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Rust might be the single biggest nightmare in the JDM import world.

In this episode of the Right Hand Drive Guys Podcast, Bobby and Aaron dig into one of the most important—and expensive—things to understand before buying an older Japanese car: rust.

The guys talk about why so many JDM cars develop serious corrosion, from Japan’s climate and coastal exposure to road treatments, aging seam sealer, moisture trapped between overlapping panels, and bare metal that can sit hidden for years before finally bubbling through.

They break down the common problem areas to inspect, including frame rails, rocker panels, wheel arches, pinch welds, strut towers, windshield frames, brake-booster areas, and model-specific trouble spots found on cars like the R32, R33, R34, S14 and S15.

The conversation also gets into the terrifying side of hidden rust—fresh undercoating covering flaky metal, fiberglass repairs, filler, spray foam, rust forming underneath windshields, and cars that look great in photos but turn into a completely different story once they’re on a lift.

So how much rust is too much?

Bobby and Aaron walk through the difference between simple surface corrosion, scaling and flaking metal, and full structural rust-through. They also discuss why the location of the rust can matter even more than how ugly it looks. A replaceable frame section might be manageable, while corrosion in a difficult structural or exterior area can quickly turn into a massive restoration.

They also cover common repair and prevention methods, including grinding, media blasting, cutting and welding, panel replacement, epoxy primer, seam sealer, cavity wax, underbody coatings, and why properly protecting repaired metal is just as important as removing the rust in the first place.

Finally, the guys talk about what buyers can do before purchasing a JDM car: research where it lived in Japan, check history when possible, inspect carefully, understand the weak points of the specific chassis, and accept that buying sight unseen always comes with some level of risk.

If you own an older Japanese car—or you’re thinking about importing one—this is an episode you should probably hear before the screwdriver goes through the frame rail.