What is it with clear coats these days?
 

They seem to be getting worse.

Toyota paints always seemed to be good but recently I've seen a number of Toyotas that look "new" to me with clear coat peeling off.

I've decided to live dangerously ;) and upgrade my 20 year old Corolla wagon for a near new one, and I wanted one of the Jelly Bean blue wagons I see about the place. But I'm having second thoughts.

I googled it and some of the speak was about expansion and contraction being different between the base coat (color) and the clear coat, resulting in delamination.

So if that's the problem; lots of coats of carnuba wax or even ceramic coats won't help.

What are your thoughts?

My 2004 RAV 4 has factory paint with 200k miles. It is frankly spectacular, if I take the time to wash it.

No peeling, but routine stone chips on hood that do not propagate.

The car has lived it's life in the s**t hole of the universe as far a salt is concerned.

Nothing as to paint failure noted whatsoever.

I don't get it. Underside is "new" looking.

This says nothing of newer versions.

Clearcoat on my wife's A6 has failed badly on the front bumper. I see quite a few clear coat failures around here. Moss?

Bob, is it garaged? My own thoughts are UVs have a lot to do with clear coats peeling.

GF's dark blue Corolla lasted seven years parked outside before the clear coat failed.

Is the new stuff waterbased ?

Garaged some but cloud cover in Akron is favorable to paint longevity.

Literally a small handful of days since Christmas that the sun was prominent.

fastfredracing can verify. I can spit to his shop.

My 08 Rav looks great but it was previously owned by an older couple and only has about 75K on the ODO and it has been garaged since I have owned it (about 3 years)

Yet same-ish year Tacomas have missing frames from corrosion.

Mid 2000's I have seen have great paint save wheel well rust.

my '06 Taco has alloy wheels that have gone to ****. But the paint is OK where it hasn't been chipped by FOD.

(Hey, gotta save the environment by spending another 20 man hours grinding and spraying every five years. :/)

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