Import Rust Concerns

[RowntreesCabana]

I've just purchased a 2001 Subaru Forester. Its mint underneath having just come over, but I'm a little bit worried what its going to be like in 12 months. I've read that the Japanese spec cars for the Japanese markets don't have underseal/rust protection at source and will deteriorate very quickly once they experience a UK winter.

Is it really this bad or is this just scaremongering?

[Neith]

For my imported Nissan Silvia, the bodywork began to get surface rust within a year. After 3 years the front wing paint started to flake. Underside is still fine as it was waxoiled on import. The main problem I found wasn't so much the road salt (although that will accelerate the rusting), it was water from whenever it was heavy rain. On mine in particular water would sit in the panel gap between the front bumper and front wing, which is where it's started rotting. I should stress that my car has been on a driveway (not garaged) and is used as a daily in all weathers, so this is about the worst it can get.

I would really strongly recommend you get the underneath undersealed as soon as you can; after that it's just a case of looking after the bodywork. Garage it if you can.

[rossub]

Yes it is bad. Get it waxoiled asap - be about £100 or thereabouts.

[RowntreesCabana]

OK cheers, I'll get it undersealed asap.

Hoping the bodywork is tougher.

[TommoAE86]

Defo get it undersealed, this is mine after 6 months and the horribly cold feb/march of last year.



Will be doing this years service soon so will have another look at it to see if it's cracked which means it needs redoing.