Undercoating

[Garcia]

I've got a 20 year old truck that runs great but the frame is rotten and can't be repaired. It made me start thinking about my current cars, 2017 and newer. Is undercoating a worthwhile investment? For older cars, like the truck, I would think yes (mine was not undercoated) but for newer cars I'm told it's a waste of money as there are far fewer parts to corrode.

Thoughts?

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Garcia

I've got a 20 year old truck that runs great but the frame is rotten and can't be repaired. It made me start thinking about my current cars, 2017 and newer. Is undercoating a worthwhile investment? For older cars, like the truck, I would think yes (mine was not undercoated) but for newer cars I'm told it's a waste of money as there are far fewer parts to corrode.

Thoughts?

It's the salt that eats away at everything, so I personally think if you religiously wash the undercarriage in the winter, it will extend it's life as much as undercoating will.
Another thing that corrodes frames is leaving a vehicle, that doesn't get much use, parked on dirt. It just sucks up the moisture from the ground leaving it perpetually damp. I saw a lot of trucks over my 50 years of vehicle repair, that were rarely used for everyday traveling. They left them parked and just used them for plowing or going to the dump and Home Depot. Those are the trucks that rusted the most.
I just bought a new truck last year and I hope to keep it a long time. I bought a monthly pass to my local car wash rather than undercoating it.
If you got 20 years out of the truck you got your money's worth, JMO.

[SAB1]

What are you defining undercoating as, something applied to the undercarriage on a brand new car at the dealership or are you talking about the oil spray many places apply once or twice year. I think there is some benefit when applied to a brand new car though I don’t know if it is worth the cost. The spray on oil I believe is just a gimmic. Once you have rust that oil isn’t stopping it. Rust is cancer to metal.

[Descant]

Undercoating, Rustyu Jones, TufKoat-Dinol etc is for new cars, and mostly superceded by manufacturers nowadays.
Waste of money on a car that already has been exposed to road salt, etc. Undercarriage wash may help. Does your cart wash use fresh water or recycle water that has salt etc in it?

[jeffk]

The last three cars I had all died from rust in one form or another. I could keep them going mechanically but once significant rust damage sets in there's really nothing you can do about it. It reaches a point where they won't pass inspection.

I have my 3 new cars undercoated with NEOU. The actual undercoat is a wax/oil combination that dries hard. I bring them in every 2 years for a steam wash and a touch up application for $100; $1000 per car over 20 years. I think of it as relatively cheap body "maintenance". I figure that, while it might not stop ALL rust it will probably limit damage to something that is more manageable/treatable.

I'll let you know in 20 years how it works out.

[MeredithMan]

Originally Posted by Garcia

I've got a 20 year old truck that runs great but the frame is rotten and can't be repaired. It made me start thinking about my current cars, 2017 and newer. Is undercoating a worthwhile investment? For older cars, like the truck, I would think yes (mine was not undercoated) but for newer cars I'm told it's a waste of money as there are far fewer parts to corrode.

Thoughts?

My wife and I have driven separate vehicles for 30 yrs. We each keep our cars 7-10 yrs and well over 100K miles. We've never purchased undercoating and have never had an issue with rust or corrosion. I would say the cars built today are much better in terms of anti-corrosion than when a lot of folks on this Forum were kids, (60's/70's). I remember seeing a lot of rusty cars back then. So I would agree that for a new car today, it is an un-necessary add-on.

Keeping a vehicle 20+ years may be a different story...

[Garcia]

Thanks for the replies. Seems like with hindsight, had the truck been undercoated early in it's life the frame might have been salvaged - likewise, had the rot been discovered maybe it could have been fixed. It was given to me a few years ago and remains inspected through the year so I'll keep using it around town and get rid of it when the sticker expires or the frame goes.

I'm glad I declined the undercoating for my current vehicles. I'll continue going to the car wash regularly and while my driveway is gravel, they are generally parked on asphalt or in the garage.

