Electronic Rust Inhibitors – Yes
Yes. A new car should be rust-proofed (at least under-coated) by the manufacturer and most, if not all, manufacturers make this claim. I have owned new cars and I have owned used vehicles as well. My experience has shown me that the manufacturer's method of rust-proofing is not adequate if you plan to keep the vehicle for more than a few (2 or 3) years. I feel that this is designed- and built-in obsolescence to match most people's habits of changing vehicles every 2 to 3 years. It is somewhat counter-productive to the goal of making money for manufacturers to make vehicles that last longer when they really want to sell a new vehicle every year or two. Even regular washing of the entire vehicle on top and underneath will not prevent some rusting after this length of time.
The absolute best method for ensuring the maximum life from your new vehicle is to have it rust-proofed soon after purchase and each year thereafter without fail. This will maximize the useful lifetime of the vehicle's body, will prevent premature failure of other important components subject to rusting (brake lines, fuel lines, various other metal bits) and will be the "greenest" way to proceed. Although there is likely a small non-green (or polluting) effect of using a good after-market method of rust-proofing, this will be a tiny fraction of the pollution and waste caused by disposing of the vehicle after only a few years of use.
There are many different types of material used in after-market rust-proofing and likely all are very effective when used properly. The key to successful rust-proofing is not so much the material used but the frequency of use. I am sure that any complete vehicle rust-proofing method will be effective in slowing the growth of rust if one uses it annually without exception on a freshly-washed and dried vehicle. This would ensure the best coverage and most effective creeping/bonding for the new application. This is not to say that the old application should be washed away or removed - much the opposite. Build on the increasingly better coverage with each year's application.
An additional method for rust-proofing a new car is the electronic rust protection method (e.g., the CounterAct system available in Canada and Australia, ERPS in Australia, RustStop RS-4 in North America). Some of these methods have been well-tested by various labs and universities and have also been in use for several years. The devices have been shown to be effective in reducing the formation of rust by as much as 80%. Add this device to the new vehicle is the first step in prolonging the vehicle's useful life. Secondly, have the vehicle under-coated (rust-proofed) by a reputable shop annually. Follow these steps without fail and you can be certain that your money has been well spent. Doing this, one can ensure that the vehicle will last a minimum of ten years without requiring major body repair, and with fewer mechanical failures as well.
