Undercoat?

[highflyr]

Hey everyone

I'm going to trade in my pathfinder for a Yaris. I looked at the FiT and then I looked at it some more... it's hideous. It looks like a mini-minivan that's been rear-ended.

Anyway, when you guys/gals bought your new Yaris, did you get an undercoat? I've read that undercoating is just an upselling idea and really doesn't help. Is there any truth to this? I've never owned a car that's brand new from the dealership so I'm sure this topic will come up.

Thanks for reading,

[as400g33k]

Years ago, rustproofing + undercoating are the old skool way of protecting your car's undersides. First, they'll treat the undersides with a rust-proofing agent then they'll apply a thick coat of black latex-like coat.

Nowadays, they attach an electronic gadget to the car's body. This gadget sends electrical pulses that prevents rust from taking root in the metal.

Its a case to case basis if you want to have it, I guess. I had my Yaris rust-protected, and any new car that I will buy for that matter because I had seen the effects of rust on an unprotected car.

[jcove]

Originally Posted by highflyr

Hey everyone

I'm going to trade in my pathfinder for a Yaris. I looked at the FiT and then I looked at it some more... it's hideous. It looks like a mini-minivan that's been rear-ended.

Anyway, when you guys/gals bought your new Yaris, did you get an undercoat? I've read that undercoating is just an upselling idea and really doesn't help. Is there any truth to this? I've never owned a car that's brand new from the dealership so I'm sure this topic will come up.

Thanks for reading,

I had mine done. I think it's worth it, but you must bring it back every year for them to re coat anything that has worn off. Each dealer has their own thing here in Canada. Ken Shaw has an actual coating. I think this one will be a very hot topic. Everyone has their own view. I honestly don't have any proof, but I'm a believer in it.

[why?]

The cars come rust proofed from the factory.

That is why Toyota has a 6 year corrosion warranty.

[highflyr]

Originally Posted by why?

The cars come rust proofed from the factory.

That is why Toyota has a 6 year corrosion warranty.

That's exactly it, if they have a corrosion warranty, what's the point of throwing on another coat underneath? Everyone probably will have their own opinion on this, but I just don't want to spend any money where I don't have to.

[celica girl]

I'm told that the coat under the car is more for soundproofing. To reduce road noise. I don't think it's necessary.

[why?]

The factory rust proofs the vehicles. There have been reports that adding something extra at the dealer level will actually harm rust protection, not help it.

[swng]

I tend to agree with why?, highflyr, and celica girl. I have not spent money on rust proofing. Toyota's warranty should be good enough for me.

[ange008]

The undercoating is only worth getting depending on where you live. For me out here in the lower mainland of BC, it is totally NOT worth it. We get next to no snow! If you live anywhere that gets a decent amount of snow and there is constantly salt on the ground, I would recommend the undercoating because salt will rust away at your car. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's what I've heard from most people.

[why?]

In the USA, or at least on Cape Cod where I live, they use only sand, no salt. At least that is what I am pretty sure I see coming out of all the trucks.

[GabL]

Originally Posted by why?

The cars come rust proofed from the factory.

That is why Toyota has a 6 year corrosion warranty.

The factory corrosion warranty only covers when rust starting from inside the panel. However, a lot of corrosion/rusting starts from joints and edge of the metal, which are not covered. And that's where the rustproof come into place.

As well, for people living at Northern Canada, where they get a lot of snow, then rustproof might be a good idea if you're thinking to keep your car for a long time. As those salt they put onto the road every winter is VERY bad to the vehicle. Just my 2 cents. I did rust proof on my Yaris just to have it protected.

[yartrix]

NO toyota in North America comes with rust proofing from factory, so if you see snow on the road and drive on it rust proofing is a very good idea. If you lease the car less so.

[jcove]

Originally Posted by GabL

The factory corrosion warranty only covers when rust starting from inside the panel. However, a lot of corrosion/rusting starts from joints and edge of the metal, which are not covered. And that's where the rustproof come into place.

As well, for people living at Northern Canada, where they get a lot of snow, then rustproof might be a good idea if you're thinking to keep your car for a long time. As those salt they put onto the road every winter is VERY bad to the vehicle. Just my 2 cents. I did rust proof on my Yaris just to have it protected.

I agree here. In Canada we need the rustproofing because of the salt. The factory coating is not enough and doesn't cover as much as the dealer installed coating. You must do your homework though, as some dealers try to oversell stuff you don't need. The dealer I went to suggested the rustproofing, but actually talked me out of the paint protection. I may look at something like the 3M film later, but for now it shouldn't be a problem.

[swng]

Originally Posted by celica girl

I'm told that the coat under the car is more for soundproofing. To reduce road noise. I don't think it's necessary.

I have been told that the coating could serve dual purposes i.e. sound and rust proofing.

[jcove]

Originally Posted by swng

I have been told that the coating could serve dual purposes i.e. sound and rust proofing.

It can, but you would have to make it thick. My dealer told me that to purchase the sound proofing is just extra undercoat on the bottom, plus some sound dampening in the doors/pannels. Personally, I'm just going to use dynamat or something like that.

[swng]

Thanks jcove. If the sound proofing is effective, I may go for it later, when I have extra money to spend. Although I do not think we have enough snow in the Greater Vancouver area to justify the coating, sound proofing is really attractive to me. Moreover, there are many trucks loaded with things like junk, garbage and building materials on the highways. Following them makes me hear a lot of sands and chips hitting my car's bottom from time to time, especially on dry and windy days. Yesterday, my car's bottom was even hit by a can probably dropped by the driver of one of the cars in front(though I must admit I did not see the act). I think if money is no problem, any kind of extra protection is great.

[Mad Munchkin]

Didn't get the rust-proofing either...The tercel I just sold is 14 years old and was never rust-proofed. I've driven it in snow and salt its whole life and it has never developed rust anywhere. Perhaps higher humidity makes a difference on top of salt? I've lived in Saskatchewan and now Calgary with the tercel and it's quite dry in both places most of the year. Just a thought.

[jcove]

Originally Posted by Mad Munchkin

Didn't get the rust-proofing either...The tercel I just sold is 14 years old and was never rust-proofed. I've driven it in snow and salt its whole life and it has never developed rust anywhere. Perhaps higher humidity makes a difference on top of salt? I've lived in Saskatchewan and now Calgary with the tercel and it's quite dry in both places most of the year. Just a thought.

It's quite bad here in Ontario. Tons of salt in the winter and the humidity is much higher than the western provinces. I only wish they'd come up with something other than salt for the roads in the winter. I know there are alternatives, but I'm not sure how good they are and what the cost is...

As for BC, I heard that by the coast it's bad due to the salty air from the ocean, but that could have been a mistake, not sure.