. This would be the quickest way to get rid of it.
4. Try to repair the rusted out under-body. I think this would be the most labor intensive and expensive option as a donor chassis would likely be needed.
And a few pics for your viewing pleasure...
Subframe attachments as they are now
Flaking exterior clearcoat
How the car looked when I changed out the rotted subframe two years ago (been telling her we need to do something with the car since then)
09-26-2014, 04:10 PM
#2
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only downfall to swapping to a base chassis is you lose the ss vin and it just becomes a swapped car.
i dont know how much wieght that holds though, its not 70 chevelle.
where is the car from? thats not florida rust.
i dont know how much wieght that holds though, its not 70 chevelle.
where is the car from? thats not florida rust.
09-26-2014, 04:32 PM
#3
Car was bought new in Orlando and lived it's whole life here. My wife does work at a Marine Park that is on the beach though. Dealership pretty much accused it of being a northern car and gave us suspicious looks when we told them it wasn't.
09-29-2014, 04:53 AM
#5
I need you guy's opinion on something. Long story short, GM's sub-par corrosion protection has left my wife's 2006 Cobalt SS structurally unfit to drive any longer. The rear subframe mounts have completely rusted off and detached from the body. My wife is very attached to this car and there is nothing else currently out that she wants. So.. being that the car only books ~$9K in good condition, I am at a cross roads of what I want to try to do with it. My thoughts are:
1. Find a cheap running base model Cobalt coupe and transfer all the SS specific parts over to it. This is not all that labor intensive for me and would provide a driveable vehicle for her in the interim. The tough part would be finding a good Arrival Blue base model for a decent price.
2. Find something else that she likes (I found a TBSS for a good price that she is warming up to). Part out the SS specific parts then scrap the frame and remaining body. I figure I could make $5-6K on the engine, transaxle and interior alone.
3. Find something else for her and sell the car to a salvage yard. I am not sure how much I could get for the car doing it this way. This would be the quickest way to get rid of it.
4. Try to repair the rusted out under-body. I think this would be the most labor intensive and expensive option as a donor chassis would likely be needed.
1. Find a cheap running base model Cobalt coupe and transfer all the SS specific parts over to it. This is not all that labor intensive for me and would provide a driveable vehicle for her in the interim. The tough part would be finding a good Arrival Blue base model for a decent price.
2. Find something else that she likes (I found a TBSS for a good price that she is warming up to). Part out the SS specific parts then scrap the frame and remaining body. I figure I could make $5-6K on the engine, transaxle and interior alone.
3. Find something else for her and sell the car to a salvage yard. I am not sure how much I could get for the car doing it this way. This would be the quickest way to get rid of it.
4. Try to repair the rusted out under-body. I think this would be the most labor intensive and expensive option as a donor chassis would likely be needed.
Option 1 allows her keep car, & I understand perfectly well not liking what's new out there. Brewster might have a point on losing SS specific VIN, but if she keeps it, that may matter little.
Option 2 I think I like most. U recoup some $.
Just say books for $9k, just say u sell off parts & get $6k. That's not a terrible difference & could go toward another ride w/o structural concerns.
I must say, us MI guys vehicles might be in better shape underneath, not by much tho.
**** on dealership that gave u looks on an all FL car ; it's saltwater.
A few things besides above. How many miles on her SS?
How much would a chunk of subfloor off a donor vehicle be? If u wanna keep the SS specific VIN matters that is.
I'd go to Cobalt SS forums & sniff around. See some prices maybe on what they're goin for, & / or maybe find a good used floor. My .02.
I'm curious what u do. I do like the color tho & these cars for what they are, particularly the turbo version. Good luck, keep us informed.
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10-01-2014, 04:55 PM
#8
Made in South Korea
04-13-2015, 05:28 PM
#10
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I know this post is old - but perhaps just an update of what you did with it would be good.
GM has 10 Year Corrosion protection from Rot Through. The warranty shouldn't be up until 2016. (Unless they trashed this in 2008)
GM should fix it or replace the car.
I wouldn't try fixing it. THere are lots of these cars out there, and if nothing else strip it for all of it's parts and pieces and send it to the crusher.
Use the parts on a non-rotted out car and undercoat the replacement so it lasts you a lot longer.
GM has 10 Year Corrosion protection from Rot Through. The warranty shouldn't be up until 2016. (Unless they trashed this in 2008)
GM should fix it or replace the car.
I wouldn't try fixing it. THere are lots of these cars out there, and if nothing else strip it for all of it's parts and pieces and send it to the crusher.
Use the parts on a non-rotted out car and undercoat the replacement so it lasts you a lot longer.