Hi guys,

I'm a relative new-comer to Thailand and have been living in Bangkok for three years now. After looking at my budget and expectations I have ordered a Honda Civic - the base 1.8 model 'cos I'm a cheap charlie at heart.

Bangkok being Bangkok, every other car at the moment is brand new and I've noticed that more than a few have stickers 'CAR LAC RUST' which I'm just assuming is some sort of anti-corrosion for car? am I right?

Whether it is or isn't, has anyone on TV had their car (I imagine sprayed) treated so it doesn't rust/rusts slower? Could you share where this is done and what prices I might expect? I search this forum and used Google to no avail. Of course the Honda dude said it was completely unnecessary and I'm inclined to believe him as modern chassis are probably galvanised, but then he probably would also like to sell me a another new car in three years time....

Any advice appreciated -

Trust in Honda.

Ten years in any climate.

Trust in Honda.

Ten years in any climate.

Ask for Hondas Premium package. Rust protection before delivery and every 6 months. Wax before delivery and every 3 months. For 10 years

The galvanizing is fine, but when hit by a rock it cracks. Rustprotection is flexible and being resprayed where damaged every 6 months your cars body lasts forever

I don't have the premium package, but part of the sale was getting the under side sprayed at a local shell garage every 6 months. Only pay 300 baht, and the did a buff wax for another 350. Done just yesterday. never had a problem with the bodywork - apart from the odd stone chip. No rust at all. The engine will probably fail long before the bodywork does. It's all about maintainence. Mine still looks new even after 145K kms. Ive seen newer cars in a much worse condition.

Crikey, you guys must be driving up some amazingly bad roads if your ripping the body Shultz (black in wheel arches and under floor) off! Body Shultz normally sticks to the underside like sh!t to a blanket!

I thought this was now only done to preserve vehicles of historical importance which rules out anything built and sold in Thailand?.

In the old days, undercoating was needed to help prevent rust in the chassis and underside of the car body. Nowadays, cars are manufactured differently and the "undercoating", although it's not the same, is part of the package. If you are buying a new car, it's already included and I wouldn't worry about it.

The engine will probably fail long before the bodywork does.

Are you serious? A Honda engine. Even without the regular 6k mile oil change they need, Honda's engines are the most robust pieces of machinery on the planet. I know of a few track cars with 250,000 miles on the clock and still produce the same as when new (20 years ago) when dyno'd.