Why Don’t German Cars Rust?
Do German cars rust? Are these cars going to outlast the human species?
Contrary to popular belief, German cars rust just like other cars out there. You don’t believe me? Ever seen a Volkswagen Beetle? Those are pretty rare these days, but they’re notorious for being rust buckets.
Not convinced? Have you ever tried to get a close look at an old Mercedes Benz with trim? Never mind trying to look for a rusty Porsche—no owner in his right mind would ever take these babies out if there are signs of rusting.
And if you really don’t think German cars rust, there’s always that beat-up BMW parked on the street that has obvious signs of oxidation.
If there’s one thing I can say about this, it’s that: whoever claimed that when it comes to German cars, rust doesn’t happen, is one super-effective marketer.
You see, we’ve all come to believe that German cars are impervious to oxidation for more than a century now! No doubt about it, that claim alone has sold millions of units to car owners worldwide.
The Appeal Of German Cars
If German cars rust just like all the other cars in the market today, why do people still put them on a pedestal?
The answer: build quality.
Having owned several Volkswagen beetles and vans in the past, you just can’t beat German engineering. These little noisy things were an absolute blast to drive.
German Car Brands You Should Check Out
Although German cars rust like all the other cars, it still doesn’t stop the fact that these cars are well-built from the ground up. Here are the best German car brands you can choose from these days.
Volkswagen
So, why is Volkswagen the first one on the list?
Simple.
Volkswagen owns or has shares in most of the car brands listed below.
Hard to believe that the lowly Beetle is the highest in the hierarchy, eh? But it’s true.
Opel
Next to Volkswagen, Opel is one of those German car brands that continuously pumps out high-quality, powerful, and affordable cars. Their range of vehicles includes those built for families, the race track, and even executives looking for an elegant sedan to drive in without breaking the bank.
Two of the most outstanding brands from Opel that live on in the hearts and minds of German car collectors are the Rekord and the Manta. Sadly, both cars are proof that German cars rust no matter how much care you put into maintaining their condition.
BMW
You can’t call yourself a success in the business world if you don’t have a BMW to drive in. Even owning an E-Class is enough to make a statement that you’re moving up in the world. Just remember: these German cars rust if not cared for so keep it out of the rain when it’s not in use and enjoy decades of use with a well-maintained BMW E-Class.
Audi
If you want elegance, Audi is the German car brand you want to look into. Audis used to be intimidating to a lot of people. This includes hardcore German car lovers simply because Audis looked too exquisite.
And then people started buying them and understanding them more. One of the most popular Audi lines is the TT Coupe. The price of this model made it attainable for people to own one.
Mercedes-Benz
Looking for more class? Then Mercedes-Benz is the German car brand for you. The one thing unique about the Mercedes-Benz brand is that all of the models they have in their range of vehicles are appealing to a wide market. You could say this is the pinnacle of German engineering.
Table setup not completed.If you don’t mind shelling out more for a car, then you might want to get a Mercedes-Benz. These German cars rust just the same, but you can keep them running for a really long time with enough care and maintenance. Others extend their car’s lifetime by simply storing it inside their garage.
Porsche
Got the need for speed? Get a Porsche. Everyone knows these cars are winners on and off the track.
Porsches are excellent sports cars because anyone can drive them. With enough practice, anyone can excel behind the wheel on these powerful machines.
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How To Prevent Rust From Damaging Your Automotive Investment
It all starts with inspecting your car for any signs of German cars rust. If you find any. No matter how small, treat it immediately.
Related Article: Why Do Luxury Cars Break Down So Much?
Items You Will Need:
- 3 to 5 buckets for putting in clean water. Try Chemical Guys Detailing Buckets, they’re about the right size.
- Clean water supply
- 5 to 15 pieces of clean premium microfiber cloth
- Vacuum Cleaner with different attachments (brush and pinpoint nozzle are the most important attachments). The best we’ve found so far at the right price is the Armor All AA255 2.5 Gal Wet/Dry Vacuum With Blower Function.
- Power Washer (Optional)
- Dual Action Polisher (Optional)
- Automotive Soap
- Obenauf’s Leather Treatment Solution
- Meguiar’s Car Polish
- Meguiar’s Carnauba Gold Class Car Wax
You could also order this all-in-one kit from the Chemical Guys and get more bang for your buck.
