The Krown rustproofing is just a thin oil-based spray-on treatment. It is thin so it can "creep" into all sorts of places thicker applications can't. I've had a couple of vehicles with rust problems where I've used this treatment, or equivalent from Zeibart. It will slow or stop 90% of the rusting, but won't stop everything. Like, it evaporates off the hot exhaust system. It is also messy, dripping all over the place, messing up the engine compartment, oozing out of doors for months, smearing windows, and dripping all over the place for a few days after the spraying. Some jurisdictions have banned it due to this mess, but I figure the oil is less harmful to the planet than premature replacement of rusted vehicles.
Another problem is that if you drive on dusty roads a lot, the oil spray will soak into existing dust, or will absorb dust from the air. Then it "peels" off, creating gaps that can hold moisture against metal. So wash your car very carefully before getting it done. An engine compartment full of anti-rust oil spray which then gets caked with dust makes for an awful mess. Your mechanic will hate you.
Our '90 Spirit has never had this treatment, or any other. It is virtually rust-free. Very impressive for any vehicle, let alone what was a relatively cheapo build and is now 17 years old. We had a '91 Pathfinder. As owners in Ontario are finding out, they needed regular rust treatments not just to preserve the body, but to keep the frame from rusting to the point it collapses. And we had a '79 Chev. All these cars were bought used, and the Pathfinder and Chev came with established rust that needed the spray job every year just to keep the rust under control.
So we get to the GV. My first new car. The factory rustproofing looks exceptionally good to me. Other than the muffler, brake drums and a bunch of cheap metal bits underneath, which are all either spotted or rusting enthusiastically. I'm not going to get any spray done on it until and unless I see more extensive rust taking hold. My regular bottom and wheel well flushing may be enough to keep it in check.
Besides, I just don't see any rust on older Suzuki products around here. Unlike older Pathfinders and 4-Runners, which have lots of rust. Especially the 4-Runners. How are the older Vitaras doing back east with respect to rust? I know the Spirit/Acclaims in eastern Canada eventually do rust, so there is a greater rust problem there than here on the west coast.
