Jetta Rust?

Look at buying a jetta tdi I was warned by a source I trust pretty well that in the long run Jetta's have some serious rust problems...If anybody can testify either way it would help me alot

any car can rust.. just depends on how well it is taken care of. there sa 91 jetta in my family, which has not a centimeter of rust on it. Where as, a friend of mine, has a 92 jetta, whos doors are covered in patches of rust.

my 98 is rust free. just gotta baby it and take care of ne rust spots u see forming. underneath sand and primer but on the body ur gonna have to get a little more involved

I have an 89 Jetta which has the original paint and only a few small spots. Was doing the touchups today actually. I have lived in Halifax NS for the past twelve years.(right on the atlantic for you landlubbers). Keep it well cleaned and waxed and it will last a long time. Don't and they won't.

VW seems to rely on multiple coats of paint over every metal surface instead of galvanized steel, certainly on the older models. They solve two problems that way: they don't need matching primers, and they don't need galvanized steel (which of course costs more).

Rust shouldn't be a real problem as long as you touch up bare metal whenever you wash your car, at least once a month. If rust spots do appear, a little 320 grit sandpaper will make it go away, then paint thickly with touch-up. For larger areas or to preserve the new look of the finish, I'd consult a body shop.

I don't know if I would use 320 paper. I would probably go finer.

I don't know if I would use 320 paper. I would probably go finer.

600 or better would be ideal, but remember that touch-up paint isn't exactly pretty to begin with. If you were spraying, I would definitely suggest finer, like 480-600, and even finish with 1200.

It seems the mexican and American Jettas rust more, I own a 1988 and 1992 jetta GLI (German Built) and no rust on either of them. I heard from several sources that German Jettas are Hot Dipped in Anti-corrosive Wax to prevent rust.

Ernie