Hi Scotty, how long can I expect Bondo to last?
I have a 07 Mazda 3 with 180,000 kms (112,000 miles) that has rust mostly on the rear rocker panels and the rails by the frame. The frame itself is solid and has not rusted. In the worst spot it clearly rusted through https://youtu.be/9CYEgcmi6Lo
When I google some people say bondo only lasts a few months, other say a few years, and others say indefinetly. There are tons of youtube tutorials and I can follow instructions on the packagin. However I don't want to sand to remove rust, apply fiberglass cloth with bondo, sand again, paint and clear coat if it falls apart in a short time.
*note the car was originally from Alberta, where there are harsh winters and they ice the roads. I am in BC where the roads aren't usually salted, and the winters are not harsh.
The bondo itself can last a long time. I think what people mean, is that the repair won't last, because the rusting will continue and start show again quickly.
Your Mazda doesn't have a frame. Everything is made of sheet metal.
My advice is don't bother. There's no point wasting time & money on body work for an 18yo car with high mileage. It isn't going to be around much longer.
Yes, BC does salt the roads in the winter (that's on top of sea salt in the air). And even though winters are mild, it's just constantly wet, which is worse for rust than the frozen stuff.
If I were you, I would just keep a couple of rattle cans of rust pain in the trunk, and just hit the rust spots a few times per year.
