Rust easily? Not at all.
Toluca plant is one, if not THE ONE, of the best american car plant, assembling/quality speaking.
It's why Fiat wants to keep it running 'til the Fiat 500 (or any other model) cross the ocean.
The paint job on the PT is just amazing compared to any other compact domestic cars in my opinion. How many 2001 Cavalier still have a shinning paint today? But I saw a lot of clean and nice 2001 PTs, except for tape marks.
With the right amount of love, passion and patience, the PT's paint will last very long without rust.
Here's the minimum work, in my opinion, to do to keep it nice:
Chip touch-up every year
1 light polishing every year
2-3 waxing per year
Cleaning...
Here's a recent story:
Mine is a 2004, black PT. I'm the 2nd owner, bought it @ 31 000 KM. I'm living in Quebec, Canada where the winters are REAL winters. Salty roads? Yes m'am!
This week-end, I was at my uncle's house for a family celebration. You know, this kind of tailgate party with motorhome, BBQ, corn and beer...but without the football match!
Ok...back to the story.
So I was there with all the family and my cousin's husband, that I've not met since a long time, came to me and said "
Wow...what a nice NEW paint job you had on your car! Who did it?"
I was like...Huh?!
Paint job? Hmmmm...I don't know what you're talking about, it's the original paint.
?! So you changed your car right? I mean, it's not the same car you had 3 years ago for sure...no?!
Trust me, it's the same damn car!
What!? I'm confused then...What year is it?
It's a 2004...
...
He was so speechless...
He was sure that the car just came out of the paint shop.
OK, the car has been waxed 3 weeks ago and was "so so" clean, but nothing really special. Nothing near what guys like Candyman can do on theirs. This made me realize that my car was very nice for a 2004, like almost every PTs I can see around.