# Differences for climate

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/differences-for-climate/16299>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 6, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/differences-for-climate/16299 "2008-07-06T20:18:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![merriman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@merriman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/merriman)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/differences-for-climate/16299/1 "2008-07-06T20:18:08Z")

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Are autos manufactured differently for different parts of the country?  
  
 Will a Minnesota car be ok if left in Arizona heat all year or should I buy the car in Arizona?  
  
 I’ve heard rumors that there might be a difference.  
  
  
  
 Thanks!

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/differences-for-climate/16299/2 "2008-07-06T20:25:54Z")

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No, they’re all made the same. The climate affects the cars differently though. In MN cars will get eaten up by road salt.  
In AZ oppressive heat in Phoenix is rough on a number of things including tires, interiors, cooling and A/C systems, etc.

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**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/differences-for-climate/16299/3 "2008-07-06T20:55:09Z")

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It used to be that northern cars would get a little bit different undercoating and rust protection package, usually applied by the dealer, so if you drove a car sold in Arizona to Minnesota it would probably rust out a bit faster than every other car did. Nowadays, the factory rust proofing is much better and the dealer-applied stuff is completely unnecessary, so all cars are equally suited.

Another issue is that until the mid-80’s, it could be hard to find an air-conditioned car being sold in a northern state unless it was a high-end model. Similarly, well into the 70’s at least some stripped-down models sold in southern California didn’t come with heaters.

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**Author:** ![newpony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/41988e/32.png) [@newpony](https://community.cartalk.com/u/newpony)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/differences-for-climate/16299/4 "2008-07-07T01:11:55Z")

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The car itself should be fine. Remember to change your vital fluids to match the warmer climate. It’s in your owner’s manual.