Coming from Defenders and older Discos I'm.no stranger to a bit of rust underneath. However with the more modern F2 how common is a bit of rust underneath on various bits like suspension arms etc?

Looking at an 08 car today the pic below depicts the condition. Is this typical for the year or way out of character with how it should look? To me it doesn't look great....

Thanks!

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Earlier this year I wire brushed the sills and cross members etc and waxoiled,wasn't as bad as the one in your pics that looks a bit severe,mine is 2007.

Similar condition to my wifes 07 plate , whats the condition of the sill areas of yours . For a "Premium" vehicle the rust protection seems pretty poor to me .

Mark 2009 FL2 TD4 SE (Sadly gone)
2007 FL2 TD4 GS (The wifes , gone after 8 great years)
2012 FL2 SD4 SPORT LE(Gone and missing it)
2015 DISCOVERY SPORT 2.2SD4 HSE (Now gone)
2014 Ford Bmax 1.0 ecoboost ( Gone but what next )
2014 Ford Focus 2.0tdci Zetec S (Gone,but what a car)
2020 Ford Fiesta ActiveX 1.0 Ecoboost
2024 Skoda Kodiaq 1.5 Tsi SEL

mine (2008) was more or less the same, i payed the dealer 300 euro to treat the rust and seal it with a special black spray that according to them last 10 years, since then my car is complete black underneath with no rust.

from my experience when i looked for freelander 2 the rust is not mileage dependent.

Very similar to my 08 plater, I've been around some of it with Dintrol, need to get underneath and finish the job soon

You think thats bad! have a look under a Discovery 3.

I do find it surprising that that's typical for the age! I'd have expected it to be better protected than that. Looks like my 06 defender underneath... Other than the rust the car seems absolutely immaculate so its perhaps something ill ask the dealer to look at. Maybe a rub down and waxoyl or something.

Worst bit is actually the tow bar, which looks terrible. Not sure if its a cheap aftermarket job?

I wonder if this car has spent time near sea air ? On a second look it seems much worse than mine was.

It will have as its in mid wales probably around 20 miles from the coast.

Whilst it's unsightly, it's nothing to be concerned about

Thanks peeps. It's (mostly!) put my mind at some ease! It's a talking point with the dealer so ill see what they'd be willing to do with regards rustproofing etc.

wonder if it lived up in North Scotland at sometime and exposed to the heavy road salt conditions?

Iain

I think where it is in wales will have had a decent amount of gritting in winter.

I'm struggling with this decision. If they're generally all much if a muchness like this underneath by this age as it seems to be from comments here then I dont want to pass this one up. However a few have said it does look bad for the age regardless. What I dont want to do is miss out on a good un and have the next one come along similar underneath...

I wouldn't be too put off by it if the rest of the bodywork is in good condition and everything works as it should, most of the rusty bits underneath are pretty thick chunks of metal, so even if simply left to the elements, it should still last a fair time before any serious intervention is needed.

Look under a 7 year old plus Mercedes - you'll be properly horrified. (& I've had a few) I waxoyled my old D3 & RRS chunky bits, they do go a bit manky but come up nice & black after a bit of effort. Cosmetic really to my eye, the worst offenders are the little tin nuts that hold the heat shields on, they're pretty fragile and the rattling when they drop off is terrible.  FL2 Ex D2, D3, RRS, etc. now all gone.