I like to keep my cars as long as possible so am looking to do as much preventative maintenance as possible.

[FlyingScot]

Post-factory undercoating stopped being rational a couple of decades ago. As noted above, your new car or truck will last for 20 years without anything extra

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Post-factory undercoating stopped being rational a couple of decades ago. As noted above, your new car or truck will last for 20 years without anything extra

Post-factory undercoating is like post-factory warrantees, high priced sales gimmicks.

[Garcia]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Post-factory undercoating is like post-factory warrantees, high priced sales gimmicks.

Agreed! It's one of the reasons I despise buying a car from a dealer - listening to all the talk on financing and after market add-ons. Not to mention haggling over price.

My most recent experience in buying a late model used car was for me to make what I thought was a fair, even a bit high, offer only to face the hard sell from the business manager explaining why the listed price was already exceptional and thanks to AI was totally fair. I walked away and low and behold a few days later the same car was listed for $500 LESS than what I offered. I'de already bought a similar vehicle elsewhere.

I will admit I bought an extended warranty once for my own peace of mind - what a waste of money. Live and learn!

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Garcia

Agreed! It's one of the reasons I despise buying a car from a dealer - listening to all the talk on financing and after market add-ons. Not to mention haggling over price.

My most recent experience in buying a late model used car was for me to make what I thought was a fair, even a bit high, offer only to face the hard sell from the business manager explaining why the listed price was already exceptional and thanks to AI was totally fair. I walked away and low and behold a few days later the same car was listed for $500 LESS than what I offered. I'de already bought a similar vehicle elsewhere.

I will admit I bought an extended warranty once for my own peace of mind - what a waste of money. Live and learn!

I had my own Auto repair business for over 35 years, I refused to accept aftermarket warrantees.
The time it took haggling about price, I could have fixed the car.
They have one labor rate regardless of where you are located, $45 per hour, when I was in business 5 years ago.
My labor rate was $100 at the time, $45 an hour wouldn't even pay my mortgage.

[BroadHopper]

In the past 30 years, I have stopped buying new cars. I am now searching for ultra-low-mileage used vehicles from the Southwest, i.e., Cali, AZ, NM, etc.
I have excellent luck getting 20 years and more! Carfax makes it much easier to recognize a primo vehicle.
As for maintenance, after the roads are salted and the temperature rises above freezing, I find a car wash with a bottom wash and use it. I entered the car wash slowly to wash the bottom effectively.
As for rust prevention on new cars, I think it is a waste of money.

[fatlazyless]

The under carriage wash at a drive-thru car wash is always no where near as good as using the hand held spray at the low-price do-it-yourself car wash. You know most car washes have both a drive-thru and a do-it-youself spray in different bays.

I mean the 4-minute $3.75 do-it-youself does a hell of a better job with the under spray than then $13 drive-thru that includes an underspray, plus it's $9.25 less expensive.

This is a scientifically proven fact done through extensive car wash testing at 99 different NH car washes in the last two years!

[VitaBene]

We use NH Oil Undercoating. https://nhoilundercoating.com/

I have it on my 2023 F150 and 1999 F250. It works great! We use New England Truck and Auto in Moultonborough across from the airport/ next to Independent Marine.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

We use NH Oil Undercoating. https://nhoilundercoating.com/

I have it on my 2023 F150 and 1999 F250. It works great! We use New England Truck and Auto in Moultonborough across from the airport/ next to Independent Marine.

How do you know "it works great"? When we were kids, it was easy to see rust buckets on the road. But cars and trucks like that are now few and far between. For the past few decades they've been built to last without rust

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

How do you know "it works great"? When we were kids, it was easy to see rust buckets on the road. But cars and trucks like that are now few and far between. For the past few decades they've been built to last without rust

Do you look at some of the cars and trucks on the road that are less than 20 years old. I know it works because I have been using it for years. Many people have scrapped good running cars because unlike MA, we cannot get a sticker on a car with a rust hole in it, therefore we see less rust buckets on the road.

