By Colin Wood
Oct 20, 2020
Rust—or “nature’s weight reduction,” some readers call it—is a problem for any vehicle, no matter what kind or how old it is.
To ensure that a car has a fighting chance against the elements, manufacturers send their cars through a series of punishing tests to evaluate what does and does not survive.
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10/20/20 5:54 p.m.
Having seen the rust that our northern brothers put up with, whatever they are doing isn't working.
10/20/20 6:26 p.m.
I'm so very glad they don't salt the roads in the mountains in california. The drive can be a slow go on snow days but my Jeep's rust has not accelerated.
It really is amazing how much newer cars hold up but they're still not perfect, especially in the rust belt. Seeing 5 year old trucks with rusty rockers and quarters worries me. I'm glad I live in the South East.
10/20/20 6:57 p.m.
For sure Dodge/Jeep does not have access to this wizardry.
10/20/20 7:48 p.m.
It seems like the newer stuff from the last decade is rusting faster than the stuff from the last couple decades prior. I dont have any scientific data, it just seems that way to me. I was actually wondering just the other day if the manufacturers have relaxed on the rust proofing because they are building the powertrains too well. It doesn't serve the big threes interest to have people driving their cars for 15 or 20 years before replacing them. That's just my tin foil hat theory.
10/20/20 7:59 p.m.
Well, all I can say is that my 93k mile 2011 GTI was rusting a noticeable amount where the lower front fenders met the rocker panels by 2019, both sides. Meanwhile, my 2006 165k mile Civic is rust free, even with clearcoat peel on some area of the paint.
10/20/20 8:04 p.m.
My takeaway is that other markets are getting better wheels on their VWs.
10/20/20 9:15 p.m.
Anyone notice the lift at the end? Color me interested..
Edit: Doesn't look like that particular model is on their website. Still interesting.
10/20/20 9:31 p.m.
I would think driving it on the beach at Daytona Beach or someplace like that ( 2 wheels in the water at all times) would get salt water in places you would never get in the factory test area ,
and then thru a gravel pit , maybe a Gravel Pit 500 race to get some stone chips everywhere ,
and repeat that for a month or 2 ....
since they say 12 years , will they have parts that long to replace your rusted thru parts......or order them from China !
10/21/20 7:45 a.m.
All OEMs do this testing to some degree, Ford even uses "robot" drivers at the proving grounds for durabilty driving on surfaces too harsh for a human driver.
Can we talk about this crazy mobile "two post" lift??
10/21/20 8:12 a.m.
Came here for combat footage of regular vehicles. Learned to read afterward.
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