Please, advice! Found a pretty good 2014 Civic well below the average market value. I haven't found any signs of rust on the body, but it seems like many details under the hood are corroded: bolts, the alternator, etc.




By the Carfax report that car is from Minnesota. I understand that the climate there is pretty harsh, but I don't think it can create such an effect. Is that an issue caused by a possible steam wash or is there a chance that the car was flooded (of course the short test drive doesn't allow to reveal any electrical issues)?
Also, the exhaust tail pipe has some black soot inside, not extremely bad, but I don't see anything like that in my 2014 Hyundai (as well as any corrosion signs under the hood).
How do you think, is that Civic worth buying?

 

Welcome in,have you put it up on a rack and checked underneath yet,they use a lot of salt on the roads in winter there,if it were a flood victim it should have a salvage title,is this on a car lot or individual check the brake fluid for moisture in the master.

 

bucwheat, thank you very much! I checked the title and there's no indication of total loss. I haven't had a chance to put it up on a rack, but at the first glance the bottom looks pretty fine.

 

If the frame looks good and everything else checks out,I wouldn't worry about the rust under the hood.just shoot some rust killer on it but be careful where you spray it.