Paint chips seem a little too prevalent

I don't think it is in your head, but I bet you would be hard pressed to prove it.

 

My front bumper has road rash sooo bad.

 

I have lots of too-bad-that's-life-in-the-city marks on my bumpers, but hadn't noticed anything out of the usual for the hood (and being black paint I think I would). Of course now that you mentioned it, and I said what I did, I'll probably start seeing chips all the time...

My guess is that maybe the difference in your case is that your MPV rides a fair amount higher up?

 

My Prius has 10K and I have too many paint chips on my hood as well. I do believe this is a Toyota paint quality problem. I asked my dealer to install the paint protection film for the hood, but dealer says that option is discontinued at least at the dealer level. I'm reluctant to buy a hood/grille bra since the car's look is compromised as well as I'm not confident about buying it online. I'm keeping a good coat of wax on the car, but hey, maybe that's causing the chipping problem?

Tom

 

I wish they would make the plastic used to build the bumper the same color as the paint. Then chips would not be so obvious. I know this would cost more but it would make the car look good for many years.

 

I find the paint job is fair at best overall. I am happy with the car but the paint job is a big negative for me. I have notices several things that are signs of a low quality paint job. This car is not priced to were one could say "you get what you pay for".

 

i have to say, i am disapointed with the paint too. when i received my brand new car 3 weeks ago, it had 511Km as they had to drive it to the dealership. that didn't bother me too much, however, when i buy a new car, i'm at least expecting it to be scratch free!!!! the front bumper was scratched like crazy. i asked them to fix it, they try to "buff" it out, but it didn't work. now they are saying they need to repaint the whole thing! the car has only 1000km and already needs to be repainted? i'm afraid that if i ok this repair, it might just go downhill from here. what do you guys think i should do? live with the scratches, or get it repainted? is it possible that if they take it apart more problems appear faster?

 

My recommendation would be to install full hood coverage, bikinni cut fenders and full front bumper with full wrap option - paint protection film. This will eliminate the chips and a potential repaint which would bring the value of the vehicle. Just my two cents.

 

The Quality Toyota did on the paint job for the Prius is very poor at best in my opinion, I too have noticed some paint chips and I don't even have 300 miles on the car and I bought the car on 7/23/10...

I never had a major paint chip issue with any of the Honda vehicles I owned however I have with all the Toyota vehicles I owned, why is that?

The car cost $30K+ all I can do is keep wax on the affected areas and move forward...I can see having to get a professional paint job down the road at the rate of decline.

 

While that is true, every repaint is suspected of being a total rebuild and will lower the value substantially come trade in or sale time.

 

I'm just going to drive mine. The hood is not going to rust or anything. So the chips don't bother me.

 

I have also heard of major paint problems although I have not had any myself. I would love to pass on how people are treating these chips. Any advice?

 

They'll know this how?

I was rear-ended twice and sure enough, there are records of them. However, if someone voluntarily requests a paint job, there's no way the buyer would know as long as it's done properly. The most common question is "Has it been in an accident?," not "Does it have the original paint?" as if it's a 1964 Mustang.

 

My 2010 Prius is less than a month old and it's got way too many chips on it for that age. I very lightly bumped the car behind me when I parallel-parked the other day and the size of the scratch was just so disproportional. Nail polish doesn't chip that easily!

 

Is there a certified Toyota Collision Center (that's what they call them here in the states--may be a different name in Canada) nearby? Will they give you a loaner for the time it is in the shop? If 'yes' to both, I myself would go for it, as the repair will come with a lifetime guarantee (again, at least it does in the US). Of course if the paint is crappy and chips like crazy that wouldn't be covered under the warranty...but, still, I'd go for it. It at least sounds like they're trying to take care of you. But, as another poster suggested, make sure it's done at a quality place (I'd insist on a Toyota facility) and take a look at the wording of the warranty thoroughly before signing off.

As far as it lowering the value of the car, I don't see it, unless they were to do a crappy job.

Good luck
~T