I didnt think body rust was still a thing...
Discussion
Steel bodywork will always rust somewhere eventually. It only takes a small chip in the paint for it so start to form.
The difference is that that you're looking at what is effectively a 9 year old van with a small bubble of rust, rather than the front wings of a 3 year old Morris Marina held together with glassfibre and Isopon.....
A bit more recently, a mate ran a Volvo 440 about 25 years ago and the rear arches were crumbling away (not just bubbling) by the time it was 5 years old. You just don't see that happen to even the cheapest car any more.
The last vehicle which had really noticeable premature rust were the late 2000s Sprinter vans. Those went crusty round most of the edges of the panels by the time they were about 3 years old.
The difference is that that you're looking at what is effectively a 9 year old van with a small bubble of rust, rather than the front wings of a 3 year old Morris Marina held together with glassfibre and Isopon.....
A bit more recently, a mate ran a Volvo 440 about 25 years ago and the rear arches were crumbling away (not just bubbling) by the time it was 5 years old. You just don't see that happen to even the cheapest car any more.
The last vehicle which had really noticeable premature rust were the late 2000s Sprinter vans. Those went crusty round most of the edges of the panels by the time they were about 3 years old.
It's why I run old Renaults as sheds rather than the usual Japanese or Korean car that everyone recommends. Yes the engine might be reliable, but the whole underside will be rusty, and every single bolt will snap when you work on the thing.
I don't know why Renaults are so rust resistant, my 14 year old one doesn't have a spot of rust and even the brake lines are like new.
I don't know why Renaults are so rust resistant, my 14 year old one doesn't have a spot of rust and even the brake lines are like new.
Bear in mind most modern modern cars have plastic wheel arch liners.
I bet if you peeled them back you would be greeted by varying degrees of tin worm.
The nearside rear wheel arch on by 2017 Abarth (which is built in Japan by Mazda) although solid, is showing the early signs of paint bubbling.
I bet if you peeled them back you would be greeted by varying degrees of tin worm.
The nearside rear wheel arch on by 2017 Abarth (which is built in Japan by Mazda) although solid, is showing the early signs of paint bubbling.
A 10 year old car that's lived anywhere near the coast or up in Scotland generally will have a fair amount of underbody rust.
Generally it's not terminal due to galvanising, but wheel arches can go, sill edges can go etc (anywhere that is in an abrasive blast zone and also has a water/mud trap) and on some cars the nuance of the design/location means that they do suffer and could have a MOT-failure perforation at that age.
Compare that with 40 years ago when it would a 3 year old car in the same condition.
Dacias do seem to suffer from corrosion a bit ahead of time though (cheap car shocker...)
It must be said though, the French do seem for whatever reason to be able to make particularly rust resistant cars - I work in the industry and still can't find an explanation to it.
Generally it's not terminal due to galvanising, but wheel arches can go, sill edges can go etc (anywhere that is in an abrasive blast zone and also has a water/mud trap) and on some cars the nuance of the design/location means that they do suffer and could have a MOT-failure perforation at that age.
Compare that with 40 years ago when it would a 3 year old car in the same condition.
Dacias do seem to suffer from corrosion a bit ahead of time though (cheap car shocker...)
It must be said though, the French do seem for whatever reason to be able to make particularly rust resistant cars - I work in the industry and still can't find an explanation to it.
SkodaIan said:
Steel bodywork will always rust somewhere eventually. It only takes a small chip in the paint for it so start to form.
The difference is that that you're looking at what is effectively a 9 year old van with a small bubble of rust, rather than the front wings of a 3 year old Morris Marina held together with glassfibre and Isopon.....
A bit more recently, a mate ran a Volvo 440 about 25 years ago and the rear arches were crumbling away (not just bubbling) by the time it was 5 years old. You just don't see that happen to even the cheapest car any more.
The last vehicle which had really noticeable premature rust were the late 2000s Sprinter vans. Those went crusty round most of the edges of the panels by the time they were about 3 years old.
