Should I buy a car that came from up North?

[Finchs]

I found a 4 year old Buick that we are thinking of buying, but I see on Carfax that it lived for it's first 3 years in NY, up near Canadian border. I have heard that salt used on roads up there causes the underbody of cars to rust out...is this really a problem? Or is it a non-issue? Would a mechanic at Pep Boys be able to detect if a problem exists or will I have to wait years for it to show? :pray:

[dewilson58]

mechanic will not see stored salt in all areas of the underbody.

i would have a concern (coming from the midwest)

[villagetinker]

Yes salt can cause problems (spent 60 years in PA), your problem would be any corrosion that was started up North will continue here with the higher humidity especially if the car in left outside. If the car was properly factory sealed (undercoated) the damage should be minimal, but not sure you will be able to confirm this without removing body panels to look inside doors, etc.

[Topspinmo]

Watch this guy, he has to repair rust belt vehicle’s

Rust Belt Mechanics Nightmare 😱 - Subaru Rear Wheel Bearing - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXgjsUoXiXU)

I lived in-rust belt, if and big if the owner religiously washed car after the salty encounter rust could be kept to minimum and it would take years to show signs of decay. But, ask yourself how many people do that? (100 men will test today, but only 3 will……)

[Michael G.]

I have heard that salt used on roads up there causes the underbody of cars to rust out...is this really a problem?

Yes, salt eats away at cars, you heard right and it's a problem

[tophcfa]

Both road salt (rust) and pot hole (damaged suspension, especially the front end). Unless getting a substantial discount to reflect greater risk, avoid. I laugh and shake my head when I hear people around the Villages complain about potholes. I have never seen anything resembling a real pothole down here. When you hit a real pothole, your vehicle gets tower to someone who specializes in front end service. They are like land mines hiding in the roads from February through April.

[MrFlorida]

Yes, road salt causes a lot of rust under the car, I would look elsewhere.

[manaboutown]

The heavily salted streets of early 1970s Rochester, NY ruined my 1967 Camaro I had brought up pristine from Virginia in less than three years. I would not touch a used car coming from anywhere roads are salted. The locals knew to drive beaters during the winter and not their nice cars.

[thelegges]

All of our cars come from MI, where we lived. Our road didn’t get plowed for weeks, but once you hit the main road all roads were salted.

We keep our cars about 6 years, . With the exception of the 2001 Grand Cherokee that has back wheel well hit it in accident has rust.
2006 Range Rover no visible rust, and 2011 Range Rover no visible rust. These were our go to work and snow fun.

The 2000 Ford that was equipped with plow and salt bin, is showing rust around wheel wells.

[banjobob]

It really is a problem , as a wholesale auto buyer buying cars from Michigan auto auctions for years all were rusted underneath not rusted through but rust had started and will continue in hidden pockets in the body panels. My advice if you plan on keeping over 3 years look elsewhere.

[Mac1996]

Being from Iowa and knowing what salt does to cars, no way would I buy it.Pay a little more for one that’s from the south.

[JoelJohnson]

I lived in MA and had a 2008 Subaru Forester. When I sold it in 2015, with 150,000 miles on it, you couldn't find any rust on it! I had many Subaru's before that, but it was a first for me!
We brought a 2008 Honda CRV, with 95,000 miles on it, down here and the same thing, no rust. So maybe they are making cars better these days.

[La lamy]

It really depends. Up north I used to be able to walk to work, so my car was in a garage the whole time, out only for shopping which was always done when roads were dry. I'm sure my car was a huge exception from most, but you'd probably be able to tell how corroded it was if you or someone else looked under it.

[Linda2323]

I will suggest you not buy the car. After living in New York I can tell you that they get a lot of snow upstate. There is a lot of salt on the roads. There may be a little bit of rot on the car but in the future there will be more. A lot of times it is not seen until its to late.

Linda2323
Westbury, N. Y.
Virginia Beach, VA
Powhatan, VA
Boydton, VA

[Rzepecki]

All of our cars come from MI, where we lived. Our road didn’t get plowed for weeks, but once you hit the main road all roads were salted.

We keep our cars about 6 years, . With the exception of the 2001 Grand Cherokee that has back wheel well hit it in accident has rust.
2006 Range Rover no visible rust, and 2011 Range Rover no visible rust. These were our go to work and snow fun.

