Cars that don't rust
Discussion
My Volvo S70 seems to be quite clear of rust, after getting underneath the car and having a good look around. I'm quite impressed that a 1998 car with the amount of miles it has under it's belt is so rust free.
On the other hand, my 1989 Civic CRX was a bloody ships anchor, but imported ones are fine and never have any rust on them. It's the salt that seems to kill old Hondas, they don't put it on the roads in Japan.
On the other hand, my 1989 Civic CRX was a bloody ships anchor, but imported ones are fine and never have any rust on them. It's the salt that seems to kill old Hondas, they don't put it on the roads in Japan.
OK, don't laugh. Fiat Cinquecento. Mine did 100,000 miles in 7 years and didn't have one spot of rust on it. That's a properly hot-dip galvanised shell for you. The three year old Mk.3 Golf GTI I replaced it with was already corroding by it's first MOT. To this day I am appalled VW didn't fully galvanise a £14k 'premium' car when Fiat were doing it on their cheapest abd most basic ~£6k hatch...
I had a 1995 Mercedes E-Class W210 and it was amazingly rust-free.
The only places where any rust had appeared by 2002 were the front wheel arches, the bottoms of three of the doors, around the window frames on the front doors, around the lock on the boot, between the headlights on each side, where the front suspension mounted to the chassis, at the bottom of a scratch on the passenger doors, in the wheel well inside the boot, at the tip of the rear nearside wing next to the boot, and around any stone chips on the front wings.
The only places where any rust had appeared by 2002 were the front wheel arches, the bottoms of three of the doors, around the window frames on the front doors, around the lock on the boot, between the headlights on each side, where the front suspension mounted to the chassis, at the bottom of a scratch on the passenger doors, in the wheel well inside the boot, at the tip of the rear nearside wing next to the boot, and around any stone chips on the front wings.
AcidReflux said:
I had a 1995 Mercedes E-Class W210 and it was amazingly rust-free.
The only places where any rust had appeared by 2002 were the front wheel arches, the bottoms of three of the doors, around the window frames on the front doors, around the lock on the boot, between the headlights on each side, where the front suspension mounted to the chassis, at the bottom of a scratch on the passenger doors, in the wheel well inside the boot, at the tip of the rear nearside wing next to the boot, and around any stone chips on the front wings.
That's pretty good by 1990s Merc standards! Although alarmed by the important bit of rust that holds your front suspension to the chassis.The only places where any rust had appeared by 2002 were the front wheel arches, the bottoms of three of the doors, around the window frames on the front doors, around the lock on the boot, between the headlights on each side, where the front suspension mounted to the chassis, at the bottom of a scratch on the passenger doors, in the wheel well inside the boot, at the tip of the rear nearside wing next to the boot, and around any stone chips on the front wings.
Missus' 1997 Volvo - tiny bit in front of rear wheel arch. My 99 Alfa spider, nothing. Not a single piece of rust anywhere.
1993 Honda Civic we bought new lasted until this year before rusting bad enough to fail its MOT. Engine was still purring nicely though. Sold it years back to one of the family and its been doing the rounds ever since.
MGB's don't rust either, no wait I'm kidding, you can literally hear them fizz like Alka Seltzers if you drive them on salted roads.
MGB's don't rust either, no wait I'm kidding, you can literally hear them fizz like Alka Seltzers if you drive them on salted roads.
almcbride said:
1993 Honda Civic we bought new lasted until this year before rusting bad enough to fail its MOT. Engine was still purring nicely though. Sold it years back to one of the family and its been doing the rounds ever since.
MGB's don't rust either, no wait I'm kidding, you can literally hear them fizz like Alka Seltzers if you drive them on salted roads.
My MGB was possibly more filler than car.MGB's don't rust either, no wait I'm kidding, you can literally hear them fizz like Alka Seltzers if you drive them on salted roads.
Robatr0n said:
The Fiat Tipo I appear to be using on a daily basis has absolutely no rust on it whatsoever. It's a 1992/K reg too.
The S2 has no signs of rust and it's an early 1991.
Both cars are galvernised.
The S2 has no signs of rust and it's an early 1991.
Both cars are galvernised.
The Italians nailed the whole terminal rust problem back in the late '80s with the 'type 4' project - basically they were sick of Lancias, Alfas, Fiats and the like dissipating into little orange heaps on the floor so they had a word in Saab's ear about surviving Swedish winters (there's another that never rusts - old Saabs). The resulting Alfa Romeo 164, Fiat Croma, Lancia Thema and Saab 9000 were/are paragons of rustlessness.Oddly enough, ever since, despite bar-room wags still doggedly insisting that Italian cars go all rusty whenever it rains, the cars of the Fiat Group have had some of the best rust protection around. It's people failing to maintain the engines that kills Italian cars of the '90s and '00s.
I have to say my W reg 306 HDI 'commuter shed' is pretty much rust free - its got 135k on the clock and its had its locks previously ripped out and bodywork not repaired with bare metal on show. Not a sausage 
Engines going to last longer than the s
te french trim though - maybe i'll transplant it into something else 
Engines going to last longer than the s
te french trim though - maybe i'll transplant it into something else Edited by J-Tuner on Wednesday 15th September 16:25
my old volvo 850 was damn near mint though getting on 20 years old. A couple of rust bubbles on the offside front wing, but apart from that spotless.
My current toyota Celsior (ls400) is completely rust free apart from some surface corrosion on the suspension arms and anti-roll bars. It was built in 1992.
My current toyota Celsior (ls400) is completely rust free apart from some surface corrosion on the suspension arms and anti-roll bars. It was built in 1992.
This is pretty conclusive really reading through the whole thread.
The best cars for rust-proofing seem to be post 80's Italian Cars, and Peugeots/Citreons since they started galvanising.
My 306 Gti didnt have a blemish on in underneath.
Also I can confirm the Audi 80 - the £550 1992 example i ran last winter was absolutey rust free on the top AND bottom.
Didnt stop me hating it though.
The best cars for rust-proofing seem to be post 80's Italian Cars, and Peugeots/Citreons since they started galvanising.
My 306 Gti didnt have a blemish on in underneath.
Also I can confirm the Audi 80 - the £550 1992 example i ran last winter was absolutey rust free on the top AND bottom.
Didnt stop me hating it though.
alfa pint said:
berni29 said:
Hi
The modern 1990's version of the Alfa Romeo GTV.
Berni
Seconded. Galvanised steel all round and what isn't galvanised is plastic. I have only seen one rusty GTV (1994 model), which had a few spots around the rear wheel arch and the petrol filler cap.The modern 1990's version of the Alfa Romeo GTV.
Berni
Italian cars had such (mainly deserved press) for rusting in the 80s that they took extraordinary and expensive steps in the 90s to irradicate it. Hence the lancia dedra was completely galvanised, as are most of the alfa romeo range and the better fiats.
Plus all Fiats starting with the Tipo, and anything launched after it (ie. series 2 Uno, Tempra, even the MkI Croma).
And all Lancias from the Dedra onwards.
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