It's true that vehicles are better sealed than in the past, but use of
plastic doesn't always preclude rust.
I saw an Escort today,(please pardon my use of the E word!), where the
plastic extending forward from the rear bumper was torn off. Under that
plastic was a rust hole big enough to stick my fist thru! While the plastic
was in place, you couldn't have seen it, but I expect everything in the
trunk was nice and wet, and I expect the trunk floor was quite rotten too.
Rough roads plus a generally wet climate here turns many cars into rust
buckets, I've seen more than my share of Cavaliers and imports full of rust
bubbles too. Exner era Mopar and other 50's automobiles may have had a rust
problem, but it's not impossible to see a later model car eaten up either.
Phil <><
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Gathmann" <jim_gathmann@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 20, 2002 10:26 PM
Subject: Re: IML: plastic and rust
> True.. but the finish on metal cars (paint) can be
> just as damaged by pollution and such. Even worse in
> the case of acid rain.
>
> Personally, I think the ultimate car would be a steel
> body coated in plastic. No rust, 'cause the water
> won't be able to get near the metal, yet as strong and
> supportive as metal. Seems more realistic then
> electric rust stoppers and inches of rubber
> undercoating.
> --- Mark McDonald <tomswift@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > In my opinion, there have been vast improvements in
> > rustproofing in the last 40
> > years.
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