1979 I bought a Sears aluminum clam shell gill.
cast aluminum top&bottom,
cast iron grill grates
simple steel coal grate
bent aluminum legs
fake "redwood" side shelf
as I assembled . . . replaced all the 'plated' junk with stainless steel bolts/washers/nuts
had I waited 'years' - removing the plated steel junk would have been a mega-effort of grinder cutting and heavy duty twisting. basically - when you see a problem, preclude the problem. sanity rules.....
eventually had to replace the grill grates
and the coal grates
eventually spray painted the aluminum clam shell with hi-temp rattle can, , , an aesthetic thing.
and it is still in active use 2023. 2024 is not presenting any visible issue(s) . . .
so, it's just a question of picking the right stuff, replacing the el'cheapo junk components.
the cast iron grill grates lasted +/- 40 years. had to buy 'dimensionally close' replacements, cut them down with a saw/abrasive blade 'to fit.'
heh, one does what one must do . . .
but functionally, we're talking a 40 year+ BBQ grill "thang" - nothing like the Weber, that got tossed after 3-4 years . . .
getting on in years . . . I've contemplated one of those new fangled gas/propane grills.
veddy attractive - turn the knob - click click click . . . and looking at them - piles and heaps of steel / plated steel rust magnet stuff.
at my age, the rust prone junk will likely outlive me . . but it just sticks in my craw . . .