Toyota Grey Metallic car paint extra sensitive to scratches?

[HSDish]

Are Toyota Grey Metallic car paint extra sensitive to scratches?

Have noticed that our grey metallic RAV 4 PHEV 2020 are quite prone to scratches is there any known thing specially to that car paint or is it common at metallics?

[Flatcoat]

To be honest it is a common issue with many new car brands. Modern Water based paint finishes are simply not as tough as traditional paint finishes were. I notice similar with my 2022 pearl red RAV. I have just sold a 2007 Merc which had far better paint. 

[Nick72]

4 hours ago, HSDish said:

Are Toyota Grey Metallic car paint extra sensitive to scratches?

Have noticed that our grey metallic RAV 4 PHEV 2020 are quite prone to scratches is there any known thing specially to that car paint or is it common at metallics?

Not had an issue. 2021 model. Dacuma metallic grey. I open the door against bushes every day. Not a single scratch on the car anywhere. 

[philip42h]

The actual colour isn't going to make any difference at all. The outermost coat of 'paint' is the clear coat and that will be exactly the same regardless of the base colour coat underneath.

It is said that paint finishes of Japanese cars are softer, while paint finishes on German cars are harder. Whether that is really true, I don't know but it would mean that light surface scratching would polish out more easily ...

[Roy124]

Philip. True but the colour might show more.  Grey is much lighter than Decuma. I observed a year ago, grey in the new silver 

[HSDish]

I think ours is Dacuma Grey Metallic too

 

[HSDish]

Bought this polish and rubbed some small/light scratches and it helped a bit.

(hard to catch on picture though)

 

[HSDish]

My daughter has got new motorised (e-drive) wheels to her wheelchair and they ar a lot heavier than the former wheels so the wheelchair is now quite a bit harder to load in our RAV 4 so...

We are thinking about to trade in our RAV 4 for one demo 2022 Proace City Verso electric (to transport family and wheelchair) and one used 2017 Prius PHV (to transport me and whife) .

If so I think it would be a benefit if the car looked as good as possible (no scratches)

HURTS to trade in our RAV 4 though (rally like that car)

 

[Dominik84]

I have 2022 black RAV4 and noticed a lot of small scratches on the paint, it is a lease so I will have to sort it out before returning, went around Black Skoda Karoq and have noticed no marks at all, looks like Toyota issue.

[Nick72]

Mine is Dacuma grey. I did a proper survey of the car the other day in the bright light and did surprisingly notice small very fine scratches on the driver door and driver side rear passenger. I suspect from when I've driven past bushes down narrow lanes and also on my drive. They're not noticeable until you start looking very close. Not sure if they will T cut out because some of them look like they're down to the primer? As I say, barely noticeable and not a problem when I return the car. Our company car lease folks don't seem to be particularly sensitive so long as there are no long deep gouges or dents bigger than a drink mat.

Still, the paint does seem to be a little soft compared to my Merc which didn't have a single scratch despite many scrapes. 

Wondering what colour might be best? Swapping to another R4P in September and went for Pearl White. 

[ColinB]

I had some scratches on the side of my RAV4 where I got too close to some bushes, although they looked bad the friend who buffed them out said that as long as you couldn't feel them with a fingertip they probably hadn't gone through the clearcoat. 

[SimonAdd]

It is sensitive to scratches such as finger nails etc but the polish out easily. 

[NASY]

I have scratches from bushes and the odd stone chip - all of which I call patina and which I think suit the RAV well, like it's not prissy.

[Bper]

Toyota's Grey Metallic paint, like other metallic finishes, can appear more prone to showing scratches due to its reflective nature. This is because metallic paints contain tiny metallic flakes that reflect light differently, making imperfections more visible. However, proper care and maintenance, such as regular washing and applying protective wax, can help minimise scratches and preserve the paint's appearance. Clear coat protection also plays a part in safeguarding against scratches and UV damage. 

[Nick72]

Ive realised that I was using dirt as a means of masking the tiny scratches 😂