Reply To: How do you know when a vehicle is too far gone?
RE: “If you drive in the salt, if you can hose off the crud..out of the wheel wells, off the body, and underneath it’ll go a long way to preventing rust…”
Since about 1990 when (I think) they switched to using a spray salt brine concoction on the roads it appears to me the above is not a true statement. Or, at least it isn’t any longer.
I met an electrician years ago, said he bought a brand new F-150 & washed it religiously – just as you described – he was kinda flummoxed & pissed that his truck rusted out the same as everyone else’s.
It seems to me the best defense in a good offense, keep a vehicle in a garage & let it get dry and stay that way for as long as possible. S.O.L. if ya ain’t got a garage, or the better vehicle is in it.
Undercoating certainly helps quite a bit. I know someone who has a 2007 with dealership undercoating, the underneath is 10 times better looking than similar year models I have seen without the undercoating.
It was garage kept, so I wonder how big a factor that was.
If I ever get a nicer ride, I’ll definitely check out Waxoyl & Fluid Film.
Mostly, getting a rust-free vehicle around these parts means a trip to the Stealership.
Your old tactic of driving beaters & selling them off worked pretty good for me too, until Cash-For-Clunkers hit.
Between that & the crazy jump in used vehicle prices not long ago, it’s no longer very workable. Not impossible, just not common or cheap. Imho.
A new alternator, or tires etc, is still less expensive than a whole new ride. Usually?
I remember trying to buy a used 4×4 in 2005 or so, I couldn’t even touch a 4×4 under 100,000 miles for less than $10,000. For the most part, or far & few between, seems like things stayed that way. Here, anyway.