What is the difference between a flooded car and a water-soaked car?
2 Answers
Here are the differences between a flooded car and a water-soaked car: 1. Different concepts: (1) A flooded car refers to a vehicle that has been submerged in water, typically meaning the engine and transmission have been soaked, with the water depth exceeding the wheels and body seats, and the bottom components of the vehicle being in prolonged contact with water. Such vehicles pose significant risks, as the electrical circuits are prone to short circuits and fires. (2) A "water-soaked car" refers to vehicles that, due to heavy rain, were parked in underground garages or low-lying areas and were not moved in time by the owners, resulting in prolonged immersion in accumulated water. 2. Different levels of water ingress: (1) A flooded car means the vehicle was directly submerged in water, with the water depth exceeding one-third of the wheel height. In reality, both wading and flooding affect the vehicle, with the extent of the impact depending on the water depth. (2) A water-soaked car has been immersed for a long time, with a higher level of water ingress than a flooded car.
I was chatting with my friends about flood-damaged cars and water-soaked cars, and I think people might be confused by the names. A flood-damaged car refers to those submerged in floods, like when heavy rain floods the chassis. These cars can have major issues—short circuits in electronic components, rust spreading, and they just never feel right to drive. As for the term 'water-soaked car,' I think it's either a slip of the tongue or a regional dialect, but it essentially means the same thing. The key is the extent of the damage: if the water only reaches the wheels, it might be repairable, but if the engine is submerged, it's pretty much totaled. Last time, my neighbor Lao Wang mentioned that his old car still had electrical leaks even after three repairs post-flooding, and the repair costs ended up being higher than buying a new car. So, when buying a used car, you’ve got to be extra careful—don’t fall for a cheap deal that’s actually a trap.