The salt brine they use to pretreat is meant to stick to the road well, but it also sticks to the frames and wheel wells even better. This is my 99 F250 with 230K miles on it. Ill spend 250 every other year to keep it as good as it can! It has 2700 pounds of bluestone in the back- it is usually level.

[SAB1]

2700 lbs of blue stone in 3/4 ton hmmmm?

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by SAB1

2700 lbs of blue stone in 3/4 ton hmmmm?

If the frame was rotted that would finish it!

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by SAB1

2700 lbs of blue stone in 3/4 ton hmmmm?

1 ton rear springs- the helper springs were not even engaged

[TheProfessor]

Originally Posted by Garcia

I'm glad I declined the undercoating for my current vehicles.

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Post-factory undercoating stopped being rational a couple of decades ago.

Originally Posted by Biggd

Post-factory undercoating is like post-factory warrantees

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

How do you know "it works great"?

Some just don't get it. And probably never will. As an ostrich. With head in a dark hole. Missing all that is going on around them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Kfb6-eD98

I'd hazard to guess that 90% of posters here have never viewed or seen the bottom of their vehicle. Up on a lift.
Most go to dealer. Get vehicle serviced. And sit in the comfy waiting room. Never to view the destructive rust on the bottom of their vehicle.
New vehicles begin to rust right on the new car dealers lot. Take a look at the rusting nuts, bolts, clamps made out of steel that rusts.

If you trade every 5-7 years - you probably will not see any body panel rust thru. But the bottom is surely rusting. Of course, you now have another new car for the next 5-7 years. So who cares.

Traditional undercoating is a misnomer. From the 1950'a Undercoating was done to add to sound deadening - not for rust inhibitors.

Oil undercoating is done annually. If one plans to keep vehicle for a long time. The oil will prevent rust. Even if there is some undercarriage rust on an older vehicle. The oil will restrict it. It is never too late to begin oil undercoating.

Thanks to the ostriches reading here. They keep the new car sales going.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by TheProfessor

Some just don't get it. And probably never will. As an ostrich. With head in a dark hole. Missing all that is going on around them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Kfb6-eD98

I'd hazard to guess that 90% of posters here have never viewed or seen the bottom of their vehicle. Up on a lift.
Most go to dealer. Get vehicle serviced. And sit in the comfy waiting room. Never to view the destructive rust on the bottom of their vehicle.
New vehicles begin to rust right on the new car dealers lot. Take a look at the rusting nuts, bolts, clamps made out of steel that rusts.

If you trade every 5-7 years - you probably will not see any body panel rust thru. But the bottom is surely rusting. Of course, you now have another new car for the next 5-7 years. So who cares.

Traditional undercoating is a misnomer. From the 1950'a Undercoating was done to add to sound deadening - not for rust inhibitors.

Oil undercoating is done annually. If one plans to keep vehicle for a long time. The oil will prevent rust. Even if there is some undercarriage rust on an older vehicle. The oil will restrict it. It is never too late to begin oil undercoating.

Thanks to the ostriches reading here. They keep the new car sales going.

I was an auto mechanic for 50 years and had my own business for 35 of those 50 years, just retired 5 years ago. I've seen plenty undercarriages of almost every kind of car and truck.
You are right, they will start rusting as soon as water hits the vehicle. But is undercoating worth the price, I say no. Just like I say no to extended warrantees. It's the salt that eats away at the metal, wash that off religiously and it will last a long time.
Most people don't keep their vehicle for 20 years. If you take care of it, wash it regularly including the undercarriage it will last.
And of course, as a mechanic, we all hate working on a car or truck with any kind of messy undercoating.
If you're happy paying for it, great. I'm 70 and I have never undercoated a vehicle, and I tend to keep my vehicles a long time.
I just bought a new truck, no undercoating for me, and I'm planning on it being my last vehicle purchase.
I have the unlimited monthly car wash including undercarriage for $40 per month and I go once a week during the winter.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

1 ton rear springs- the helper springs were not even engaged

In my little truck, I installed $100 helper springs--which scarcely touch--which optimizes the ride. Load, say, a lawnmower, and the helper springs "kick-in".

