Is this discoloration of the car or just a hue in the camera? I'm talking about the mats and dash that looks purplish to me.

What do you think?

Really big:
http://www.vanedosa.com/images/Thor/02/Inside.JPG

1024 x 768:
http://www.vanedosa.com/images/Thor/02/1024/Inside.JPG

 

hard to tell from a photo-
is this your car?
are you just asking from photos?

 

Yeah, it's really hard to tell. It's a car I'm looking at buying. Good price, seems to be good condition. Just a little concerned about the coloration in the photo. Buying used is turning into a hassle. I'm in AZ and there's 1 black S2000 being sold in the state it seems. Working with a dealer for an 04...kind of wanted and 02-03. Should have bought last year but I was still in the snow belt then.

 

Has anyone noticed any discoloration in their car from always leaving the top down or using products?

 

Most cars, including Hondas which i have detailed/owned, do show some discolouration to the interiors over time. Mats especially, are prone to turning brown, purple or even navy blue over time, regardless of whether the car is a convertible or not.

I can attest to the quality of Honda seats/dashes however. Compared to the carpet mats, their colour is more resistant to UV rays, and indeed, even an 88 Civic I detailed last week had an interior looking as new and as vibrant as the day it left the factory.

I suspect that there is little you can do about the discolouration to the mats. Perhaps flip them over, rubber side up, or get el-cheapo rubber mats to cover them. This should prevent, or at least slow the discolouring process.

If this mat discolouration is going to make or break your purchase, I wouldn't fret too much about it. The rest of the interior will hold up very well. I have seen a few MY 00/01 cars where the carpet covering the transmission tunnel also discoloured. Easy fix; buy an 02 or later model, and pick up some new mats off of ebay for a relatively inexpensive price.

Good luck!
Asif

 

the following wont help with existing discoloration... but ideas to help minimize or eliminate future discoloration:

some interior preservative products actually contain sunscreens- good idea, imo.
my solution is to cover my car when i am not in it- a good car cover will help minimize or eliminate the sunbleaching.