Hey Scotty,
Is it true that most, if not all, new cars nowadays come from the factory with a thin paint job, and if so, what is the reason for that? What can we do to protect the paint?
what is the reason for that?
It’s cheaper to make ‘em that way.
Automakers will also probably say something about “weight reduction” but that’s obviously ridiculous.
Pretty much everyone has thin paint, but some like VW group have took it way too far on some of their models.
What can we do to protect the paint?
It depends on how much you want to invest.
You can do the minimum of waxing your car every few months - this protects the clear coat against UV radiation.
You can apply a coat a ceramic wax, it takes a few hours to do but it protects it quite well from my experience against swirls and small scratches.
If you really want to protect it, you put a wrap on the car - but it costs quite a bit to do and usually lasts only a few years (before the wrap gets yellow or beings to peel, at least it used to be that way 5-6 years ago)
Simple: money.
Just happened to watch a video this morning by the Car Care Nut reviewing the 2015-2017 Toyota Camry and when he spoke of problem areas for this vehicle he mentioned owner complaints of rock chips on the hood. He said this is in part due to the way the hood curves downward in front, in effect catching airborne rocks, etc and then he states, "The paint Toyota uses is very thin to help with the weight and to protect the environment." So I assume that is what he learned while working at a Toyota Dealership.
Maybe that is why Dealerships are now offering Ceramic Coating applications on new cars.?
add to that, SUVs aren't the most aerodynamic vehicles.
Huh?🤔
like you said. Rock catchers.
Anecdotally, I think thin and/or lower quality paint is a thing. I have seen more chips on the hoods of post 2012 Toyota’s than I have seen on older Toyota’s. I don’t know why though, the grapevine suggested environmental regulations, but I don’t have confirmation of that.
