R-U-S-T May Spell Trouble for Your Car’s Resale Value

(ARA) - When Cindy Sorenson listed her 1988 Honda CRXsi on an online classified ad site, she expected to field a lot of questions about her car's mileage, engine and transmission. What she didn't anticipate -- but perhaps should have, considering she lives in Minneapolis -- was that the most-often-asked query would be, "How bad is the rust?"

Anyone who lives in northern parts of the country like Montana, Minnesota or Maine knows what kind of damage winter weather conditions can inflict on an unsuspecting vehicle.

"Environmental factors such as the sun's UV rays, industrial fallout, acid rain, insects, brake dust, bird droppings and hard water mineral deposits already affect your car's finish on a daily basis," says Glenn Canady, president of Car Care Wizards, makers of the 5 STAR SHINE patented paint polishing formula (www.carcarewizards.com). "Add in driving in snow -- particularly on rock salt -- and you've got even greater potential for rust and deterioration."

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, rust is not merely unattractive -- it can significantly impact the structural integrity of your vehicle's body and chassis. There's also a safety issue to consider. If the rust erodes the car body, trunk or floor, it can allow noxious exhaust fumes to penetrate the interior.

Wheel wells, rocker panels, fenders behind your tires, and the front of your car are especially vulnerable. Experts claim that by the time you spot rust on the outside of your car or truck, significant internal damage has already been done - thereby shortening the life of your vehicle and reducing its resale value.

Jack R. Nerad, editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, states that the presence of significant amounts of rust can decrease a typical vehicle's resale value by eight to ten percent. This can be shown in the difference between values of vehicles rated in "Good" condition (very little visual rust) to "Fair" condition (substantial amounts of repairable rust.)

Now that we've determined that rust has both an aesthetic and financial impact on your car, what's the best way to prevent it?

One way is to keep your car clean with regular washings - either by hand or at a car wash. A build up of dirt and grime can hold moisture against your vehicle's undercarriage and encourage rust, so be sure to also spray the underside of your car and inside the wheel wells.

Another way is to apply a patented polish such as that offered by Car Care Wizards that uses PTFE (the same substance that makes nonstick cookware so slippery) to bond with the molecules of your paint. Not only will you enjoy unbeatable shine, your vehicle will be protected from the ravages of rust for at least five years on a new car and three years on a used car with good paint.

Incidentally, short of crawling under the Honda CRXsi she purchased in 1994, Sorenson reports no discernable rust on her vehicle.

For more information on Car Care Wizard's innovative paint polishing system visit www.carcarewizards.com

This release was published on openPR.