The 2000 Ford that was equipped with plow and salt bin, is showing rust around wheel wells.

We also came from Michigan. Unless you keep your car 10 years or more, don’t expect to see any rust. Undercoating hasn’t been necessary for years because the auto companies treat the metal with a rust inhibitor.

[JanetMM]

I found a 4 year old Buick that we are thinking of buying, but I see on Carfax that it lived for it's first 3 years in NY, up near Canadian border. I have heard that salt used on roads up there causes the underbody of cars to rust out...is this really a problem? Or is it a non-issue? Would a mechanic at Pep Boys be able to detect if a problem exists or will I have to wait years for it to show? :pray:

After moving here, it was difficult finding car repairmen willing and able to do some of the needed repairs. Was told a number of times there was too much rust for them to repair a problem. Had I still been up north the repairman wouldn’t have blinked an eye. I am not saying northern repair men are better but they are well-versed in dealing with salt corrosion and rust along with pothole damaged vehicles.

I definitely advise you to buy used cars from the south unless you get a really big discount on the northern car.

Seriously, the difference in potholes between here and Northeast Ohio is amazing! Can barely feel a pothole down here. Up north Evel Knievel used to jump the potholes just to practice for jumping the Grand Canyon.

[nancyre]

My 2008 Santa Fe is sitting right now in the driveway in Pine Ridge. She has 110,000 miles and lived from start to 2018 in downstate NY, was driven to work commuting a hour each way thru all kinds of weather, 100,000 miles where NY miles. Never garaged. There is a few tiny rust marks on the HOOD - thanks to a hail storm. The paint to disappearing thanks to the sun. So you are talking about a 4 year old car mine is 16 years old, and before the FL sun still looked great.

[Rodneysblue]

I found a 4 year old Buick that we are thinking of buying, but I see on Carfax that it lived for it's first 3 years in NY, up near Canadian border. I have heard that salt used on roads up there causes the underbody of cars to rust out...is this really a problem? Or is it a non-issue? Would a mechanic at Pep Boys be able to detect if a problem exists or will I have to wait years for it to show? :pray:

No, road salt bad🤪

[Cliff Fr]

The rust can also make removing worn parts for repair difficult

[flyboyl39]

Rust issues have become a thing of the past. The production methods on modern cars include electrostatic painting and rust inhibitors that keep them rust free. Also realize that the number one state for OEM warranty and aftermarket rust damage claims before these methods was
Florida !!!!! Florida claims put Rusty Jones rust proofing co out of business, not northern salted road states. ( how do I know,, I was in the biz)

[Mulliganguy]

I’m sure that there are cars from up north that have moved down here. Maybe the owners of some of them can reply to this question, have they rusted out since they’ve been down here?

[spd2918]

No. And hopefully any Florida car was not previously a northern car.

[OhioBuckeye]

If you have any doubt, why would you even consider it? I wouldn’t buy a car out of state without a warranty & if you would have an issue with it you would have to get it back there to cover THEIR warranty. No other dealership are going to cover the warranty. Most used car sales are, BUYER BEWARE!

[jimkerr]

In wouldn’t buy it.

[Laker14]

It's not as bad as it once was, but I'd avoid it. Why buy a car that's been subjected to that, when you could find one that hasn't?
I suppose one answer to that question would be "it's a really really good price"...yeah, maybe then.

[wereback]

Worse yet is a car that sits outside at a condo on the
Atlantic Ocean they rust from the top down any opening lets the salt spray in.

[RPDaly]

My "up north" mechanic said don't buy a used car and bring it south. I could have picked one up real cheap via a relative in the biz. He said wait and buy one down here. He mentioned you will have a hard time even finding a mechanic down here that could even weld a rusted out exhaust joint with a straight pipe coupler. Just not something they deal with. Guess I will drive my 10 year old northern car into the ground. May not be much of a market for it here.

[flyboyl39]

People, people ,,,,, this fear of up north or salt exposed cars is a 15 year ago issue. It doesn’t exist anymore. Any mechanic telling you not to bring a northern car down here is a dinosaur and is living in the past. Also the majority of used autos are wholesaled and moved by major dealers and vendors like Carmax and Carvana all over the country. When was the last time you saw a rusted out car on the road that wasn’t 30yrs old ? The most important issue with a used vehicle was wether or not it’s been wrecked !!!! Then how it was maintained.

