here it's a 5 year warrenty that covers body panel rust from the inside to out. my concern is the underbody.

Another long post, sorry..

digitalamish: Did you ask what exactly the factory rust warranty covers? I did and the finnish importer told me that the warranty covers only rusting that has begun inside the body beams. (and that is the case with warranty all car brands sold here)

It doesn't cover any kind of surface rusting. Of course the warranty can differ in other countries.

I'm not here as an adman of any rust proofing company. Just that seeing my last cars bottom after only four years, gave me a heads up. We have here a fair share of dirt covered roads and one thing that the bottom coating does is to keep the bottom from being constantly sandblasted. They also use those rock pellets at winter in the cities here. Sonata's original "coating" is extremely thin, almost non-existant. Few hard rock hits and the zinc-coating is penetrated. To that, add six months of a year "salt bathing" on road. I'm not saying that this method is fullproof but it is sure better than nothing.

I don't know what methods and stuff they use in US or Canada, but up here we have dozens of rust proofing companies that have been operational for decades. So if it's snake oil, word would have been out for long time ago.

I understand why the car sales people are trying to underrate these kind of treatments. (they do that here too) Their job is to sell NEW cars. A lots of them. If one customer is complitely satisfied with one car for 10 years, and he can after that sell it rust free, who would they sell the new ones? Up here cars bodies rot long before than their mechanics give up.

BTW, Finnish Kia importer rust proofs every single car when they arrive Finland before they are delivered to dealers. (I had heard some rumours about that before) I called them to make sure. They do that. It is not optional and it is not used as an selling argument. They use the same method as was used with my Sonata. So, if it is complitely waste of money, I wonder why Kia importer up here has choosed to do so?

I called also a Hyundai importer to ask why they don't do the same thing. They told me that they'd like to, but it is a financial issue. Up here cars cost absurdly lot as they are, so that is understandable to try to avoid any extra cost. (I might very well be driving the most expensive sonata of the forum people.. :( ) Then I asked that what they'd think about me rust proofing my car. They said it would be a very good idea. In fact they recommended it.

This post has been edited by Carnivore: Apr 12 2006, 04:24 PM

Here's the exact wording from Hyundai Canada site:


This warranty is worthless. 5 years is not enough time for the rust holes to develop.

yes exactly that's why i created this thread :) i talked to the APA rep and he said if i was going to keep the car for longer than 5 years its worth getting from the start and doing the yearly re-applications (Krown rust proofing). He said it does not affect the warrenty. if i were to sell the car before that its not worth it. i'm kinda leaning on doing it as i would like to keep this car for 10 (+) years.

APA rep is right. If you live in a "salt belt" and plan to drive the car into the ground, rustproofing is a very worthwhile investment.

I did a lot of research on rustproofing a few years back, when we bought my wife's Protege. Krown was the clear winner. Tons of positive feedback from many different sources.

Save your money at the dealer and go after market if you have to. Up here in Canada there are several different kinds you can get that do an excellent job at a fraction of the cost the dealer will charge you.

Before you sign on the dotted line for the car do a little research and check the yellow pages and give some of these places a call. You will be surprised at just how cheaper it is.

As for the "modual" electronis device that they sell believe it or not it actually does work. By applying a small electrical chage to the entire body it helps to ward off corrosion. Sort of an electrolsys f sorts. What I can tell you is again dealerships charge a fortune for these things. If I remember it correctly cost is some where around $250 and they start charging in the area of $1000. ( At least they used to when I was selling)

Anyway sae your money at the dealer and go else where. You will be very surprised just how much money you will save.