The Best Used Cars to Buy if You Live Close to the Ocean

If you live close to the ocean, your vehicle is going to be far more vulnerable to rust than if you lived further inland. And the fact is, when it comes to resisting rust, not all vehicles are created equal. Ideally, you should invest in annual rust protection, but it’s also important to start out with a vehicle that you know was protected at the factory level. This is just as important when you’re buying a used vehicle as it is when you’re buying new.

We have investigated several different vehicles, and for purposes of this article, we’re going to stick with manufacturers and refer to a few models. Generally speaking, manufacturers will provide the same level of rust protection to all their vehicles. Our top manufacturers for rust-resistant cars are Audi, Volkswagen, Volvo, BMW, Mini, and Honda.

  • Audi: The A3, A4 and S4 all receive excellent rust protection at the manufacturing stage, and can be counted on to remain rust-free for a long time, even if you live near the ocean and are frequently exposed to salty air.

  • Volkswagen: The Beetle, Golf, GTI, Passat, Rabbit and Jetta all receive excellent factory rust protection, but may rust in some areas sooner than the Audi.

  • Volvo: The CX70 and S60, the V50, V70 and S40 all receive excellent rust protection at the factory, and will remain rust-free for quite some time.

  • BMW: The rust protection at the factory level is good, but you may find that rust will appear in certain areas of the vehicle sooner than others.

  • Mini: The Cooper and Countryman both get good factory rust protection.

  • Honda: The Acura CSX and TL, the CRV, Fit, Accord, Civic and Odyssey all get good protection. The Acura CSX, the Civic and the CR-V, however, will tend to develop rust in certain areas sooner than the other models.

The used cars we evaluated stood up very well to rust, but ultimately, pretty much any vehicle that is constantly exposed to ocean air is going to develop rust to one degree or another. Regular rust-proofing beyond what is provided at the point of manufacturing can extend the life of your vehicle. We recommend annual rust protection for any car, regardless of age, make or model.


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Jermaine

25 years of experience
382 reviews
Jermaine
25 years of experience
Dodge Durango V6-3.6L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Silver Spring, Maryland
Awesome mechanic! Very reliable !! Awesome personality! Explained everything and now I feel less stressed.
Hyundai Ioniq - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Chevy Chase, Maryland
Jermaine was very friendly, efficient and professional. He kindly explained to me those things that did not score well in the service report, so that it didn't come as a surprise, and I would know what to do about it.

Caz

18 years of experience
146 reviews
Caz
18 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz GLA250 L4-2.0L Turbo - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Woodstock, Georgia
Caz was extremely knowledgeable, personable and provided excellent service. He was on time for the appointment and answered and explained everything I asked concerning my vehicle. I will definitely use the company again and I would love to have Caz as my mechanic! Excellent!
Mercedes-Benz S550 - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Mableton, Georgia
Caz Arrived on time much earlier than scheduled. He was very professional in inspecting the car and made excellent recommendations.

Brian

19 years of experience
138 reviews
Brian
19 years of experience
Lexus RX350 V6-3.5L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Brian was very informational and knowledgeable about the Inspection. He throughly inform me what issues on vehicle. Great Mechanic !!!
Ford Transit-350 HD - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Great service. Honest , respectful and truly cares about making sure you get the best options possible at an affordable price. Finding a mechanic you can trust is rare. I highly recommend Brain.

Jay

24 years of experience
262 reviews
Jay
24 years of experience
Honda CR-V L4-2.4L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Glendale Heights, Illinois
Jay did a great job! Excellent at taking time to explain things about your car. And provided sound recommendation on repair. Courteous and responsive. I would definitely recommend Jay!
BMW 535i xDrive - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Des Plaines, Illinois
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