Start by clearing out your cabin. Use a vacuum to suck up all the dirt and grime.
Rinse The Exterior, Underside, And Wheel Wells Thoroughly
These are the areas where German cars rust the most. So give it a thorough rinse.
1. Now it’s time to get those buckets out and fill them up with clean water. Or you can save yourself the trouble by investing in a power washer for convenience.
2. Using a bucket is the more economical way to rinse your car off in terms of buying cleaning equipment; meanwhile, using a power washer is the more efficient way to wash luxury car.
3. Remove as much of the dirt and grime from your car’s surface by rinsing it with clean water.
4. If you’re using a power washer, try not to put it on full blast as the pressure could damage your paint. Dust, grit, and grime can also grind into the surface if you put too much pressure when you wash a luxury car with a power washer on full blast.
5. Wash the underside of your carriage as well. Make sure you include the wheel wells and skid pads.
6. Wash the tires as well.
7. Once the entire exterior has been rinsed, move on to soaping your car.
Proper Soaping Techniques For German Cars
1. Don’t use dishwashing liquid. Many people make that mistake when they wash a car. That can easily strip your clear coat. Don’t even use it on a conventional car.
2. Make sure you apply soap to the top of your car first and work your way down to the bottom.
3. You can do this with sponges or with a foam blaster to make your work quicker.
4. If you’re using a sponge, make sure you have at least three buckets with one containing soap and the rest, clean water. Label these buckets as one, two, and three. Make sure the third bucket is the one with soap.
5. Soak your sponge in bucket one to remove the majority of the grit collected before dunking it into bucket two to clean it further. Once clean, dunk it into the soap and lather your car up. Repeat the process.
6. Soap the tires and wheel wells separately. These have the most dirt and grime and should be reserved for last.
7. Scrub the inside of the wheel wells first to remove as much of the dirt and grime accumulated there. After that area is clean, move on the tire rims.
8. Last but not least, cover as much of the tires with soap as you possibly can and scrub out the dirt caught in between the treads.
Once you’re done, rinse everything off and replace everything back inside your German car.
That’s it! You’re done!
For an even deeper clean, you can do some detailing work after you wash a luxury car.
Place Your German Car In Storage
To make sure that you don’t let German cars rust keep it in a temperature-controlled environment away from harmful UV rays, dust, and other harmful external factors are the keys to preserving its good looks.
At the very least, get a good car cover like the Kayme Multi-Layer Car Cover to further ensure that no dust particles settle on its surface when you enter your garage.
Conclusion
German cars rust like all other cars on the road today. It’ll happen faster if you don’t spend enough time caring for your car too!
If you’re planning to use a German car as a daily driver, try going for a BMW. These are relatively cheap and require minimal upkeep to prevent German cars rust from taking place. A quick visit to a professional car shop should be on top of your priority list.
On the other hand, if you just like having a German car sitting in your garage, a classic Mercedes Benz sedan should be a good conversational piece. Just remember, these German cars rust quickly if you don’t protect their undersides. A pre-68, restored Volkswagen Beetle can serve the same purpose.
If you need speed and don’t mind that German cars rust like all other cars, get a Porsche. Any variant will do. These little things can beat any car on the track with the right driver behind the wheel!
Related Questions
Is It Better To Choose A Japanese Car Over A German Car?
Not really. Modern technology has made it possible for the rest of the world to catch up to the engineering standards set by German car manufacturers. You should broaden your search for the car to buy so that you’ll get the right car that fits your lifestyle.
And just to be fair: Japanese cars and German cars rust at the same rate if you don’t maintain them properly.
Related Article:
How Can I Make My Volkswagen Beetle Faster?
Upgrade your engine. A basic Volkswagen Beetle has a 1100cc to a 1500cc engine. Upgrading your engine can bring it up to 2600cc. This is enough power to propel your bug ahead of the competition. You’ll still have to practice driving it with that much power in your engine bay.
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What Floor Jack Can I Use To Lift My Opel Rekord?
The Opel Rekord is notoriously known as a heavy car. That’s because of the oversized 2.0L engine under the hood. If you factor in its body construction and heavy-duty chassis, you’re looking at a sedan that easily outweighs a small ute. You’ll need a heavy-duty floor jack to do this job.
Take a look at some of our examples here: Lift The Biggest Vehicles With The Best Floor Jack Professionals Use