Summers in NH won't affect this truck's salt damage; however, this truck is parked only 120-feet from Gulf of America saltwater during much much of NH's off-season.

While it gets rinsed on occasion, I make a point to creep through puddles of saltwater and enthusiastically drive through puddles left by tropical rains. (OK, I'm lazy and cheap).


A neighbor's much newer Titan had the rear axle fall out at a gas station!



My truck's bed has a hole in it (above the muffler) and the front valance shows rust penetration weakness, but it is a 30 year-old truck!

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by TheProfessor

Some just don't get it. And probably never will. As an ostrich. With head in a dark hole. Missing all that is going on around them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Kfb6-eD98

I'd hazard to guess that 90% of posters here have never viewed or seen the bottom of their vehicle. Up on a lift.
Most go to dealer. Get vehicle serviced. And sit in the comfy waiting room. Never to view the destructive rust on the bottom of their vehicle.
New vehicles begin to rust right on the new car dealers lot. Take a look at the rusting nuts, bolts, clamps made out of steel that rusts.

If you trade every 5-7 years - you probably will not see any body panel rust thru. But the bottom is surely rusting. Of course, you now have another new car for the next 5-7 years. So who cares.

Traditional undercoating is a misnomer. From the 1950'a Undercoating was done to add to sound deadening - not for rust inhibitors.

Oil undercoating is done annually. If one plans to keep vehicle for a long time. The oil will prevent rust. Even if there is some undercarriage rust on an older vehicle. The oil will restrict it. It is never too late to begin oil undercoating.

Thanks to the ostriches reading here. They keep the new car sales going.

That's me! I especially like the comfy waiting areas with free snacks. But it's been up to 12 years/vehicle in road-salted Mass, and I have never seen any significant rust or been told I have an issue. So I'm still thinking I've saved thousands

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

That's me! I especially like the comfy waiting areas with free snacks. But it's been up to 12 years/vehicle in road-salted Mass, and I have never seen any significant rust or been told I have an issue. So I'm still thinking I've saved thousands

Ditto. I'm guessing I'm younger than a lot of members here, but in 32 years of driving something like 15 different cars, many of which had over 150k miles, I've never had even a single bolt need replacing from rust.

Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk

[TheProfessor]

Originally Posted by Biggd

You are right, they will start rusting as soon as water hits the vehicle. But is undercoating worth the price,

Years ago.
Neighbor No. 1
New GMC extended cab.
Stopped by with new truck. Advised him to get annual oil undercoating.
He laughed. Scoffed. That Rusty Jones does not work. Of course, oil undercoating is not Rusty Jones hard plastic coating. He did not know difference.
Years later. Neighbors nice GMC extended cab pickup truck is all rusted. Underneath. Outside rust. Rockers rusted. Cab corners rusted. Above rear wheel wells. Rusted. body paint rusted.
His next new truck - wait for it - got annual oil undercoating. In fact, he found 2 other places that do oil undercoating that I did not know about. Since then, EVERY pickup truck he has purchased gets annual oil undercoating.

Neighbor 2
Years ago.
He got a new Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck.
Advised him of annual oil undercoating.
He laughed and scoffed.
Years later same as above. Rockers, cab corners, rear wheel wells, and rust shown all over truck.

Friend 3
Got a new extended Ford pickup truck.
Advised him of annual oil undercoating.
He too laughed and scoffed. Not worth it as "new cars don't rust anymore".
Years later.
He had to junk this pickup truck as the frame was rusted along with most of the body. Could not be viable to fix.
Junked. Sent to crusher.

Again, each to their own. It's your money. Spend as you like.

[fatlazyless]

www.newenglandautoandtruck.net ........ Moultonborough, Route 25, shares the same entrance driveway as Independent Marine, but on the opposite right side.

