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paint quality

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by will the engineer, Jun 22, 2019.

  1. will the engineer

    will the engineer Active Member

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    Holy Moly!!!!

    its been about 6 months of ownership and there's rock chips ALL over my front bump, side mirrors and hood!

    the god dam hood? The freaking hood has chips!!!

    WTH this "OEM" paint is garbage quality
     
    #1 will the engineer, Jun 22, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2019
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what??? are you sure its not a tesla?:p
     
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  3. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    Drafting gravel trucks will do that. :)
     
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  4. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Active Member

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    My '16 v paint (toasted walnut) quality is very good.
    I have a few chips.
    Yes, following trucks is a major cause of rock chips.
    Only advice is to make sure your Prius is not repainted as that repaint would be a reason for your post.
    (You can inspect with a paint mil gauge.)
    Good luck.
     
  5. Washingtonian

    Washingtonian Senior Member

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    Will, if you are an engineer could you speak like one? Some specifics, please like are you getting more rock chips than other cars, what color is the car, where are you getting these rock chips and how many miles. A picture might help, also. In my case, I paid extra for the pearl white color, have driven about 10K miles, and have no noticeable rock chips.
     
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  6. will the engineer

    will the engineer Active Member

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    I tend to avoid technical speak/jarggon in public settings. In public areas i'm more relaxed about being a certain way.

    I don't believe there's a need to create a large album of attachments - unless requested.

    i think the amount of photos here do give the idea ...

    Its paint with rock chips


    Titanium Glow
    8,xxx miles

    20190622_211456.jpeg 20190622_211502.jpeg 20190622_211507.jpeg 20190622_211427.jpeg 20190622_211409.jpeg 20190622_210832.jpeg
     
    #6 will the engineer, Jun 23, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2019
  7. will the engineer

    will the engineer Active Member

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    number 5 is my favorite, really shows the dent that rock made.

    Hmmmm good stuff



     
    #7 will the engineer, Jun 23, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2019
  8. will the engineer

    will the engineer Active Member

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    Let me check at my insurance fee

    Hmm reasonable numbers...I'm not getting shafted by insurance rates

    Yeah it's not a Tesla
     
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  9. lextoy

    lextoy Active Member

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    alot of high speed highway driving ? or local roads lower speeds ?
    could it have been one black swan event... driving on milled highway right after it got milled ?
    or you think slowly accumulated.
    i got stuck once behind a truck dropping gravel for miles(accidentally), in heavy traffic, nobody could do anything, except try to pass the truck, took me 10 minutes at 50-60 to get up to the truck to pass it, the whole time all the traffic was showering my car with gravel, as was everyone elses car getting showered :( after that day the whole front of my car had 1000 gravel marks, bumper, fenders , hood. that was a benz.
    i have a titanium 2018 since new, driving for approx 5 months. to date no chips. mostly local driving 45-50mph, but a few miles a day on highway at 70+speeds. about 5k miles so far.
     
  10. Washingtonian

    Washingtonian Senior Member

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    Thanks for the pictures. It caused me to take a more careful look at the front of mine. Found a few that kind of looked like a chip, but when I ran a fingernail over them they came off and were probably tiny pieces of tar or asphalt. Did find one that was actually a small chip, though, so I stand corrected. Your first two pics look like contact with a curb or something similar. It was my understanding when I bought the car that the extra cost for the white was because there was an extra coat of paint. Not sure that is true, but it could be why yours shows chips easier.
     
  11. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    Pearlescent paint is not inexpensive.
     
  12. Washingtonian

    Washingtonian Senior Member

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    I looked at the window sticker. The color is Blizzard Pearl. The only charge other than delivery fee is "Special Color" $395. Much less than Tesla charges.
     
  13. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    My Hypersonic Red has the same upcharge. I figured it might be because it has a clear coat layer?
     
  14. NSXT

    NSXT Active Member

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    I get that too. Clean/buff it up, get the touch up paint-pen (colour+clear coat) and forget about it.

    My wife's Lexus has stone chips too even with 3M hood tape. I skipped the full tape including plastic bumper because it costs 800+ bucks more including side mirrors.

    If it was a Porsche/Ferrari, I wouldn't mind to pay that extra but to a Toyota/Lexus.. nah.. after 3-4 years, lease a new one :p

    My Prime's front bumper has a lum sum of stone chipped, I ended up getting this and look very cool
     
  15. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    This is just opinion.
    But seems to me the OP has gotten chips in what I would call "honest areas", that is areas where chips could be expected. Front bumper, side mirrors and hood.
    That doesn't make you feel any better when you see them in only 6 months of ownership.

    I also believe this problem isn't limited to Toyota, I think clear coat and automotive paint in general have become less durable than in the past. I believe it's a evolution and symptom of manufacturers using more environmentally friendly paints and chemicals.

    I had an issue with the clear coat on my Prius, and my observation of The Honda Fit's paint job is that it's not what I would call incredibly durable.
    If you want to add durability? I'd recommend a good clear bra solution. Which can be somewhat expensive, but also help in avoiding rock chips and other damage in exactly the areas the OP has had a problem.

    Unfortunately once the damage has been done, a clear bra can do nothing to reverse that reality.

    I had a Clear Bra put on my 2010 Honda Fit and I think it really helped minimize and slow rock chip damage, and other environmental damage to the hood.

    I did not put a Clear Bra on my Prius. The price was prohibitive.
    I also passed on having that protection put on my latest Honda Fit...
    To be honest, I kind of regret not doing it.


    I have touch up paint, but IMO have to use it way too often.
    But really once the damage has been done?

    Touch Up...or professional repainting is about all you can do.
    There are some DIY touch up paint "systems" that look interesting. But for me, so far it's just a tube of the OEM touch up paint, and a quality small brush.
    And the knowledge that overall it's a slow but losing battle.
     
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  16. Pdxprimeguy

    Pdxprimeguy Member

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    I think the paint quality is also just mediocre I have seen better on other cars I have had.
     
  17. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Great paint, look at Gen2 paint on these older cars. Still holding up well.

    Looks like you tailgate or follow others too closely. Keep 2 car lengths and it will help with rock chips. And stay away from gravel trucks.
     
  18. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Yes, but Gen 2 was a little before the time I'm thinking of...it's been about a decade.
    But around Gen 3 and 2010 ish.....Is when you really heard about auto manufacturers committing more to more eco friendly total products. That's when you heard about the "Soy" based wiring casing, and got things like "Softex" instead of leather.

    I think a lot of manufacturers and auto paint and clear coat has just changed. Volatile Organic Compounds VOC's are now recognized as an environmental threat, and paint manufacturers admit to a process of transitioning to different water based formulas.
    It's an evolution, and we're talking 2nd, 3rd generation of more of water based paints. But I do think there is a learning curve. And IMO, right now a lot of paints just aren't as durable as paints from 10, 15 years or more ago.

    That being said, I think some might be fine, I think the whole industry is learning, and it's the right thing to do.
     
  19. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    229FE0C3-3EFA-468B-A3A6-DF25DD8C529C.jpeg My paint is 9 years old, and it looks great. It’s all about taking care of your paint. Paint will only look good if you put the effort into it to keep it protected with good quality polish and wax.
     
  20. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    After seeing all the paint chips on my 2013 Prius, I had the clear protective film installed on my Prime before I took delivery from the dealer.