Vehicle maintenance important to its lifespan
Vehicle care important to its lifespan. Credit: iStock
Q. Will a car last longer up North or down South? In which city do cars last the longest? I would think that cars would last longer in a place like Naples, Fla., with no snow, flat terrain and easy-going drivers. Contrast that to a place like Pittsburgh with snow (and road salt), steep hills and aggressive drivers. I've never seen any data on this subject.
A. In theory, cars should last longer in warmer climates, where snow is seldom or never seen and highway departments don't spread snow- and ice-melting salt on the roads.
Although we don't have data to support that theory, visits to Southern California and the Southwest are eye-opening for us Midwesterners because we see more older vehicles on the road -- as in 20 years old or older -- than we do in the harsher climate of our home base in Chicago. It's surprising to see 1975 model-year vehicles in such great shape, though the paint may be faded. For a 1975 model around here not to have rust likely means it hasn't been in this area for long.
You mentioned Florida, but bear in mind that saltwater also is corrosive, so living near an ocean can result in vehicle rust because of airborne salt.
Automakers have made great strides on rust prevention in the past 20 years, but an accumulation of salt, slush and road crud (or ocean salt) over several years will take its toll, and vehicles in the Snow Belt are bound to pick up at least a little rust over time. However, keeping a vehicle in a garage, getting the salt and road crud washed off promptly and keeping a car's finish protected with wax can do amazing things to preserve a vehicle's cosmetics and deter rust.
Rust aside, other factors affect a vehicle's lifespan, including the condition of the roads. Along with the snow, slush and salt, Northern drivers also must cope with potholes caused by moisture seeping into the pavement and then freezing, creating giant divots that seem almost big enough to swallow Mini Coopers. Banging over potholes and weather-related pockmarks year after year takes a toll as well, damaging tires, wheels, suspension components and steering systems. It's hard to say which happens first: being eaten alive by corrosion or beaten to death by bad roads.
Bottom line: If you live in the Snow Belt, keep your car garaged, wash and wax it often, keep up with regular maintenance and steer around the craters in the road the best you can. Maybe 20 years from now, you'll be able to drive your like-new car to your new home in the sunny South.
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