Where to go in the greater Moultonborough metropolitan area to get your car or pick-up truck undercoated.

[fatlazyless]

So I finally got my old Toyota pick-up undercoated, $279, at Truck Trends - Tilton NH, very close to the Home Depot. It only took about one hour and they did a totally excellent job with putting a thick sticky black oil elastic coating on the places underneath where it needs to go. It dries up going from sticky wet to strong dry. This is good stuff, and the business there was very well run. You make an appointment at their main store, up the road Rt 106, and it gets done down at the store close to Home Depot across from Sandwich Wrap.

Recommend getting it done to help beat back the road salt rust.

There's a waiting area with a few chairs and freebie k-cup coffee with some different high quality coffee brands ....... . ...... Maxwell House and Tim Horton coffee at Truck Trends undercoating in Tilton.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by TheProfessor

Years ago.
Neighbor No. 1
New GMC extended cab.
Stopped by with new truck. Advised him to get annual oil undercoating.
He laughed. Scoffed. That Rusty Jones does not work. Of course, oil undercoating is not Rusty Jones hard plastic coating. He did not know difference.
Years later. Neighbors nice GMC extended cab pickup truck is all rusted. Underneath. Outside rust. Rockers rusted. Cab corners rusted. Above rear wheel wells. Rusted. body paint rusted.
His next new truck - wait for it - got annual oil undercoating. In fact, he found 2 other places that do oil undercoating that I did not know about. Since then, EVERY pickup truck he has purchased gets annual oil undercoating.

Neighbor 2
Years ago.
He got a new Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck.
Advised him of annual oil undercoating.
He laughed and scoffed.
Years later same as above. Rockers, cab corners, rear wheel wells, and rust shown all over truck.

Friend 3
Got a new extended Ford pickup truck.
Advised him of annual oil undercoating.
He too laughed and scoffed. Not worth it as "new cars don't rust anymore".
Years later.
He had to junk this pickup truck as the frame was rusted along with most of the body. Could not be viable to fix.
Junked. Sent to crusher.

Again, each to their own. It's your money. Spend as you like.

I owned a 1997 GMC pick up that I bought new. I owned it for 20 years of plowing snow and never undercoated it, and yes, after 20 years and 250,000 miles it was pretty rusted but by that time it was worthless anyway. I sold it for $1000, without the plow. Would I have got 20 years of undercoating money back if it wasn't rusted, maybe, maybe not? I'm not losing any sleep over it!

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by Biggd

I owned a 1997 GMC pick up that I bought new. I owned it for 20 years of plowing snow and never undercoated it.

For $279 and 60-minutes time, Truck Trends rustproofing in Tilton, close to Home Depot, will undercoat your full size pick-up in all the right places, underneath, with a thick black N.H. Oil Undercoat that dries to a hard rubber like coating ........ and you will be totally fantastic you did it ..... !

90-minutes time to undercoat is maybe more accurate to undercoat a big pick-up. Truck Trends does a lot of undercoatings. Seems like this undercoat service has caught on maybe due to N.H. Dept Transportation pre-treating Rt 93 with a salt brine mixture of brine and water before a snow/ice event .......to prevent the snow/ice from bonding to the asphalt surface. The DoT applies dry salt during the storm, and uses calcium chloride in very cold conditions. The coating of brine and water before the storm keeps the snow and ice from sticking to the asphalt and makes it easier to scrape it off with a plow.

The calcium used in the brine is more active than the calcium in dry rock salt and is more corrosive to the underneath of your car. The typical 30-second blast of water underneath your car at a car wash does not do enough to remove the salt brine that eats away at the underneath of your expensive car. ...... !

[LIforrelaxin]

Alright a lot of 2 cents being thrown around here, so I will toss mine in.......

Undercoating vs. No Undercoating, there are many factors as to how well it will help out....There are many products out there and they all have claims, as to why they are the best. But with out a doubt the biggest thing they all stress is that you have to apply when the vehicle is new, and maintain it per their protocols.

