Just wondered - are modern cars designed to be left outside on a continuous basis?

I always thought that things designed to be left outside on a continuous basis had to be gasketed and specially sealed (like outdoor lights and wiring) but cars seem to be left out even though they have exposed parts. Brakes are spashed by rain, contacts have moisture ingress and water runs into the door cavities. The sun bakes the plastics, fabric and heats the paint. I keep my car garaged, but I see some (really nice) cars just left day after day at the roadside. Are they designed to take this treatment and if so, how is the life of the car extended by garaging - if at all?

TH

I have no choice but to keep the car outside, I don't have a garage. Modern cars are designed for it, everything is sealed, brakes and suchlike get hammered by rain when you drive anyway, rustproofing is immensely better than it used to be. I haven't had any issues due to this at all.

I would say the only benefit to garaging the car will be that it stays dry, so after 10 years it will be less likely to show corrosion.

I would say the only benefit to garaging the car will be that it stays dry, so after 10 years it will be less likely to show corrosion.

Years ago it was said that a car in the garage suffered more from condensation than left outside in the rain and fresh air.

Edited 27 May, 201016 yr by Calomax

Years ago it was said that a car in the garage suffered more from condensation than left outside in the rain and fresh air.

Hi all

I cannot remember who did the test, but over a time the one that was kept in the garage rusted first

Radiotwo

Years ago it was said that a car in the garage suffered more from condensation than left outside in the rain and fresh air.

Very true. Damp garage, or car put away wet into a cold garage will rust faster than a car left outside. I restrict the Moggy Traveller to dry weather use, and still have to keep on top of the rust.

Many years ago VW used to advertise that each air-cooled Beetle came with a free garage because the paintwork protected it and it would start in artic conditions.

These days the biggest problem in leaving a modern car unused outside for any length of time is brake disc corrosion. Alloy wheels with their open construction allow rain on the discs . It wasn't so much a problem in the steel wheel/ brake drum era.

Some makes of discs seem to rust more than others. Unfortunately stainless steel is not a good brake disc material. A Japanese 'bike manufacturer once made brake discs out of a stainless composition and they had to be recalled very quickly due to the lack of stopping power.

Edited 27 May, 201016 yr by vwcabriolet1971

Very true. Damp garage, or car put away wet into a cold garage will rust faster than a car left outside. I restrict the Moggy Traveller to dry weather use, and still have to keep on top of the rust.

AH SO - that's why the maker was referred to as the Badly Made Car Corporation - or BMC . ( My Wolseley/A40 / Mini were all like that,and Maxi - rusted even faster than a fiat on the beach )