Paintwork Is Killing Me!

[paulmel]

Hi all,

Just returned from a day out with the family heading to Grizedale Forest. Got there ,took about an hour, then our 7 year old deceided that he would rather go to the pictures!

Anyway,if that wasn't bad enough, when I checked the car there is a scratch full length of the passenger side from front to back.

We had to pull in close to the hedge a few times due to idiot drivers, so I know HOW it happened, but even so the paintwork on this car is absolutely crucifying me.

I have asked before on this forum if I might have dodgy paintwork as I have never known a car to scratch so easily BY A MILE.

I'm furious as I write this as I feel my pride an joy is now somehow inferior.

This new scratch is now joining the dozens and dozens of others I have collected in the 5 months we have owned it since new.

The way I feel at the moment I would gladly sacrifice the enviroment and have an old fashioned tougher oil based paint job on my car.

My previous 3 black cars never suffered scratching so easily.

I'm totally P***ed off.

I've just rubbed a bit of auto glym on it and it has hidden it a bit but that means to keep it looking half decent then I have to do this every time I wash the !Removed! thing.

Sorry but i'm just so damn angry

Is there anything or anyone I can turn to.

Can't believe how much LESS I like the car today than I did yesterday

Paul.

[anchorman]

Paul

Darker colours like Carbon Quartz tend to show scratches much more than lighter ones. The scratch is not in the paint but in the laquer which shows up white. My mate has an Audi and that does the same. I don't believe that diamond brite and other similar products do much to protect the paint - it certainly only suceeded in wasting £200 on mine as that shows scratches easily. I think the only way is to be careful but I know how you feel.

Cheers

[T600]

What do you wax the car with? Get it buffed out, if that's possible, then treat it to a really good protective layer. It's not guaranteed to prevent all damage, but it will help a bit. And re-apply regularly.

[To-yo-ta]

Paul,

Unfortunately, I completely agree with your comments, the latest 'water based' paintwork on the 4.3 is not really fit for purpose. I was immediately concerned when I bought the car and purchased a paint touch-up kit (nothing can stop the odd stone chip) and noticed that the end cap on the paint brush now includes a small piece of gauze covered sponge. The instructions tell you to wet this after applying the paint and then use it to wipe off any excess paint (just like emulsion paint) ! After just 3 days of ownership I noticed the remains of a large squashed bug on the bonnet, went to wash it off as usual (wet area and allow to soften before carefully dabbing with sponge to remove bug), but the laquer was still marked so had to polish (Autoglym), but this made no difference so had to T-cut and polish again, just to remove a dead bug! Then after it's first wash I could see thousands of ultra fine surface scratches. I'm not impressed, give me good old fashion cellulose any time.

I know that all manufactures have got to start using water based paint, but I don't know if other makes have managed to produced a more resilient finish?

[vickk]

Paul,

Unfortunately, I completely agree with your comments, the latest 'water based' paintwork on the 4.3 is not really fit for purpose. I was immediately concerned when I bought the car and purchased a paint touch-up kit (nothing can stop the odd stone chip) and noticed that the end cap on the paint brush now includes a small piece of gauze covered sponge. The instructions tell you to wet this after applying the paint and then use it to wipe off any excess paint (just like emulsion paint) ! After just 3 days of ownership I noticed the remains of a large squashed bug on the bonnet, went to wash it off as usual (wet area and allow to soften before carefully dabbing with sponge to remove bug), but the laquer was still marked so had to polish (Autoglym), but this made no difference so had to T-cut and polish again, just to remove a dead bug! Then after it's first wash I could see thousands of ultra fine surface scratches. I'm not impressed, give me good old fashion cellulose any time.

I know that all manufactures have got to start using water based paint, but I don't know if other makes have managed to produced a more resilient finish?

I also couldn't agree more. I have never had a car mark so easily. It has taken the shine off my first Rav

[cabcurtains]

I can say from experience that the current Civic/CRV/Accord suffer from poor paint on some cars and its easy to scratch the lacquer.

With metallic’s and pearlescent’s i doubt this issue will be going away soon.

[Hoovie]

I've got a couple of long scratches from hedges which are really annoying.

I have got resigned to the fact that the paintwork is gonna get a beating and don't think I would buy a new car as it is too distressing when the first marks appears

[Plutus]

I know that all manufactures have got to start using water based paint, but I don't know if other makes have managed to produced a more resilient finish?

Others appear to have the same problem. Someone I know with a black merc is voicing similar complaints.