The underside of your vehicle takes a tremendous amount of abuse. If you plan to keep your vehicle for 10 years or less I don't see any real advantage.... if you plan to keep your vehicle longer well then it become a topic for discussion... and one you should have right away.

Up until recently I never kept vehicles long enough to worry about it, putting between 20-30k on a year. But with kids out of the house, and being able to work from home a couple of times a week, the milage has dropped considerable, so keeping a vehicle for more then 10 years may finally happen for me. Will I undercoat there is a strong likely hood that I will look for something, and follow their recommendations once I pick a product.... it seems like cheap insurance....When planning to keep a vehicle for the long run....

[Biggd]

Vehicles are a depreciating asset. No matter how good of shape you keep them, they will lose value unless you have a classic collector vehicle.
I'm not keeping mine in great shape for the next guy.

[Winilyme]

For what it's worth, Consumer Reports (CR) answers the following question:

"I just bought a new car and declined the $800 protective under*coating that the dealer was urging me to get. Did I make the wrong decision?"

CR's answer: "The short answer is no. Cars today are manufactured with corrosion protection, which makes this added treatment unnecessary, though it is profitable for car dealerships. Consumer Reports recommends that car buyers skip the undercoating and several other pricey add-ons, including VIN etching, fabric protection, and extended warranties."

Granted, this answer is from 2018 and I don't believe CR has reevaluated this question since then, but I doubt much has changed.

[fatlazyless]

Something to read ...... www.nhoilundercoating.com/nh-oil-undercoating ..... on undercoating, rust and salt brine.

[jeffk]

The video is a good reminder that the NEOU product is not just a coating. It penetrates, displaces water stopping rust activity, and seals. It is also self repairing, to a point, flowing to cover small damage through the year.

In listening to the NEOU video, they quickly mention something that I had not heard before, that their treatments repel rodents trying to chew on wires. That can be a BIG deal. My understanding is that the coating on car wires was changed a while back to "improve" them somehow. The problem is, it made them more tasty for rodents. I know of a person with a boat and another with a car that fell victim to this problem. The damage was catastrophic. To be fair, both of these vehicles were in winter storage when damaged and I don't know if it would be a problem if they had been garaged. I wouldn't buy the product for that aspect alone but as a "perk", it's good to know.

I DO hang on to my vehicles until death. My last three were not treated and all died from rust, not cosmetic, severe mechanical and frame damage. I got the BOSS wax coating on my 3 new vehicles and get it inspected ($100) every 2 years. I figure the cost of the initial application and inspections averages out to about $100 a year over 20 years. BTW, the treatment, at least from Truck Trends, comes with insurance coverage. If you keep up the inspection/retreatments and still have rust damage, you get some money for repairs.

[jbolty]

My first job after high school was at the chevy dealer in wolfboro and of course as the new guy got stuck whenever someone bought the undercoating. I think we were a franchise of rusty jones or one of those. Anyway, there was a book about how to do it and a test of like 10 questions to become "certified"

Back then cars were painted stamped steel. There was almost no aluminum and certainly no plastic and nothing was galvanized. The main enemy was water settling into the lower seams of the door, rockers, fenders and the pinch welds in the body or uni body. The point of the goop was to fill those seams to prevent water from laying in there so we had a bunch of long nozzles with special bends to get into the nooks and crannies. We would drill some holes in certain areas and fill them with plastic plugs. The bottom floor pan was covered too but that would almost never rust anyway since it would get rinsed in the rain and could dry.

certainly a modern car could benefit from this at least a little but generally does not seem worth it and I don't know if dealers even still push this; it was almost an automatic back in the 70s and 80s.

One of my friends bought a new truck in about 1980 and I came in saturday to do his undercoating for a discount. I'm sure I used about double the regular amount so that truck lasted and was still driving around town about 25 years later without a speck of rust.

