Just picked up my dream car

2005 Park Avenue, 50,000 miles, very clean.

I am reasonably certain this car has never seen a winter. It has spent it's entire life in Michigan, and there is no rust at the bottom of the doors.

I shopped for this car for quite some time, and I want to keep it for a long time. Any hints on preventing the rust at the bottom of the doors that is so prevalent on the LeSabres and the Parks?

I am going to drive this car, in the winter, in Michigan.

Thanks,

Pete

I have a '95 LeSabre which serves as my winter car and backup duty in good weather. With about 230K on the clock it has survived 20 winters in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois and the doors, rockers, and floor pan are sound. There is some surface rust in the rear wheel arches and above the (replaced) fuel tank, and some of the brackets and fixtures hung on the underside have rusted. The RR passenger door is starting to show paint blistering at the pinch on the inside of the lower edge which means it needs attention. I've had to replace a few of the subframe mount bushing washers due to rust. I've also had to replace several brake lines due to rust, including everything around the ABS unit. The exhaust has a nice layer of rust even though it is newer. The power steering cooler had rotted out and was replaced. The steel subframe has surface rust which has been brushed off and covered with ugly black enamel. But the floor pan itself and body skins are sound.

My wife has a 2000 Astro that she will not let go. It also sees daily use and has no rust except for a spot on the interior seat pedestal due to carpet moisture. Other than its sailboat-like high profile in crosswinds it has been one of the best winter driving vehicles I've had. It parks in a heated garage every day so the snow and slush melt off and brine dries out. More importantly the pinched/rolled seams and interior panels get to warm up and dry out so that moisture cannot linger in the seams and erode the finishes. It gets washed on the underside every few weeks. The body rubber gets treated with pure silicone grease at least once a year to keep it soft and pliable, and the drain holes are kept clean.

Until a few years ago the Buick also parked in a heated garage daily but has since been moved outside since I only have four spaces to park indoors, It still gets the same treatment and occasionally comes inside overnight to warm up and dry out. I feel this has played a huge part in their surviving intact. The extra $30 a month or so in the gas bills for heating in winter has more than paid itself back in eliminated car payments and the frustration of dealing with body rust everywhere.

Your '05 has a 10 year head start on that old '95, so clean it thoroughly and inspect it closely. Repair any areas showing rust right away, make sure all the body drain holes are open and flushed clean, and keep it warm so it gets a chance to dry out regularly. And it might seem a bit old-fashioned and not very attractive, but mud flaps can make a big difference in protecting the rockers and lower body panels. If you drill holes for mounting the flaps, seal the holes with paint before installing the flaps so that you don't create a place for rust to start.