EXACTLY!! - Solid means 'not as solid as it was when it left the factory' Surface rust usually means 'I can't see through it yet' and 'small amount of rust' means 'only around the edges of the gaping holes'
Solid means something quite different in Australia, It actually means solid. as in NOT rusty, thin, pinholed, weak, 'surface' rusted,flimsy or damaged... which seem to be the words we apply to cars from the US once landed and inspected. And the words applied to the misleading former owners are usually quite rude.
As other's have said...it's relative. Same thing as the term "restorable"! Went to see a 30/31 Model A sedan for sale in Greensboro over Memorial Day weekend...advertised locally on the 'list for $2500. I called the guy, he said it had some rust but was "restorable". He proceeded to tell me about an old truck (turned out to be a Model A truck) there also...in the conversation price went from $2500 for the sedan to $1500 for both...made the drive...um....not much left of either, but the sedan was just about a week from returning to the earth...door frames - gone, fenders - gone, door bottoms and rockers - gone. The most amazing rot I've ever seen was just below the beltline - the was an inch gap rusted 3/4 of the way around from door to door!!! I wouldn't have taken it if given...and if you've ever seen what I consider "solid", that's saying something!
Just saw a car advertised on-line. Said "no rust - that I am aware of" How's that for a disclaimer.... when you go to check it out and it's a total bondo bucket he can just state "Huh, I wasn't aware of that"
Exactly. I don't think there's a single car or truck that's spent it's whole life in Texas that I wouldn't consider "solid". Solid to me means you can close the doors without lifting up on them to re-align the cowl.
I take it that it is neither a liquid or a gas and therefore it is a solid. Although, I have seen a few rockers, floorboards and trunks that seemed to have evaporated somehow.
"Solid" doesn't mean anything. In fact, in this context, words don't mean anything. That's why I ignore ads without pictures. And if the seller puts too much editorial comment in his ad (like rare or great deal) then I figure he's lying and ignore that, too.
What I can never understand is why people will lie in ads. Sure, the lies will get more people out to leek at the car, but EVERY one of them will be pissed because the ad led them to believe that the car is something better than what they will actually find once they get there. I prefer to tell the truth in the ad- tell them all of the bad stuff, and the ones who aren't scared off and still come anyway are ones who might actually BUY the car, which is my purpose for the ad in the first place.
I bought a car from Amos Minter once, "solid Texas floors!" you could clearly see the the ground from inside the car-the ground was solid
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