Which "modern" cars rust badly?
Discussion
Seem to see a lot of Mercedes cars 1995-2000ish that look pretty ropey, saw an X-reg the other day that had been parked up and abandoned, with holes in all the door bottoms and bootlid, pretty impressive for less than 10 years!
I have vested interests of course, but I'm quite impressed that Italian stuff hasn't been mentioned, they always used to horrific for it. I still remember my dad's old Fiat 127 (about 8 years), where the door skins simply peeled completely away giving a nice view of the window winding mechanism, and fist-sized holes through the floor... them were the days....
I have vested interests of course, but I'm quite impressed that Italian stuff hasn't been mentioned, they always used to horrific for it. I still remember my dad's old Fiat 127 (about 8 years), where the door skins simply peeled completely away giving a nice view of the window winding mechanism, and fist-sized holes through the floor... them were the days....
B'stard Child said:
poshboyracer said:
Stu - B said:
robsti said:
Wife had a 99 mercedes c240 sport it had 2x front wings 2xdoors 2x rear wheel arches resprayed and a new bootlid all done under warranty! she now drives an Audi.
Did they not have the correct panels? 
finlo said:
va1o said:
finlo said:
Leicesterdave said:
Are Mercs built nowadays ok?
NOEdited by va1o on Sunday 18th October 22:37
va1o said:
finlo said:
va1o said:
finlo said:
Leicesterdave said:
Are Mercs built nowadays ok?
NOEdited by va1o on Sunday 18th October 22:37
Totally random as in you can still see a mint W210
Agree regarding Ford KAs. Wife's Sportka is starting in the sill area, especially where the inner sills meet the floorpan. Our local MOT man has written off several KAs from this. The car is an 04 reg. My Rover Feb 2002 Rover 45 is rust-free save for the diagonal fold-over seams at the front of the floor - just some surface in the edge over about 6" each side which I've cleaned off and treated. But there is no rot anywhere - none at all. I know some older 400s rusted at the rear arches but this 45 is like it was brand new underneath. So I'll keep it for now! So it's a Rover - so what, it isn't going to fall apart under me. Some cars at only a few years old are frightening - is this the real throw-away society now?
Pete
Pete
finlo said:
va1o said:
finlo said:
va1o said:
finlo said:
Leicesterdave said:
Are Mercs built nowadays ok?
NOEdited by va1o on Sunday 18th October 22:37
t, you havent a clue. va1o said:
finlo said:
va1o said:
finlo said:
va1o said:
finlo said:
Leicesterdave said:
Are Mercs built nowadays ok?
NOEdited by va1o on Sunday 18th October 22:37
t, you havent a clue. Edited by finlo on Sunday 18th October 22:55
I know Alfas have always had THE reputation of being rustbuckets, but my previous Alfa, 1995 155 V6 had done 150k miles, in all weathers and not a SPOT of rust on the body and the same on the structural areas. Which, as an Alfa lover, came as a nice 'surprise' year on year for the MOT.
My old 'Sud on the other hand,,,,,,well/ Say no more!
Strangely, the 156 GTAs have a terrible problem with rust on the top lip of the front wheel arches. Weird.
My old 'Sud on the other hand,,,,,,well/ Say no more!
Strangely, the 156 GTAs have a terrible problem with rust on the top lip of the front wheel arches. Weird.
tifosi1976 said:
I know Alfas have always had THE reputation of being rustbuckets, but my previous Alfa, 1995 155 V6 had done 150k miles, in all weathers and not a SPOT of rust on the body and the same on the structural areas. Which, as an Alfa lover, came as a nice 'surprise' year on year for the MOT.
My old 'Sud on the other hand,,,,,,well/ Say no more!
Strangely, the 156 GTAs have a terrible problem with rust on the top lip of the front wheel arches. Weird.
Yeah happy to say my 10 year old 146 hasnt got a spot of rust on it, although people expect there to be rust everywhere.My old 'Sud on the other hand,,,,,,well/ Say no more!
Strangely, the 156 GTAs have a terrible problem with rust on the top lip of the front wheel arches. Weird.
Ka is rubbish - a friend of mine traded in an 03 plate at the start of the year, it had rust on the sills, rear wings, arches and around the fuel cap. Yes, the car had done 100k but it still shouldn't rust like that.
Merc CLK and E class are pretty bad too (late 90s-early '00s) apparently because they downgraded the steel they used. At Le Mans a couple of years ago I was camping next to some guys in an R place E class wagon with completely rotten front wings and bonnet. It was a 1 family owner from new car which had never been crashed but was still rotten beyond belief.
Merc CLK and E class are pretty bad too (late 90s-early '00s) apparently because they downgraded the steel they used. At Le Mans a couple of years ago I was camping next to some guys in an R place E class wagon with completely rotten front wings and bonnet. It was a 1 family owner from new car which had never been crashed but was still rotten beyond belief.
Alphasods came with a free dustpan and brush I believe.
Most old cars done quite badly. How many X19s are there left? Bloody hell, I suspect many people could tell you on here that when you slammed the door on your old 80's Vauxhall the bottoms of the door used to rattle as the seams were non existent.
I think Hammerite was the order of the day. You could tell the age of an Escort by how high up the black line went
Modern ones? Well, I must admit I am now surprised if I see ANY car from mid 90's with real deep jagged rust now. Rustproofing has certainly moved on for the better.
Added: But I will say the industry does NOT do itself any favours does it? Looking at the new Vauxhall range that have that odd peaked ridge in the bonnet, you just know that in 10 years time the paint is going to ping off exposing it to all weathers.
Most old cars done quite badly. How many X19s are there left? Bloody hell, I suspect many people could tell you on here that when you slammed the door on your old 80's Vauxhall the bottoms of the door used to rattle as the seams were non existent.
I think Hammerite was the order of the day. You could tell the age of an Escort by how high up the black line went
Modern ones? Well, I must admit I am now surprised if I see ANY car from mid 90's with real deep jagged rust now. Rustproofing has certainly moved on for the better.
Added: But I will say the industry does NOT do itself any favours does it? Looking at the new Vauxhall range that have that odd peaked ridge in the bonnet, you just know that in 10 years time the paint is going to ping off exposing it to all weathers.
Edited by Morningside on Sunday 18th October 23:27
Recently been looking at E46 BMW coupe’s, for me old man, and in my opinion there will be quite a few E46 coupes with rusty rear wheel arches in the future.
Evidence - We was looking at one going through the auctions 54 plate 70k and yes you’ve guessed it, one of the rear arches was rusting under the paint. So at this point fingers in arch sill, full of crap about 10 to 15mm all the way around the arch. Queue me and my old man walking away from said car as he has already had E36 go very rusty on him. Looked at several others and all the arches were the same, full of crap. Terrible design fault but with a yearly clean it should keep the devil at bay!
Evidence - We was looking at one going through the auctions 54 plate 70k and yes you’ve guessed it, one of the rear arches was rusting under the paint. So at this point fingers in arch sill, full of crap about 10 to 15mm all the way around the arch. Queue me and my old man walking away from said car as he has already had E36 go very rusty on him. Looked at several others and all the arches were the same, full of crap. Terrible design fault but with a yearly clean it should keep the devil at bay!
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