[njbchbum]

Both road salt (rust) and pot hole (damaged suspension, especially the front end). Unless getting a substantial discount to reflect greater risk, avoid. I laugh and shake my head when I hear people around the Villages complain about potholes. I have never seen anything resembling a real pothole down here. When you hit a real pothole, your vehicle gets tower to someone who specializes in front end service. They are like land mines hiding in the roads from February through April.

Take a ride on 441/27 North around the area opposite Oakwood Smokehouse - ride the left lane and see if you can avoid the pothole that has taken out a few tire sidewalls since construction started for the widening project!

[Finchs]

Watch this guy, he has to repair rust belt vehicle’s

Rust Belt Mechanics Nightmare ������ - Subaru Rear Wheel Bearing - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXgjsUoXiXU)

I lived in-rust belt, if and big if the owner religiously washed car after the salty encounter rust could be kept to minimum and it would take years to show signs of decay. But, ask yourself how many people do that? (100 men will test today, but only 3 will……)

Thanks for the link--that guy is fascinating to watch! What a job! Seeing the results of the rust makes me nervous...

[Finchs]

It's not as bad as it once was, but I'd avoid it. Why buy a car that's been subjected to that, when you could find one that hasn't?
I suppose one answer to that question would be "it's a really really good price"...yeah, maybe then.

I would not have known this car was from up north if I had not looked it up on carfax! I'll bet MOST of the used cars we see on dealer lots around here are actually from the north, but we just aren't given that info.

[Geodyssey]

I lived in MA and had a 2008 Subaru Forester. When I sold it in 2015, with 150,000 miles on it, you couldn't find any rust on it! I had many Subaru's before that, but it was a first for me!
We brought a 2008 Honda CRV, with 95,000 miles on it, down here and the same thing, no rust. So maybe they are making cars better these days.

Those are "foreign" cars, even if some or all are assembled in the USA. Can't really compare foreign cars to real American cars like Buick.

I would pass on this car.

[Albany]

People, people ,,,,, this fear of up north or salt exposed cars is a 15 year ago issue. It doesn’t exist anymore. Any mechanic telling you not to bring a northern car down here is a dinosaur and is living in the past. Also the majority of used autos are wholesaled and moved by major dealers and vendors like Carmax and Carvana all over the country. When was the last time you saw a rusted out car on the road that wasn’t 30yrs old ? The most important issue with a used vehicle was wether or not it’s been wrecked !!!! Then how it was maintained.

Go ahead and buy it, it's only 4 years old. My up north 2008 Honda CRV still going strong, in 2022. Rust and undercoat and all that not an issue.

[Topspinmo]

Rust issues have become a thing of the past. The production methods on modern cars include electrostatic painting and rust inhibitors that keep them rust free. Also realize that the number one state for OEM warranty and aftermarket rust damage claims before these methods was
Florida !!!!! Florida claims put Rusty Jones rust proofing co out of business, not northern salted road states. ( how do I know,, I was in the biz)

Only on coast.

[Topspinmo]

Thanks for the link--that guy is fascinating to watch! What a job! Seeing the results of the rust makes me nervous...

He live’s in upper state NY, those local cars are subject to every winter salt attacks. And most are 8 plus years old. Not every northern vehicle subject to that salt attack like upstate NY. It also depends on use of vehicle, lot of his video work are local commercial and problem’s other shops can’t figure out. If vehicle only couple years old probably not problem and it had small undercarriage corrosion it could be treated. Full framed trucks and SUVs are probably more susceptible than unibody vehicles. I agree that guy amazing and rare mechanic IMO.

[Geodyssey]

Go ahead and buy it, it's only 4 years old. My up north 2008 Honda CRV still going strong, in 2022. Rust and undercoat and all that not an issue.

Honda is a foreign car. He's looking at Buick, American Iron. Can't compare.

[thevillages2013]

I would not have known this car was from up north if I had not looked it up on carfax! I'll bet MOST of the used cars we see on dealer lots around here are actually from the north, but we just aren't given that info.

That is a reach

[thevillages2013]

Honda is a foreign car. He's looking at Buick, American Iron. Can't compare.

