Wear & Tear from Salt

[val]

I'm looking at buying a vehicle from Ontario as I find the prices less, however I've been told not to buy a "salt vehcile". Although I'm aware that salt is not a "good thing" for cars I figured that if the car was an 05 it might still be okay. Could someone please give me some advice as to weather I should stay away from buying a car from Ontario because of the wear & tear from the salt used on the roads.

[tenpenny]

I don't know what salt Ontario uses on the roads, but living in coastal NB, our salt is pretty much all around us, all year long.

Here, I expect any decent car (Subaru, Toyota, for example) to last a minimum  of 7 years, often 10.

[overtakeyouintheleftlane]

All cars (unless you're buying from a Nevada, USA) will have salt. Try to get a car which was a 1 owner vehicle. They tend to take care of the car better and tend to have the service records IMO.

Look for a car which has been rustproofed by Krown/Rust Check.


One of my cars is 6 years old (brand new purchase) and driven in Toronto it's whole life (no body rust) as it's been Krowned every year. Just had it done yesterday as well.

[blur911]

Much of the "wear and tear" from salt isn't to the body, it's to the bits underneath.  Brake lines, fuel lines, nuts, bolts, exhaust, etc.   Generally it makes them harder to service as things tend to corrode and break or seize and have to be removed with a torch.  Shouldn't be much of a problem with an '05, but look for trouble once they get over 10 years old.

[Cord]

Here, I expect any decent car (Subaru, Toyota, for example) to last a minimum  of 7 years, often 10.

So an '05 that could've been on the road for 5 years only has 2, maybe 5, years of life left?

In my market (Alberta) any car from Ontario east more than one year old takes a big value hit because of corrosion issues. They are known as "Easter eggs."

[tenpenny]

Here, I expect any decent car (Subaru, Toyota, for example) to last a minimum  of 7 years, often 10.

So an '05 that could've been on the road for 5 years only has 2, maybe 5, years of life left?

In my market (Alberta) any car from Ontario east more than one year old takes a big value hit because of corrosion issues. They are known as "Easter eggs."

I'm basing my 7 - 10 year number based on my personal experience - and this would equate to 250,000 to 300,000 km driving. 

[val]

Thanks for the feedback...the vehicle I'm considering is an '05 Range Rover that just came off a lease, so I'm not sure if the person looked after it or thought didn't care too much as he/she was not keeping it. 

[Ontariodriver]

Thanks for the feedback...the vehicle I'm considering is an '05 Range Rover that just came off a lease, so I'm not sure if the person looked after it or thought didn't care too much as he/she was not keeping it. 

Careful buying Range Rovers. Thirsty engines, expensive running costs. 

[tpl]

IIRC steel bodied Porsches and  Audis have all been fully galvanized since the '90s.  VW products are now as well as are BMWs and probably M-B.

Seems like one of those cheap ideas that should have been done from the '50s onwards.

[mrthompson]

Do Land/Range Rovers have alumin(i)um body panels?

[tpl]

Historically, LAND Rovers had aluminium panels... don't know if they still do.

[johngenx]

Aluminum rusts too.

As for a Land/Range Rover, I think a rusting body is going to be low on your list of concerns.  Repairs and service will be very expensive.  They are well known for their lack of reliability.

[tpl]

Aluminium oxidizes.  It indeed corrodes in various ways but in the car body context I believe it corrodes more slowly than mild steel in salt water and air.

[safristi]

..so is Aluminum OR Aluminium better,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ..................ah the lightness of being...........a fibre glass owner........ ..NO those aren't "crazed" lines on my body JUST pre BoTox affectations of the light...........

[aquadorhj]

i thought when clean surface of aluminum oxidizes, it forms a layer of aluminium oxide and this layer prevents further corrosion. (sort of like self galvanizing). 

anyway, an acquaintance of mine once bought 3~4 yr VW beetle from Ont, and exhaust pipe broke open from rust in his first year of ownership. ..it was pretty loud.

[articsteve]

Thanks for the feedback...the vehicle I'm considering is an '05 Range Rover that just came off a lease, so I'm not sure if the person looked after it or thought didn't care too much as he/she was not keeping it. 

Depends on what part of Ontario it's coming from.  A Range Rover is probably coming out of the GTA where salt usage is not nearly as bad as in the snow belt.

I hope you are a fairly skilled home mechanic because those units are just awful.  If you get it, KROWN it right away.

[Wolfe]

,,,,,,, ..................ah the lightness of being......

You know, sometimes you're unbearable.....