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Galvanizing covers a broad spectrum of applications using zinc. The best application is hot dipping but that leaves a thick finish that can't be painted or welded.
IIRC, cars are dipped in a zinc rich primer that bonds to the metal with electricity.
I guess it was phased in and the cheapies got it last.
I'm wondering if that's intentional - maybe Ford is using the oxidation for "protection"? I've seen a few "steel" commercial buildings that are intentionally allowed to rust. "Weathering steel" they call it.
Still - can't they dip those parts? Or at least paint them?
Reminds me of my '91 Ford Escort GT - I had rust on the fuel filler neck right away, brand new. Fortunately it never got worse, but it sure was ugly.
Interesting curves from BMW and Hyundai, too.
That, coupled with a thinner steel body and no fender-well liners in the first several year model runs, and owners got bodies that rusted quickly...
From Wikipedia...
After a six-stage zinc phosphate rustproofing process and two minutes submerged in a 65,000 US gallons (246,052 L; 54,124 imp gal) electrophoretic painting vat (Fisher Body Division’s "Elpo" electrophoretic deposition of polymers process) to prime and further protect them from rust, assembled bodies were dried, wet-sanded, sealer-coated, sprayed with acrylic lacquer and baked in a 300 °F (149 °C) degree oven. Fisher's rustproofing was faulty. Failure to penetrate a gap between front fenders and cowl allowed moist debris and salt to rust the untreated steel, and trapped air prevented coating inside the tops of the front fenders, which on early Vegas had no protective liners.[8] The finance department had rejected liners as they would have added a $2.28 unit cost. After GM spent millions replacing thousands of corroded fenders under warranty, Chevrolet installed stopgap plastic deflectors in late 1973 and full plastic liners in 1974. Rust also damaged the rocker panels and door bottoms, the area beneath the windshield, and the body above the rockers. It sometimes seized the front suspension cam bolts, preventing alignment work, necessitating removal with a cutting torch and replacement by all-new parts.
23 Civic Type-R / 22 MDX Type-S / 21 Tesla Y LR / 03 Montero Ltd
The second was a nice bright blue.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
It may be that they don't stand out when I see one usually from the rear. I recognized one a couple weeks ago on the interstate downtown. In black. Looked okay. Then I realized it was next to a black Focus, a new one. Their rears look similar other than the Focus has Sonata syndrome and is overstyled. The width of the Dart rear or the fenders make it look diminutive; the taillights on the Focus make it look dominant. Dart rear needs more ooooomph visually.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
DC to Boston is like that - coast to about 150 miles west. Highly educated, leaders instead of followers, et al.
Looked better out in the daylight vs at the auto show. Rear fenders actually look a bit muscular. I still think the rear looks like a Genesis but that's a handsome car as well.
Moonroof is tiny, that's a let down when the Optima has a huge dual roof.
Saw the new 2 screen Nav. Bottom half is touch screen, upper screen shows the map supposedly, smart solution to easy interface with no finger prints.
Thumbs up. Honda is trying again.
Saw an X1 today, looked barely taller than the Prius in front of it. It's really a wagon.
Took a road trip in an Audi S4 convertible and it took us 20 minutes to find the address for a Subaru dealer, for 2 reasons:
* Audi actually removes Subaru dealers from their POI database (what if your wife owns one?)
* Entering the street address manually was a one-letter-at-a-time affair
Voice recognition is better so hopefully you can avoid that in newer Audis, but otherwise give me a touch screen any day.
My kids are tall, but my 13 year old said it was not a car for tall people.
Also saw 2 Tesla sedans, one parked at the MB dealer, the other at an alignment shop.
Spotted a new Range Rover, man that thing has presence...
Also the Acura dealer nearby has a silver RLX on display, nice looking car in person. In a 2002 Lexus LS430 kinda way...
Audi is on fire around here. I have seen more late model A6's A7's, Q5 3.0T's and RS4's around here than BMW 3-series. Although the brand new 3-series is becoming a little more common.
Neighbor down the street got an XC60 - "R" design in a cool electric blue color. Had a first gen MDX (2001 - 2002 with the single exhaust port) before this.
Saw a few revamped Honda Civic sedans as well. The new tail is pretty upscale looking. Also saw a few ILX's, i think the lease deals on those are helping...
It's funny because I see 2012 models on the road and they do seem plain compared to the 2013's. The 2012 looks like a design that could have come out in 2001, it's so dull. I've never seen a manufacturer do a big refresh like this only 1 year after a full redesign. Gotta give Honda credit for listening to the criticizm but on the other hand it makes you wonder what they were thinking in the first place? The reputation they earned from the last 20 years is not enough to carry a new model into sales record books amid the competitive small car market today.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Saw a Fisker Karma on the road not long ago.
Maybe there will be a Customer Satisfaction program to address it.
The other two are brand new, one is a Volkswagen Eos with the folding hardtop. It looks pretty sharp in black but it's one of the few convertibles I've seen that actually looks better w the top raised.
The other newbie is a dark grey Camaro SS with a black top. I'm not a big fan of the current Camaro h/t because the squashed roof makes it look like a cartoon version of the original Camaro. The convertible rook which is a tad higher (at least it looks it) looks much nicer to me. IMO the car looks great with the top up or down.
For an area where the cars of choice are Camrys, Lacrosses and Grand Marquis that's progress! :shades:
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Before that, a new Accord sedan, and a new Accord coupe.
Also saw a loaded new Mazda 6 Touring this morning. What a gorgeous looking car.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX