Modern Porsche paint, and road rash

[evan9eleven]

Hi everyone,

Not new to Porsches but just added a 2021 Cayman GTS to the stable, so this is the first time owning one newer than the wife's 2014 Cayenne. The car has been driven year-round in Norway since new, previous owner lived out in the country and this car spent time on a lot of gravel-covered winter roads. 50,000kms/31,000 miles on the car.

The fender lips, rear arches, and lower wheel arch of the rear bumper all look like they have been sandblasted. Worth noting that most of these areas are plastic body panels, the road rash is all the way into the black substrate in places, otherwise into the filler, showing as white road rash.

None of our other "modern" Porsches have paint that looks like this, even with twice the miles. I'm sure that my only path to repair will be repainting the panels in question, but figured it would be worth a discussion here before making any decisions. It seems to me that this car lived a battered existence and should really have had PPF on it from day one. Or is modern Porsche paint also partly to blame?

A few pics. Here the car is freshly washed and the damaged areas done with clay bar to be sure we're only seeing the paintwork and not something else. Would love some advice:














Just to add... I love this car and intend to keep it long-term, so I'll take my time and get the paint done right when the time comes.

[evan9eleven]

Anyone?

[Cairo94507]

That's a shame. If it were mine, I would find a shop that works on Porsches, recommended by members, and then go visit the shop and see if it looks like the kind of shop you want to do business with. Discuss their approach to the repair and what kind of guarantee they provide once refinished.

We took my brothers '15 911 Turbo S coupe to a shop in our area for a rear bumper repaint that was highly recommended by our local Porsche dealership. The shop was well beyond our expectations and the car came out looking like it just left the factory. Shop was well lighted, plenty of space between work stations, spotless. They guarantee their work for the life of the car. They have 5 shops total and needless to say, that is where our 3 Porsches will go when necessary. Good luck, Michael

[evan9eleven]

Michael, thank you. Some really good tips there.

I'm determined to get the car looking like new again... then PPF after the paint cures. I'll get to doing my homework on good shops.

[Bill Douglas]

If you pour some water over the effected areas and the rash disappears then it means you only have to spray some clear coat over it.

[Marine Blue]

I wouldn’t blame modern Porsche paint on that, that is road rash likely from a gravel road. I have seen lower mileage (< 10K) 987’s with similar rash due to gravel roads. My 23k mile spyder has zero road rash although it’s been protected by PPF in the high wear areas and I don’t drive on gravel roads.

[evan9eleven]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

If you pour some water over the effected areas and the rash disappears then it means you only have to spray some clear coat over it.

The damage is through the paint and into the filler. Running your fingers over the areas feels almost like sandpaper. In some spots the chips are into the black substrate, so I don't think a clearcoat repair is going to be enough. I'm going to see my paint guy this week to see what he says.

Originally Posted by Marine Blue

I wouldn’t blame modern Porsche paint on that, that is road rash likely from a gravel road. I have seen lower mileage (< 10K) 987’s with similar rash due to gravel roads. My 23k mile spyder has zero road rash although it’s been protected by PPF in the high wear areas and I don’t drive on gravel roads.

My local independant mechanic commented that Porsche paint isn't as durable as it was ten years back, so that prompted the question about the modern paint. But of course, if one doesn't take care of the car, you get the result we see here.

PO lived in the country, where fine gravel gets spread on the roads in winter when it gets icy after some freeze-thaw cycles. Though I don't know, I doubt he drove on actual gravel roads, but rather on the normal winter roads where he lived. Same result really...

This car should definitely have had PPF on it from new. It will get protected this time around, after the rash gets fixed.


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[73pcar]

PPF after it is re-painted or you will have same the damage in short order. Some Porsche owners consider such 'rash' as a badge of honor. Not something I subscribe to but we are all different.

[Kiddwayaa]

The damage is likely due to the harsh Norwegian winter conditions and lack of PPF. Repainting the affected panels is a good option. I think you should consider applying PPF to protect the new paint.

[evan9eleven]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Just to make it clear-- I will have the affected panels repainted, followed by PPF (after a couple months curing time of course.)