Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

[lakelover]

I was out car shopping today & test drove a 2006 GM model. There are a number of very small rust blemishes along the trunk where the trim is. How unusual is that for an '06?

I have the same model from 2002, and just this year at 9 years, is showing some rust in the usual places - rocker panels & gas door.

Is it normal for 5 year old cars to show the slightest signs of rust these days?

 

[JB]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

Might have been at a seaside location with poor maintenance.

 

[rbh]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

Once the paint chips give it a couple of winters and the places that do not get washed very often and POOF, you got rust.
(primer will not stop water/salt from attacking the metal)

Are you seeing any areas were the paint is bubbled up, odds are there is rust forming under the bubble.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

JB, you may be right. According to Carfax, it was a rental in NJ for 4 months, then owned locally here by two owners until recently.

rbh, I did't see any bubbling or problems elsewhere on the car. I know once rust starts, there's no stopping it.

 

[rbh]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

I hate road salt, but it is an evil necesity.

 

[wifisher]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

If it was a rental, I would run from it. As somebody who drives rentals very often, I know how they are treated, and the problems that they have.
The rust is most likely from paint chips that were not repaired correctly.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

If it was a rental, I would run from it. As somebody who drives rentals very often, I know how they are treated, and the problems that they have.
The rust is most likely from paint chips that were not repaired correctly.

The 2002 that we have now was a rental for about a year and it has been a great car that we've put about 164,000 miles on. This one was only a rental for 4 months, so I'm not too afraid of it, but I like to cover all my bases too. Thanks.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

It is pretty normal to find this type of damage on cars that have lived in either a coastal or a snow country environment, I have seen it on 2010 models in our area because they are not repaired correctly when they get a chip or scratch, I would suspect that the car for the most part is ok as they are normally undercoated now a days, but unless you repair those areas showing rust, it will continue to grow and get worse, I have purchased cars like this, and often times get them cheaper because of it, then bring it home and spend a weekend repairing the areas that need attention. To repair it takes time and patience you will have to sand the area even larger than what is showing, then prime and paint, then clear coat, not hard to do, just tedious..

 

[lakelover]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

Thanks MT, that's my line of thinking. Overall the car looks pretty good and I gave it a real going-over before I test drove it. They must be desperate, they knocked off $895 to trade in my 96 Lumina with 209,600 miles on it that won't even pass the NY emissions inspection. And I was totally up front about its condition. I may see if they'll come down a little more on a couple other small issues, it can't hurt to ask.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

Are you getting any kind of warranty?

I ask because I don't want to product bash or be a downer but our 2007 Impala was a total lemon. We had to ditch it after 6 months and take a huge loss it was so bad. And I'm a HUGE fan of fleet-type GM sedans! It wasn't even the money so much as the inconvenience of having it in the shop so often. We did buy it with 35k miles on it and in seemingly nice condition but perhaps the PO beat the heck out of it. Who knows. We were also not very pleased with the fuel economy of the 3.5L V6 ours had. It replaced a 2000 Regal with the 3800 which we absolutely loved. With 50k miles on it, this Impala was like a car with 150k on it. It had brake issues, front end issues, CEL issues that took 5 trips to the shop to fix.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

The only car I have not done the repair process on is my current Jeep Grand Cherokee, I got an extremely good buy on it 4 years ago, less than 1/2 of the value at that time, and figured I was going to repair the paint problems! Until I found out how much the darn paint was, a pint of it runs $79.00 through a friend of my Dad's who does custom rod and car restorations, and you can't buy it in a rattle can like some of the car paints! I have been quite pleased though, because it really has not spread much in 4 years, so I guess the motor will wear out before I have to worry about rust through..I am going to have to rebuild it this summer, darn main bearings are finally getting weak..

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

My Dad loves his Regal with the 3800, the last time he brought it to my house here in Montana, he actually got close to 40 mpg with it from Sandpoint, ID to Kalispell, MT! Absolutely amazed me, my wife has been trying to get him to give it to her.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

I had hoped to get a supercharged 2004 Regal but things didn't really work out that way. Now I'm stuck with a 4 cyl. Accord (sorry for the hijack).

 

[lakelover]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

EZ, it has a 60 day/3000 mile warranty. My regular garage guy has also agreed to go over it for me. If I do end up buying it, the plan is to drive the hell out of it for those two months.

MT, I love the Lumina I'm getting rid of. Very comfortable for me and I've frequently gotten around 35mpg on a trip with the 3.1.

 

[hostage]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

I recently had to take my 2005 MDX to get the lift gate repainted. According to the dealer it got "rail dust", he said small pieces of metal from brake dust, etc would settle on the hatch and start to rust and eventually rust threw to the metal. I ended up paying someone $450 to repaint the hole panel.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

GM paint jobs have sucked for over thirty years. Every year goes by they have to use more and more "low VOC" formulations, and the suckitude of GM paint jobs has increased exponentially.

Not a GM-basher, I own three Buick 3800's. (Well, five if you count the extra blocks out in the shed )

 

[mscher]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

I know once rust starts, there's no stopping it.

I disagree.

Rust will always stop, if the metal surface is adequately protected from all moisture. Easier said, than done for sure, but I have taken metal panels, that you could put your fist through the rust hole, repaired with fiberglass or sheetmetal, and propelry sealed. The fix looked good and lasted as long as I owned the vehicle.

If it is just surface rust (that has not rusted through), from a paint chip or scratch, it nearly a no brainer. Spot sand, prime and touch up paint. Even if it does not look perfect, it will look better and the rust will stop. If it is coming from behind trim, etc. even better. Just remove the trim and sand/prime/touch up. No one will ever see the fix.

Rusting from the inside out is a bit more complicated, but even simply dousing the rusted metal with paint, or undercoating, will at least slow it down.

Everything is fixable.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Car rust issue - how unusual is it?

I disagree.....Everything is fixable.

I guess I should have clarified my original statement! I should have said that if rust on my car is anything more than minor, I'm not likely to put a lot of effort into fighting it in our NY winter salty environment.