Buy Honda but only if you want a car that will run forever with minimal repairs :coolsmiley:

[Nell57]

We also came from Michigan. Unless you keep your car 10 years or more, don’t expect to see any rust. Undercoating hasn’t been necessary for years because the auto companies treat the metal with a rust inhibitor.

I am from Ohio, and totally agree with this opinion.
We keep cars in our family 10-15 years….passing them down to the teenagers as they get some miles on them. We’ve done this with at least six cars, and never have had any rust problems.
I was really surprised by the other comments….

[Topspinmo]

I am from Ohio, and totally agree with this opinion.
We keep cars in our family 10-15 years….passing them down to the teenagers as they get some miles on them. We’ve done this with at least six cars, and never have had any rust problems.
I was really surprised by the other comments….

Well, evidently you know how to keep care of car. Most don’t.

[davem4616]

I'm laughing out loud reading all the expert opinions on this one

I'm originally 'from the north'....bought new and used cars for over forty years up there....every kid got a used car when they were able to drive....we never had a car rust out

yeah, go ahead a buy a used car from the south...just maybe, if you look under the front seat, you'll find some mud, from when the car was sitting in flood water up to the dashboard :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[DAVES]

Watch this guy, he has to repair rust belt vehicle’s

Rust Belt Mechanics Nightmare ������ - Subaru Rear Wheel Bearing - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXgjsUoXiXU)

I lived in-rust belt, if and big if the owner religiously washed car after the salty encounter rust could be kept to minimum and it would take years to show signs of decay. But, ask yourself how many people do that? (100 men will test today, but only 3 will……)

Cars are far better rust proofed than they used to be. An ex-northerner. An ex-boat owner. As far as wheel bearings you are not supposed to back your trailer or your car into salt water. I did back my trailer into the water but when I got back I would carefully hose it off with fresh water and I would run the engine in a tank of fresh water- never had A PROBLEM. It was sadly amusing to see others think they need to drive their cars till the exhaust pipe was under water.

My car drove 3 years up north and 9 years in Florida-not a spot of rust on it. We did a one time have a bought very used Subaru. We bought it cheap and the body was rusted through when we bought it.

[coralway]

I found a 4 year old Buick that we are thinking of buying, but I see on Carfax that it lived for it's first 3 years in NY, up near Canadian border. I have heard that salt used on roads up there causes the underbody of cars to rust out...is this really a problem? Or is it a non-issue? Would a mechanic at Pep Boys be able to detect if a problem exists or will I have to wait years for it to show? :pray:




Oh gee ... a car from up North. I don't know about that.

I hear they tend to pull to the left. Better be careful

[Topspinmo]

Oh gee ... a car from up North. I don't know about that.

I hear they tend to pull to the left. Better be careful


They also don’t come with blinker lights:)

[Topspinmo]

Cars are far better rust proofed than they used to be. An ex-northerner. An ex-boat owner. As far as wheel bearings you are not supposed to back your trailer or your car into salt water. I did back my trailer into the water but when I got back I would carefully hose it off with fresh water and I would run the engine in a tank of fresh water- never had A PROBLEM. It was sadly amusing to see others think they need to drive their cars till the exhaust pipe was under water.

My car drove 3 years up north and 9 years in Florida-not a spot of rust on it. We did a one time have a bought very used Subaru. We bought it cheap and the body was rusted through when we bought it.

So, what you’re saying you know how to keep care of you’re stuff. One hundred men will test today, but only 3 will———-.

[Carlsondm]

I found a 4 year old Buick that we are thinking of buying, but I see on Carfax that it lived for it's first 3 years in NY, up near Canadian border. I have heard that salt used on roads up there causes the underbody of cars to rust out...is this really a problem? Or is it a non-issue? Would a mechanic at Pep Boys be able to detect if a problem exists or will I have to wait years for it to show? :pray:


I am from Michigan and would be more concerned about buying a car in southern states that had been submerged or partially submerged during a storm.
That car was probably made in the midwest and double sided rust proofing is common for todays cars. Buick is an upscale brand and should be able to handle the elements. I bought several used cars in MI and used them for another 6-10 years. No rust problems. I had more rust problems on my 1977 Delta 88 Royale ... which was before the new steel processes. We have humidity on Michigan too.

[Toddy]

Bad buy. Walk away.