Why does it seem like every car on Wheeler Dealers is rusty? UK=undercarriage rust?

[Tervuren]

I bought a Porsche from Boston once - NEVER AGAIN!!!

Not unless I can have it on a lift and inspect it myself, no way nah uh.

A 944 from the midwest, aside from spilled fluid/grease/gunk/grime from years of a dirt road + owner not fixing leaks is MUCH more pleasant to work on.

[Willem Fick]

England is a tiny island, with the result that you are never mere than just a few hours from the coast. The result is that, even when it doesn't rain you are still exposed to the moisture coming in from the coast. Very few cars are also garaged, which doesn't help. In the Northern parts it snows regularly so there is salted roads to contend with too. All in all, rust heaven!

[porwolf]

Originally Posted by wildthing

Not to go off on a tangent, but if the California car has spent most of its life in a coastal town then for a 20 or 30 year old car that might be a gamble.

And I have seen plenty of rust buckets in Hawaii also.

[petrolhead611]

Brakes are checked very thoroughly at our annual inspections in the UK, hence they are probably in good working order and need no further work.

[jorian]

Ever notice how their "tidy profit" never takes into account any labor costs? The guy that helps Ed lift something heavy occasionally - what's his end?

Mike's rug has got to go too.

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by jorian

Ever notice how their "tidy profit" never takes into account any labor costs?

It's almost like it is (GASP) a TV show!

[BE911SC]

Yep, a wrench as good, and as patient and timely, as Ed would come at a significant cost.

[fred cook]

abound here in South Georgia also. I just took a 2 day road trip to Alabama and came home with a sore neck from looking at old cars parked by the road. While some did have a bit of surface rust, I did not see any that were seriously rusted. Find a place that is away from an ocean and enjoys moderate to warm weather and you will find lots of old cars that are rust free!