I have been driving domestic cars and trucks for years now. My wife just bought a used honda civic '01 and it is in really good shape. One thing that I noticed is she got a scratch in the front bumper and it it goes right down to the black primer. Rubbing your finger over the scratch it doesn't even feel like there is that much paint on the car at all.
Back to domestics - whenever I get a scratch or chip it seems like it will go through the clearcoat, maybe into the paint, but never down to the primer. Most times it will just scratch the clearcoar leaving a white scratch.

I also notice all the black scratches heavly on silver honda, acura products in parking lots.

Is it just me or does it seem like they just don't put as much paint on as american cars???

 

I've noticed that too in the new Honda/Acura cars... I remember the old Acura Legend used to have more coats of paint, the 00TL I had only came with 2 layers, which is not enough in my view, that's why we all got more scratches and chips than other cars with better paint jobs.

I think they are trying to save money
(they rely on the fact that users will not notice that on a new car)... too bad.

 

Since I do a lot of highway driving, usually getting rocks and other garbage kicked up from semis, I fear that the paint damage will ruin the car (if I buy a TL)
I guess I should wait to see how my wifes car holds up since she drives the same route I do.

It is a shame to that they have such cheap paint jobs. It might defer me from buying one and go with BMW or something. Nissan/Infinity also seems to have this problem.

 

Well I found this about the '04 RL but nothing on the TL. Guessing they should be the same, but only 4 coats. What 2 Primer, 1 Color, 1 Clear??? If so, that is just shit.

PAINT PROCESS AND CORROSION PROTECTION
The RL is built with a high proportion of galvanized steel panels, most of them galvanized on both sides for superior corrosion protection. All visible surfaces are protected by a 23-step, 4-coat, 4-bake paint process, with special antichip primer and chip-resistant paint used in areas that are likely to be struck by stones or other debris. The paint process is so precise and exacting that painting personnel wear special contamination-free clothing while working and are regularly checked for colognes or other cosmetic chemicals that might cause the slightest contamination of the painting environment. Chassis panels are protected by corrosion-resistant undercoating material, and body cavities are injected with an oil-based anticorrosion wax that displaces moisture for even better protection.

 

From this are we being led to believe that the cars are being painted by humans?? I think not!! Sounds to me like marketing spin being placed on the existing paint process. I have had a large number of Honda/Acura cars and ALL of them are chipped to hell on the front end because of the paper thin paint that is used.

 

I've heard that a lot of today's paint issues are a result of tougher environmental laws on the composition of the paint itself. This might explain why cars from "back in the day" didn't seem to chip as easily.

 

I noticed the thin/ easy to chip/ easy to mark paint on several of my recent Honda products: 96 Accord, 98 Accord, 99 TL and 04 TL.
My 95 Camaro has the toughest paint I've seen - looks way better than my 04 and that's after 9 years. My 02 GMC (I can't believe they use better paint technology on a truck) is in between and presumably conforms to the same paint guidelines as Honda, so it is possible to use a more durable process.

 

has anyone thought about getting another clear coat or two put on the car. i drive mostly highway as well and have gotten 2-3 small rock chips on the bumper. thank goodness i didn't get any on the hood. i stay clear of trucks and buses. but if i was to get another layer sprayed on would that prevent the rock chips?

 

All my GM cars/trucks had very tough paint. The toughest being my 98 S10ZR2 Pickup. I think GM trucks have just tough paint since they are supposed to be for "work".

 

I've worked at and been in many vehicle assembly plants. They wear protective suits in every one. That quote sounds like marketing spin.

GM puts on thicker paint, but orange peel is a real problem for them.

 

I am sorry, but I can live with orange peel. I would take that anyday. You see in order to have orange peel, there must be paint on the car. You can't have it if it all chipped or peeled off.