Undercoating.

Most dealer applied $99 undercoatings are worth nothing and can actually speed corrosion if they hold salted water under the coating and against the steel skin. You don't need an undercoating. The Prius does have plastic panels on the underside to make the car smoother to reduce air drag. I don't think it's possible, purely in labor cost, to remove the panels, apply undercoating correctly to clean, dry metal, clean the attachment points, and re-install the aerodynamic panels, for a hundred bucks.

Welcome to PriusChat! Congratulations on your new car! Let the fun begin!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TomorrowMatters @ Feb 5 2007, 06:23 AM) [snapback]385470[/snapback]</div>

Unless you paid extra, it doesn't have it.

And if you've already driven in the snow, it's too late to get it because you'd just trap salt against the body.

 

I've been a big believer in rust proofing if the vehicle is operated in areas with roadsalt in winter. The car maker always claims their vehicle is "rust resistant" but look at it again after 4-6 years.

I don't believe in the "apply once" products, they're a gimmick. I've had good luck with Rust Check, you have to apply the oily spray yearly.

http://www.rustcheck.com

Is it "worth it" to fork over upwards of $120 a year for it? I purchased new a 1984 Ford F-150 and gave it yearly Rust Checks until 1998, when I stopped driving it daily. That's around $2,000 in rust proofing. Thing is, not a spot of rust anywhere. You look underneath, and the frame and sheet metal look as if the truck rolled of the line yesterday.

I did the same for my 1990 Toyota 4Runner and 1992 Honda Prelude, and when I sold them in 2000 they both looked new underneath. It seemed to impress the buyers, they paid a premium because of it.

My 2000 GMC Sierra I also rust checked, and I've noticed around Winnipeg quite a few 2000 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra's with rust starting in the cab corners and on the box.

If it's "worth it" to you, maybe if you intend on keeping it a long time.

Here is one catch, which is why so far I haven't had my Prius rust checked. I have the optional side and head curtain airbags. I was worried about the oily spray getting into the airbag assembly, so I mentioned this to the rust check guy. He gave me a Deer In The Headlights look, so I walked away.

 

Sometimes undercoating can be a bummer; if it's not applied correctly it can actually create areas where water and salt can accumulate. Also, certain types of undercoating, if they're applied aftermarket, can make chassis maintenance more difficult.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Feb 7 2007, 08:29 PM) [snapback]386702[/snapback]</div>

True enough of that "rubberized undercoating in a can" stuff. It actually tends to cover up things, and if you drive in an area where a lot of road salt is applied in winter, will accelerate corroision. Especially if one uses a tube to spray the stuff up into the door drains.

The Rust Check stuff I mentioned is an oil-like stuff that is sprayed on professionally. That's the reason I haven't had my Prius done yet, I'm worried the spray will get into the head curtain airbag module and bugger it up. Also the self-tightening seatbelts, the igniter module is near the bottom of the intermediate post.

When I asked the guy who had the local franchise if they took special precautions for cars with side/head curtain airbag modules, and self-tighten seatbelt modules, I got the classic Deer In The Headlights look. That's always a good sign to leave at once.

As far as my old Ford truck, which had had the yearly spray from 1984-1998, I finally had to replace the front coil springs and rear leaf springs in 2002. I had no trouble at all getting the bolts off. Usually a truck that old around here, nobody even bothers because all the hardware is seized and you break parts off. So in my case it made the chassis maintenance a lot easier.