why cant you do this then put a couple drain holes in the back so no water pools in the neck

That probably would be a possibility. I think the main issue is first when you are cutting away the rust, you need to see the back side of that outside panel to make sure you actaully cut out ALL the rust, or it will just come back. I would think once you take care of that, you could weld in a new piece from a clean panel, or maybe even make your own. I would also think you could put some under coating on the back side where that foam is... I'll see what the body shop says I am taking my car to tonight. The place I did take it to already was the GM dealer body shop. They want the $1280 and wouldn't guarentee anything... I'll update this as I find things out just incase anybody else is interested.

1997 thru 2003 Malibu'* have the same issue also. I think that about 3 out of 4 Malibu'* I look at have the rust below the gas door.

Yep, I think 2-3 Bonneville'* and GrandPrix I look at also have the rust issue. I will see what this other body shop says and go from there... The local Dealer said they would give me 5K in trade.. Don't know what I could get selling it out right, I would think 6-7K?? It'* in very nice shape besides that rust. Only 87K miles...

Drilling drain holes in the wrong place will start rust in the seam of the inner outer fender well. There is a drain hole below the filler neck but it exits directly to the rear axle area.

Well just an update, after doing some new car test driving I have decided I am just going to get a new quarter panel installed on this car. It'* only got 88K miles on it, the cars my wife and I test drove do not get any better gas mileage, they are all 23K or more.. etc.. etc.. I actually just replaced the intake gasket, valve cover gaskets. April 23rd - the 27th the car will get the rear quarter and a little other body work completed. After all is said and done I hope to get at least 4-5 more years out of this car. It will look bran new once it'* complete.

I think you are making the right decision Jason. I had someone cut out the cancer and replace metal in the area of the rust, and now I have rust below that area. In retrospect, I probably should have put a new quarter on.

Someone mentioned to me there are partial quarters available. Might be worth looking into.

Hmm that might be... I am actually getting the quarter for an auto body shops cost. I have an acquaintance that owns his own body shop that is going to take care of the work for me. The quarter at his cost from what I understand is just over $600. The other body shops I checked with wanted just over $900 for the panel. He is also going to address the other little know problematic spots with these cars. Couple of the lower door seams, shock towers, and under the very front of the hood lip... Also installing new head lights as I have tried to clean them up once and they are fogging again. He is also going to buff out the entire car when done. $2K plus the cost of the head lights which are $169\light at his cost with lifetime warranty... So for about $2300 I'll basically have a new car. Better than the $23K+ for anything we test drove...