Cars in Japan generally experience less rust compared to those in many other countries for several reasons:
- Climate and Environment: Humidity and mild winters mean that roads don’t need to be gritted, salt and moisture causes corrosion, humidity and salt free roads doesn’t.
- Road Maintenance: minimal use of road salt in winters as lots of roads are heated, roads are very well maintained.
- Vehicle Maintenance and Culture: Vehicle servicing is kept up by Japanese people including regular washing and undercoating. Japan’s strict vehicle inspection system (Shaken) ensures that cars are kept in good condition. Rust and corrosion issues would need to be addressed to pass these inspections.
- Manufacturing Standards: Japanese car manufacturers use high-quality materials and advanced anti-corrosion coatings
- Shorter Lifespan: Cultural and economic factors lead many Japanese people to replace their cars more frequently.
So surely then all of the above makes purchasing a second hand Japanese car a good investment, you’d be right
But
Is a vehicle made for use on roads that are well maintained, not heavily gritted in winter and stored in a different climate to Europe ready for our roads? No.
Why?
JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) cars are well-built and reliable, they are not specifically rustproofed for the UK’s harsher winter conditions. Importers and owners in the UK often need to take additional steps to rustproof and maintain these vehicles to ensure they remain in good condition.
This Nissan 350Z has been 20 years in the UK with no additional Rustproofing
Corrosion damage is clear
These parts will now either need replacing order removing and Sandblasting.
If you are looking to buy a JDM designated vehicle that has been in the UK for a while ask the seller, when was this first rustproofed? when was it rustproofed last? If you are looking at purchasing a JDM vehicle from an importer make sure you get it rustproofed straight away or make sure the importer does this before you collect the vehicle.
Alternatively get down low on the floor and take a torch with you to look for an underseal coating, touch the surfaces does it have a waxy oily feel? is it rusty? has an underseal been applied?
Rustbuster have many DIY solutions available for home use rustproofing including Lanolin Spray or why not let us take this rassle off you with one of our Rustproofing Services?
