Feeling less and less hopeful about long life / rust resistance...

[desmobob]

I'm in upstate NY snow country where tons of salt and oceans of salt brine are put on the roads in the winter. I've yet to have a vehicle last more than a dozen years before the body rusts through or rust starts damaging operational parts.

We got an inch or so of snow last night. I just returned from a quick 22-mile trip. When I got home, I decided to check the oil. This is what I saw when I opened the hood...

I took off from home with snow on the hood, so this might just be snow that blew in from the gaps on the edges of the hood as I got up to speed. But I guess that could mean that salt spray from vehicles traveling in front of me might also get in.

I also noticed I could see spots of daylight through the wheel wells, so that means salt spray/road grime can get into the engine bay through the wheel wells.

I had intended to fully undercoat the vehicle before winter, but Ford didn't get it built until the first week of December. I will be giving it a VERY thorough washing and undercoating in the spring.

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[New2AZ]

Given the price of this vehicle, I would not have expected anything more. If I still lived in cold/snow/ice/misery country, I would probably skip the Mav unless it was on a lease. "Built to last" doesn't seem to be this thing's M.O. But it should be good for a couple years anyway!

 

[Snowbird]

I went from SUNY Oswego to Vermont in 1979. You get 10 years out of any car/truck. Undercoating helps, heated garages are the worst. It's just the way it is. No sense trying to pee against the wind.

 

[TCPTX65]

Grew up in Western NY and it was almost a badge of honor to drive a vehicle without any rust marks. Now that I live in Texas, if a car has any rust on it, it's unusual. I've seen 20-year-old cars without a spot of rust here. Of course, if there is a 1/2 inch of snow, we just shut everything down since we don't use road salt and very few folks here know how to drive in snow or ice. Of course, that is offset by the 100+ degree temps in the summer.

 

[Retired]

I consider vehicles a diposable item due to the rust issues here. 10-12 years is about the best you can expect. Thats why the low price of the Maverick is what drew me. (And the great gas mileage of the Hybrid). My 2012 Focus runs great, averages 31 MPG, but is rusted through in front of the rear wheels. The local salvage yard is the owner of almost all my past vehicles over the last 45 years.

 

[Old Man]

10 years? Wow! I generally get a new one when the first oil change is due.

 

[thevol]

Go nuts with some flex seal, maybe you can seal up the gaps

 

[Flight Test]

Grew up in Western NY and it was almost a badge of honor to drive a vehicle without any rust marks. Now that I live in Texas, if a car has any rust on it, it's unusual. I've seen 20-year-old cars without a spot of rust here. Of course, if there is a 1/2 inch of snow, we just shut everything down since we don't use road salt and very few folks here know how to drive in snow or ice. Of course, that is offset by the 100+ degree temps in the summer.

Brings back memories of early seventies Chevy Vegas in Buffalo.

 

[Flight Test]

I'm in upstate NY snow country where tons of salt and oceans of salt brine are put on the roads in the winter. I've yet to have a vehicle last more than a dozen years before the body rusts through or rust starts damaging operational parts.

We got an inch or so of snow last night. I just returned from a quick 22-mile trip. When I got home, I decided to check the oil. This is what I saw when I opened the hood...

I also noticed I could see spots of daylight through the wheel wells, so that means salt spray/road grime can get into the engine bay through the wheel wells.

Are you referring to the gaps between the fender and firewall; looking forward into those gaps? Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, I thought the Lariat trim has foam inserts in these areas while the lower trims do not.

 

[bckrupps]

Grew up in Western NY and it was almost a badge of honor to drive a vehicle without any rust marks. Now that I live in Texas, if a car has any rust on it, it's unusual. I've seen 20-year-old cars without a spot of rust here. Of course, if there is a 1/2 inch of snow, we just shut everything down since we don't use road salt and very few folks here know how to drive in snow or ice. Of course, that is offset by the 100+ degree temps in the summer.

Grew up in Western NY and it was almost a badge of honor to drive a vehicle without any rust marks. Now that I live in Texas, if a car has any rust on it, it's unusual. I've seen 20-year-old cars without a spot of rust here. Of course, if there is a 1/2 inch of snow, we just shut everything down since we don't use road salt and very few folks here know how to drive in snow or ice. Of course, that is offset by the 100+ degree temps in the summer.

Same Grew up in New York. Traded my 17 year old Frontier in here living in Texas for a Maverick. I don't think it had a speck of rust anywhere which seems crazy to Northerners. The heat though does it's damage in other ways. Batteries, gaskets and anything else plastic or rubber over time. You pay repair bills and upkeep either way you just look better doing it lol.

 

[desmobob]

Are you referring to the gaps between the fender and firewall; looking forward into those gaps?

No... I'm talking about gaps between the wheel wells and the fenders. I never realized there were companies selling after-market wheel well liners. Now, I know why...
https://www.huskyliners.com/Wheel-Well-Guards-Wheel-Well-Liners

My dad bought my mom a Chevy Vega in 1972. He traded it in for her new Chevette in '81. Two horrible vehicles!

 

[Garyintexas]

10 years? Wow! I generally get a new one when the first oil change is due.

 

[rlhdweman]

I live in an area that has more salt on the roads than snow or ice, I drove my 04 Taurus for 18 years, & had no visible rust on it, some on the undercarriage, vigilant washing & hand wax each year is the key, I hope my Maverick will last at least 15, by that time I probably won't need a vehicle anymore.

 

[Comet]

Road salt is a killer - killed my Ranger, F150, Cavalier, 65 Comet, 73 Maverick, Chevette, Horizon, 81 Civic, Durango, woody wagons etc.

Funny how it never bothered my cheap little Toyota Tercel (240k miles until my son wrecked it).

 

[Grand Nat.]

I'm in upstate NY snow country where tons of salt and oceans of salt brine are put on the roads in the winter. I've yet to have a vehicle last more than a dozen years before the body rusts through or rust starts damaging operational parts.

We got an inch or so of snow last night. I just returned from a quick 22-mile trip. When I got home, I decided to check the oil. This is what I saw when I opened the hood...

I took off from home with snow on the hood, so this might just be snow that blew in from the gaps on the edges of the hood as I got up to speed. But I guess that could mean that salt spray from vehicles traveling in front of me might also get in.

I also noticed I could see spots of daylight through the wheel wells, so that means salt spray/road grime can get into the engine bay through the wheel wells.

I had intended to fully undercoat the vehicle before winter, but Ford didn't get it built until the first week of December. I will be giving it a VERY thorough washing and undercoating in the spring.

As you know it's all about the salt they toss on the road. Nothing else eats away metal faster. My Dodge Magnum does not have a drop of rust on it because it was hardly used in the snow and it's a 2005 with over 200 K on it. My Blazer took the abuse instead. I found that Cosmoline works well on my vehicles.

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