Topic: Camry paint :-(

[tomme]

My Camry 2008 Hybrid is wonderful, through and through! I love it!

But, it's showroom gleaming white coat of paint did not last long. I've had the rear bumper repainted due to dings from Vancouver snow parking in the street (ie, drivers touch my bumper or vice versa).

Also, there are dings/chips in the front bumper, on the hood, and in the driver's entrance. I've looked at other vehicles, and haven't seen any like mine. No gravel road driving either. Just city/highway, and low mileage to boot.

Any thoughts? Would Toyota ever take care of any of this for me? (Ie, under warranty)

[articsteve]

NOT A CHANCE.

There is nothing wrong with Camry paint.

[hondroid]

I doubt they will cover that.  Having said, for some reason Honda and Toyota seem to have issues with paint.  My 3 year old Civic bumper is totally sandblasted, and I don't follow close to other vehicles.

There has been cost cutting by both manufacturers over the last decade, paint finish is one of them. 

I got rid of my 3 year old Civic and bought a '11 VW TDI and not one single chip on the front of the car, no sandblasting issues either.

You will notice that after about 5 years the paint will look dull.

[CanuckG35]

I doubt they will cover that.  Having said, for some reason Honda and Toyota seem to have issues with paint.  My 3 year old Civic bumper is totally sandblasted, and I don't follow close to other vehicles.

There has been cost cutting by both manufacturers over the last decade, paint finish is one of them. 

I got rid of my 3 year old Civic and bought a '11 VW TDI and not one single chip on the front of the car, no sandblasting issues either.

You will notice that after about 5 years the paint will look dull.

There is no reason that it will go dull or oxidize if it's cared for properly.

Also, don't forget that auto manufacturers have all switched from solvent based paints to water based paints in the last number of years.  The switch was for environmental reasons.  Water based paints are softer than solvent based paints so paint imperfections are more easily incurred now.  Not all auto manufacturers have the same quality of application either. 

[Guy]

I have the same issue with the paint on my 08 Acura TL. Chip, scratch very easily, front bumper has no shine left whatsoever. The paint on my 07 Volvo XC70 driven in the same conditions looks basically brand new still.

[carcrazy]

07 Outlander has thin paint and it chips easily. By comparison, the paint on my 05 Mazda3 seems stronger although I have chips on it too. I keep touching them up once or twice a year.
My father-in-law's 06 Forester is shot too with a lot of chips on the front end.

I guess it's not only an issue with Toyota or Honda.

[CanuckG35]

07 Outlander has thin paint and it chips easily. By comparison, the paint on my 05 Mazda3 seems stronger although I have chips on it too. I keep touching them up once or twice a year.
My father-in-law's 06 Forester is shot too with a lot of chips on the front end.

I guess it's not only an issue with Toyota or Honda.

How do you know it's thin?  Did you measure it with a paint thickness gauge?  Are the chips on your Forester just through the clear or all the way through the pigmented paint as well?

[carcrazy]

07 Outlander has thin paint and it chips easily. By comparison, the paint on my 05 Mazda3 seems stronger although I have chips on it too. I keep touching them up once or twice a year.
My father-in-law's 06 Forester is shot too with a lot of chips on the front end.

I guess it's not only an issue with Toyota or Honda.

How do you know it's thin?  Did you measure it with a paint thickness gauge?  Are the chips on your Forester just through the clear or all the way through the pigmented paint as well?

I did not measure; just by looking at the chips. The layer of paint appears to be thinner on the Outlander versus Mazda.
Most are down to the the primer (white).
I did not look carefully to all of the Forester's chips (not my car), but I noticed some down to the metal (grey).

[CanuckG35]

07 Outlander has thin paint and it chips easily. By comparison, the paint on my 05 Mazda3 seems stronger although I have chips on it too. I keep touching them up once or twice a year.
My father-in-law's 06 Forester is shot too with a lot of chips on the front end.

I guess it's not only an issue with Toyota or Honda.

How do you know it's thin?  Did you measure it with a paint thickness gauge?  Are the chips on your Forester just through the clear or all the way through the pigmented paint as well?

I did not measure; just by looking at the chips. The layer of paint appears to be thinner on the Outlander versus Mazda.
Most are down to the the primer (white).
I did not look carefully to all of the Forester's chips (not my car), but I noticed some down to the metal (grey).

It would be virtually impossible to tell by the naked eye as you are looking a maximum thickness of 5 or 6 thousandth of an inch. 

The thickest and hardest paint I've come across so far in my detailing career has been C5 and C6 Corvettes. 

[airbalancer]

 Does not everyone own an ultra sonic thickness gauge 

[hondroid]

Well, having spent over ten years at Honda Canada Manufacturing and visiting the paint department on a regular basis, I can tell you it's one coat base and a couple clear coats.  And, yes, we use thickness gauges, and it's the bare minimum.