[jeffk]

I should add that all my cars that rusted out were manufactured between 2000 and 2004, a Volvo and two Toyotas. They all died from rust in about 20 years. Another note that probably contributed to that is that they were not garaged and were parked on a dirt driveway (more moisture exposure). I was also fixing rust damage, mechanical (including brake fluid lines) and door panels, for at least 5 years before they died to the tune of 3+ thousand dollars. The Toyota truck had its frame replaced under warranty about 7 years after purchase and it was well on the way to rusting out again. The truck's power steering rack rusted out. I have the cars serviced annually and it was unexpected. Luckily it failed in my driveway rather than on the road.

Basically, it's a complex evaluation as to whether rustproofing is worth it. I am still parking outside on a dirt driveway but plan a garage in a couple years. My personal experience makes it right for me.

[fatlazyless]

Out back behind Truck Trends undercoating in Tilton, there's a used car lot ..... Lakes Auto & Detailing ...... that has about 25 different used cars and trucks on the lot ..... a separate business from Truck Trends. Today is Sunday and last Wednesday while getting my 2012 Tacoma pick-up undercoated, I was look'n at all the used cars to kill some time plus I like looking at used cars for sale.

Anyway, it was instant love at first sight, fell in l-o-v-e with a 2014 Toyota Scion xD with 162k miles, 5-speed stick, price $5000, came back and bought it the next day. Just got it undercoated, a very smart move on an eleven year old car. It is a one owner car by someone unknown in Plymouth NH, purchased new from Irwin Toyota in 2015 for $16,225 who took excellent care and it has the cleanest Car Fax report ever reported.

Buying an old used car like this is always a long term gamble, so wish me some good Toyota Scion 4-cylinder, 5-speed LUCK ...... Lakes Auto & Detailing ...... home of the $5000 car ...... out behind Truck Trends undercoating, close to Home Depot, Tilton.

Gee whiz ...... if only this Scion xD had those small triangular VENT windows up front .... from the past ...... say 1982 .... it would be totally super-duper! ....... how GOOD were those old vent windows! ..... the absolute BEST.

[TheTimeTraveler]

Originally Posted by jbolty

My first job after high school was at the chevy dealer in wolfboro and of course as the new guy got stuck whenever someone bought the undercoating. I think we were a franchise of rusty jones or one of those. Anyway, there was a book about how to do it and a test of like 10 questions to become "certified"

Back then cars were painted stamped steel. There was almost no aluminum and certainly no plastic and nothing was galvanized. The main enemy was water settling into the lower seams of the door, rockers, fenders and the pinch welds in the body or uni body. The point of the goop was to fill those seams to prevent water from laying in there so we had a bunch of long nozzles with special bends to get into the nooks and crannies. We would drill some holes in certain areas and fill them with plastic plugs. The bottom floor pan was covered too but that would almost never rust anyway since it would get rinsed in the rain and could dry.

certainly a modern car could benefit from this at least a little but generally does not seem worth it and I don't know if dealers even still push this; it was almost an automatic back in the 70s and 80s.

One of my friends bought a new truck in about 1980 and I came in saturday to do his undercoating for a discount. I'm sure I used about double the regular amount so that truck lasted and was still driving around town about 25 years later without a speck of rust.

I knew where the Ford Dealership was in Wolfeboro (downtown in the stable) near Goulds Five and Dime.

I can't recall where the Chevy Dealership was located in Wolfeboro. Please refresh my memory.

[sunfishman]

Good luck with the Scion. But wasn't it the Scion that was the heavy oil burner?

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by sunfishman

Good luck with the Scion. But wasn't it the Scion that was the heavy oil burner?

Yes it was, but it was a Scion xB, the x-Box, and this one is a the smaller Scion xD. Supposedly, the xB has a 4-cyl Camry engine, and this xD has a smaller 4-cyl Corolla engine.

Will it be an oil user, or oil burner and need more oil with every fill-up gasoline ...... wait & see ..... time will tell?

