What is up with Honda paint quality? My three month-old S is already speckled with chips, mostly on top of the fenders (one of them right in front of the driver's side mirror).

It's my daily driver , and I spend considerable time on the interstate, with all its rock-flipping semi drivers.

I picked up some New Formula Red touch-up paint, but at this rate, lil' red will be lil' primer in no time!

 

That's weird. My '00 S2000 with 49k+ miles only has minor rock chips on the front bumper. No abnormal paint problems...

 

Colgan bra, Colgan bra, Colgan bra.....I use it every time I get on the interstate

 

What's so special about this Colgan Bra?

 

Drive below 75 MPH and you won't get rock chips. And you are right. Honda paint does suck. I park my Black S2000 next to my neighbor's Black 2001 Mercedes C Class. She has never waxed her car and runs it through the gas station car wash and the paint STILL looks better than mine. WTF!!!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tombrew
[B]What is up with Honda paint quality?

 

This issue is on the the G35 forums as well. Someone mentioned that it could be from the use of water based (I think) paints versus lead based paint. I am not too sure if this is the real reason, but it could be true. The older cars that I had owned, did not chip as much. My new '03 G35 Coupe does seem to chip a little easier.

Suggestion is to buy touch up paint and this thing from Mothers.



www.mothers.com

CALIFORNIA GOLD

 

The issue is only partially related to Honda paint.

Honda could have done a better job in painting the S. For example, additional coats or a better process. But each of these variables would have increased the price.

Another Honda problem is the design of the car. Like it or not, the nose of our cars is very low to the ground. As such, the whole front of the car is much more likely to suffer the ravages of the road.

But the biggest issue was alluded to by XLR8SN above.

That is the type of paint. I believe that damn near all major car companies began changing the way they paint their cars a few years ago. This change was precipitated by concerns for the environment, legislations, etc. The new paints just aren't as hardy as the old paints.

Check out the BMW forums, Lexus forums, etc. and you'll see a lot of the same complaints. The newer cars just chip easier than the older cars.

It sucks but what are you going to do? Zaino the crap out of it and get some touch up paint.

Look at it this way, at least your color is easy to match. Try Spa Yellow. Its a real PITA.

 

Da Hapa,

Funny, I am beginning to think that you are following me. Or is it the other way around.

Sorry that you S2000 owners are having the same issues. The G35 and 350Z owners are not fairing any better. Then again, maybe this is a good excuse to get a better bodykit

Has anyone used that Mothers touchup paint kit? I am still looking for it here in Hawaii.

You guys all use Zaino as well too huh? Cool. That is a little hard to come by here. Good as gold though.

XLR8SN

 

I got my bumper repainted last month and my car looks new again. I've found that driving below 75 really helps, so now when I am in traffic, I try to slow down to prevent chipping. Since then, I haven't seen one chip in two washes.