So are some vehicles more vulnerable to rust than others?
Are imported the worst?
Which are better the Ford version, or the Nissan version?
Are years of manufacture an issue?
Areas of rust are:
Front wings around the edges of the wheel arches
Front inner wings/ bulkheads
Rear seat belt anchorage both in rear wheel arches and under the rear floor.
Both sills, generally behind the B pillar.
Front cross member behind front bumper, and the bumper support arms.
My 16 year old UK version Ford Maverick Mk I 1995 LWB has very little rust, the front members in the front wheel arches that support the front bumper have some cosmetic rust, now treated. The only other area I have found is within the front lower suspension arms, now treated, and the Mud Flaps, are reinforced with a thin steel plate and rust is showing through the rubber.:doh
The vehicle was undersealed at the factory, and I have used 3-4 5 litre cans of waxoyl over the 16 years I have owned it.
I regularly wash out the wheel arches etc to get rid of any mud or salt.
In the winter I wash underneath as often as possible to get rid of the salt.
The vehicle is kept in an integral garage for 90% of it's life.
If the vehicle is put away wet, I switch on the dehumidifier to dry it off.
Every few years I remove the plastic trim on the arches and front wing protection and waxoyl behind thems was done last summer and the front wings are in pristine condition.
Every time I work on the vehicle, I have a brush and a jar of waxoyl to hand.
So the condition of mine, I would have thought, is more to do with the way I have looked after it over the years, rather than the original protection. :nenau
I hate rust, and I would rather spend time on it when new, not an option if you buy a five year old, but even that will benefit from good protection. :thumbs