My old 2014 Scion xB went to 221k miles before a hit & run, side smash in Plymouth NH at River Rd/Rt 3 intersection tee-boned it and that one needed about 3/4 qt more SuperTech oil with every gasoline fill-up? I sold it for $300-cash to the Ukraine guy & son in Laconia Daily Sun classified who buys all used Japanese cars and haul it away on a trailer. They maybe try to sell it off for expensive parts? Allstate paid me $1950 for the two smashed doors ..... after the $250-deductible ...... God bless Allstate!

This Scion xD looks like an old Citroen 2CV .... http://www.motortrend.com/vehicle-ge...history-photos .... except without the bug eye, headlights.

[sunfishman]

The Corolla engine cannot be beat or destroyed. I have owned five Corollas over many years. None of them burned a drop a of oil. The last one I sold had 328k and still didn't burn a drop. But they are a light car that doesn't do well in an accident. I sold mine after a blind person driver hit me in the front left corner at 5 mph and it broke off the tie rod ends. And if you don't want the car anymore, someone will always buy a used Toyota Corolla. It is a win/win!

[jbolty]

Originally Posted by TheTimeTraveler

I knew where the Ford Dealership was in Wolfeboro (downtown in the stable) near Goulds Five and Dime.

I can't recall where the Chevy Dealership was located in Wolfeboro. Please refresh my memory.

back then it was behind the IGA, later it moved out to rt 28

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Fbuq5Wd66/

[tis]

Originally Posted by jbolty

back then it was behind the IGA, later it moved out to rt 28

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Fbuq5Wd66/

The Ford dealer was never behind the IGA, as TTT said , it was across from the Dime Store. It was called Horne's Garage. Hart's was behind the IGA but was not a Ford Dealer, they did move out to 28.

[jbolty]

Originally Posted by tis

The Ford dealer was never behind the IGA, as TTT said , it was across from the Dime Store. It was called Horne's Garage. Hart's was behind the IGA but was not a Ford Dealer, they did move out to 28.

when did I say it was a ford dealer?

[tis]

Originally Posted by jbolty

when did I say it was a ford dealer?

I don't think you did. It just seemed it could be confusing to others as to where the two were because we were talking about Ford and Chevy at the same time.

[fatlazyless]

What they ..... www.youtube.co/watch?v=mPCC-ZqT2lQ ..... are NOT telling YOU about Undercoating!

So last Wednesday, I went in for the $279 NH Oil black undercoating at Truck Trends undercoat, close to Home Depot, on my 13 year old, two wheel drive Tacoma pick-up and today on Monday I now have this 2014 Scion xD 5-speed that caught my attention while waiting the one hour undercoat.

Was window shopping the used car lot out back with 25-cars and trucks, sipping a courtesy freebie cup of Tim Horton coffee, is a separate business from the undercoating, while waiting on the undercoating. Reminds me of the old joke about the Texan who went into a car dealership to use the pay phone and came out with a Cadillac because he didn't have any change for the pay phone and needed the change to operate the pay phone so he bought a Cadillac...... ha-ha-ha ...... ho-ho-ho ...... ha-ha-ha ..... (Johnny Carson Show) ..... "... did you hear this one about the Texan?"

What other used Toyota is in there for sale for the same $5000-price? How about a gray 2007 Toyota Highlander in very very nice condition and I took a long long long look at it. What to buy ...... a big Highlander automatic or a small xD manual...... big Highlander or small xD ...... big Highlander with a V6 or a xD with a 125-hp 4-cylinder stick-shift ...... same price $5000 for either one ........ so I finally got the Scion xD because I could pay for it with my food stamps ....... yuch-yuch-yuch ...... thankfully before Nov 1 ...... ha-ha-ha! ........ ..... Toyota Scions are designed for the very young just starting their lifetime journey, you know!

You know, it is a crying shame that Toyota don't make no Highlanders with a manual stick-shift. Now, that would be a c-a-r.

Cost me 105-bucks to get new NH license plates at town Hall. OMG ..... is so expensive!