The difference is that that you're looking at what is effectively a 9 year old van with a small bubble of rust, rather than the front wings of a 3 year old Morris Marina held together with glassfibre and Isopon.....
A bit more recently, a mate ran a Volvo 440 about 25 years ago and the rear arches were crumbling away (not just bubbling) by the time it was 5 years old. You just don't see that happen to even the cheapest car any more.
The last vehicle which had really noticeable premature rust were the late 2000s Sprinter vans. Those went crusty round most of the edges of the panels by the time they were about 3 years old.
My first car was a 10 year old Fiat 127 (made in 1977) and it was crusty as hell! The headlight surrounds were, um, let's say well ventilated and the rear arches were all filler I think.
Rust was a significant part of life on any 10 year old car back then, not just Fiats. My 127 made it through an MOT with an advisory that the area in the boot where the strut tops were mounted would need welding next time.
By then I'd moved on to a 7 year old Citroen Visa with crusty door bottoms and some nasty bubbling on the scuttle top.
Galvanising seemed to become much more widespread from about 1990 onwards. That helped a lot!
Frankthered said:
SkodaIan said:
Steel bodywork will always rust somewhere eventually. It only takes a small chip in the paint for it so start to form.
The difference is that that you're looking at what is effectively a 9 year old van with a small bubble of rust, rather than the front wings of a 3 year old Morris Marina held together with glassfibre and Isopon.....
A bit more recently, a mate ran a Volvo 440 about 25 years ago and the rear arches were crumbling away (not just bubbling) by the time it was 5 years old. You just don't see that happen to even the cheapest car any more.
The last vehicle which had really noticeable premature rust were the late 2000s Sprinter vans. Those went crusty round most of the edges of the panels by the time they were about 3 years old.
The difference is that that you're looking at what is effectively a 9 year old van with a small bubble of rust, rather than the front wings of a 3 year old Morris Marina held together with glassfibre and Isopon.....
A bit more recently, a mate ran a Volvo 440 about 25 years ago and the rear arches were crumbling away (not just bubbling) by the time it was 5 years old. You just don't see that happen to even the cheapest car any more.
The last vehicle which had really noticeable premature rust were the late 2000s Sprinter vans. Those went crusty round most of the edges of the panels by the time they were about 3 years old.
My first car was a 10 year old Fiat 127 (made in 1977) and it was crusty as hell! The headlight surrounds were, um, let's say well ventilated and the rear arches were all filler I think.
Rust was a significant part of life on any 10 year old car back then, not just Fiats. My 127 made it through an MOT with an advisory that the area in the boot where the strut tops were mounted would need welding next time.
By then I'd moved on to a 7 year old Citroen Visa with crusty door bottoms and some nasty bubbling on the scuttle top.
Galvanising seemed to become much more widespread from about 1990 onwards. That helped a lot!
I've owned a few Citroen C5's (mk1 and mk2's) over the years, with my current one being 18yrs old now. None of them have had a single speck of rust on the bodywork or arches, owing to them being galvanised from the factory. Fantastic vehicles and the paint has always remained surprisingly thick and glossy.
SuperPav said:
A 10 year old car that's lived anywhere near the coast or up in Scotland generally will have a fair amount of underbody rust.
Lived on the west coast of Scotland for 15 years and its not true.Granted if you live next to the shore or been commuting across the motorways every day in winter for 10 years without a wash! but that's the same as in England or Wales.
This idea of Scotland is funny to me. It has never snowed where i live in ayrshire whilst ive been here, have had mild winters, much milder than my family back in wales have had, less grit and ive managed to have my classics on the road longer than they have before the gritters.
If you're feeling a bit sore for being stung buying a rotten Scottish car that no scot wanted to buy, I get it the prejudice!
Average temps....
Glasgow
Month High / Low(°C) Rain
December 7° / 3° 15 days
January 6° / 2° 16 days
February 7° / 2° 12 days
Manchester
Month High / Low(°C) Rain
December 7° / 4° 14 days
January 6° / 3° 13 days
February 7° / 3° 9 days
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