Hi i just bought a 82 trans am in Iowa just wondering do cars rust bad over there.I'm asking since my car was kept outdoors since 96 before that i have no clue.Here's a pic from what I'm told it has surface rust spots but the t-tops don't leak.Hope its not a stupid question thanks

 

Yes, cars can rust bad in Iowa, but it's more a matter of car care than just being outside. If the car was driven in the winters, road salt and de-icing solution can tear apart the frame rails if not cleaned weekly, but if the car wasn't driven much in winters the snow won't do much at all from just sitting outside...

For reference, my '86 comes from Nebraska (similar teperate climate as Iowa), was well cared for, and has 0 rust, surface or otherwise, even with the poor quality water based paint GM used. My car sat outside most of it's life...

 

As long as it sat on pavement and not the dirt it will be fine along with what bnoon said.

 

OK guys thanks if i remember correctly the car sat for awhile cause the Lu5 crossfire had ecm computer problems,And the fact that the guy had a 86 z28 as a daily driver.Thankfully he got around to fixing the ecm computer and boom i found the car for sale and its now mine .

Also what's the difference between the car being parked on dirt than pavement?

 

no idea. the only thing i can think of is increased time of dryrot but that wouldnt present any rust.

 

the dirt will let moisture (sp) up underneith the car and allow the metal to rust, I know my uncles truck was parked in a dirt floor machine shed for 2 years and it had rusted horrably under there. The cement will block most moisture and leading to less rust.