Car manufacturers are in business to make money, and they'll save that money any way they can. It's called cost cutting.

[articsteve]

That's all crap.  I look at over a 100 used late model trades a year and I don't see any obvious paint problems on any brand.

Essentially city vehicles will have marks up and down the sides as well as on the bumpers and rural cars will be chipped up on the front due to highway gravelled shoulders and of course, gravel roads. 

[safristi]

so size matters and an extra 5 thousands of an inch is too expensive. ...i'm sure they have tested these paints from Alaska to Aberjehan............OR DID THEY...........conspiracy continues....UN SOLVENT ABLE    ......

   I'd rather Picasso with a thick palette of OILS   than a wan waterKOLOR personally................look @ that Van Go....

[CanuckG35]

Well, having spent over ten years at Honda Canada Manufacturing and visiting the paint department on a regular basis, I can tell you it's one coat base and a couple clear coats.  And, yes, we use thickness gauges, and it's the bare minimum.

Car manufacturers are in business to make money, and they'll save that money any way they can. It's called cost cutting.

So if you don't mind me asking, what was the average thickness (in mils or microns would be fine) of the average Honda's paint at the Manufacturing plant?  What is this bare minimum you speak of?

[carcrazy]

07 Outlander has thin paint and it chips easily. By comparison, the paint on my 05 Mazda3 seems stronger although I have chips on it too. I keep touching them up once or twice a year.
My father-in-law's 06 Forester is shot too with a lot of chips on the front end.

I guess it's not only an issue with Toyota or Honda.

How do you know it's thin?  Did you measure it with a paint thickness gauge?  Are the chips on your Forester just through the clear or all the way through the pigmented paint as well?

I did not measure; just by looking at the chips. The layer of paint appears to be thinner on the Outlander versus Mazda.
Most are down to the the primer (white).
I did not look carefully to all of the Forester's chips (not my car), but I noticed some down to the metal (grey).

It would be virtually impossible to tell by the naked eye as you are looking a maximum thickness of 5 or 6 thousandth of an inch. 

I guess you are right...but I still think Mazda paint job is better than Mitsu. That's all.

[hondroid]

Well, having spent over ten years at Honda Canada Manufacturing and visiting the paint department on a regular basis, I can tell you it's one coat base and a couple clear coats.  And, yes, we use thickness gauges, and it's the bare minimum.

Car manufacturers are in business to make money, and they'll save that money any way they can. It's called cost cutting.

So if you don't mind me asking, what was the average thickness (in mils or microns would be fine) of the average Honda's paint at the Manufacturing plant?  What is this bare minimum you speak of?

I wasn't part of the paint department but would be sent there for inspections and noticed the guys using the gauges.  4.5-5.0 readings. 

[CanuckG35]

Well, having spent over ten years at Honda Canada Manufacturing and visiting the paint department on a regular basis, I can tell you it's one coat base and a couple clear coats.  And, yes, we use thickness gauges, and it's the bare minimum.

Car manufacturers are in business to make money, and they'll save that money any way they can. It's called cost cutting.

So if you don't mind me asking, what was the average thickness (in mils or microns would be fine) of the average Honda's paint at the Manufacturing plant?  What is this bare minimum you speak of?

I wasn't part of the paint department but would be sent there for inspections and noticed the guys using the gauges.  4.5-5.0 readings. 

The automotive average is typically between 5-6 mils, so what you saw isn't exactly bare minimum.  For those that want to know, out of the 5-6 mils of paint applied, 1.5-2.0 mils is the clear, the rest is the pigment. 

And again, since all manufacturers use water based paint these days due to environmental reasons, automotive finishes are much softer than they use to be and it's much easier for them to get scratched, chipped, etc. 

[safristi]

...so How can you make it HARD AGAIN .............any of the multitude of helmet polishing Companies out there got any  SALVES,UBER SUPER WAXES or other secret wax on wax off stuff.............seeing the newer waterpainting canvasses are -poor at what they are expected to do.........LOOK SPARKLING and resist minor scratches and pitting..................hey if we can put a man on Dundas & Spadina.....why NOT...............

[Ice]

My Corolla has several chips and a scrape on the side of the car (no doubt someone careless in a parking lot). I was horrified at first but I'm trying to accept most of them. One I would like a body shop to have a look at as it runs a bit deep.

[Stoneman]

All paint wears and dulls over time. My Scooby's door handle (driver) inside area is worn out. My hands have literally rubbed the silver away, revealing the plastic on the handle. Paint will chip near edges. You have to be really careful when you wash your car. Don't use a high pressure spray. Gently clean it. Do not for one moment think you can use any kind of abrasive such as "Color-cut" to bring up the color. It will only create discoloration and swirls if you're not careful. Some times the only way to get a great paint job is to spend $5K and get it done right.