Anyone noticed that newer Infiniti paint jobs don't hold up very well?
Anyone noticed that newer Infiniti paint jobs don't hold up very well?
So far I have had 3 Q45's in my family. A 92 which we no longer have, a 97 and a 2003. I don't really remember how the paint was on the earlier Q because I never really paid that much attention to it at the time. However... The paint on the Q I drive most often, the 97, is crappy! It seems like it is very thin and not very durable. It seems to scratch very easily. Also this car has been garage kept since it was first bought and it still has lots of paint flaws. Don't get me wrong, it still shines nicely when it's polished up, but if you look closely you can easily see spots where bird crap has eaten all of the way down through the paint. There is stuff like that all over the car. Now for the newest Q. I donno if any of you have had this done to your cars, but infiniti now offers a teflon coating that can be baked on your car after you purchase it. Well we got that and guess what, I still found a poop blemish that had eaten down to the paint on the trunk! There also were dribble marks on the hood. Finally, while I was detailing it last weekend some paint decided to just peel right off the front bumper while I was washing it! To me, I just think infiniti could have made its finishes more durable. My first car was a 1992 seville and the paint was EXCELLENT. Just as an example to proove that, that car was totalled WITHOUT EVEN SCRATCHING THE PAINT! I was hit firmly enough on my passenger side to bend my frame and there was not one scratch or peel on the paint even with numerous creeses. Anyone else with newer infinitis noticed this?
I really don't know what the warrantee is like for paint. I would presume something can be done at least for the new one, as it only has 8000 miles on it. Now my Q, I'm not sure. About all I know of that is still under warrantee is the exhaust and rust or something, but i'm not for sure. Maybe someone else knows the infiniti warrantees a little better?
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Q45tech
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- Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl
"The problems came about due to the EPA changes in the allowable VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions. The way this was decreased was to utilize more water in the spray mix of the paint to completely replace the 'thinner' VOCs. This altered the adhesion of the paint to the elpo primer generally used (lessened the adhesion). "
Infiniti resisted the changes since the cars were painted in Japan, but by 1997 they had changed over to water carrier application.
US painted cars will always be inferior due to evaporative emission standards.
Kyoto Protocol:http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/19...eaty/
A $50,000 car today is not what a $38,000 car was in 1990 or what a $50,000 car was in 1994.
For decent paint you have to pay at least $75,000 today.
Infiniti resisted the changes since the cars were painted in Japan, but by 1997 they had changed over to water carrier application.
US painted cars will always be inferior due to evaporative emission standards.
Kyoto Protocol:http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/19...eaty/
A $50,000 car today is not what a $38,000 car was in 1990 or what a $50,000 car was in 1994.
For decent paint you have to pay at least $75,000 today.
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AZhitman
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Re: Anyone noticed that newer Infiniti paint jobs don't hold up very well?
zinkie13 wrote: I donno if any of you have had this done to your cars, but infiniti now offers a teflon coating that can be baked on your car after you purchase it.
It's not "baked on".
It's called "Lex", and it's nearly identical (chemically) to %Star Shine (see ad to left) and Zaino.
It's SO not worth the $149-$249 the dealer charges, but it is a good product. Sounds like the damage may have been done prior to it being treated... Sometimes they sit on the lot for days, weeks, or longer before they're treated.
If anyone's interested, in fact, I have a "Lex" kit (I bought 2 at my cost).
Yeah, that is by far my biggest complaint about the G35. The paint chips way too easily. Had I known just how much it chip when I first got the car, I would have had a 3M clear bra put before I drove it home. Now, I will ultimately have to spend a little money to fix the chips and then a little more money to get a clear bra put on.
AZhitman, they never said anything about lex and they definately said it was teflon and that it was baked on. It was no where near 149 to 249. It was actually much closer to 1000. I donno if this is still the same stuff you speak of! I really just don't know that much about it except they said they were going to bake a teflon coating onto it.
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AZhitman
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- Location: Surprise, Arizona
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They won't mention the brand name specifically, because then they know you could research it. And we all know the following equation is true:
An informed car buyer = no profit.
The only thing they're "baking" is their customers... I'd love to have them try to tell me that BS.
Think about it from an empirical perspective:
"Baking" implies heating the body of the car.
In the AZ sun, the surface of a dark car can reach 200F.
So it stands to reason that whatever they want to do to the car will require a container of some sort that can apply sufficient heat to exceed 200F (look around for a big oven at the dealership, it doesn't exist).
With that being the case, your tires, rubber and vinyl become endangered (ask them how they'd protect the rubber at those temperatures, they'll start crying).
While several of the better products on the market contain Teflon, it requires NO heat to adhere to the surface of the paint (sales people think we're all morons) and is actually a 30-45 minute application process. I have heard of dealerships charging $600-700 for this, but the $1000 you speak of takes the cake.
If it were something that would actually help, the manufacturer would include it from the factory AND brag about it in their advertising.
Sad that in this information age, snake oil sales are still thriving.
An informed car buyer = no profit.
The only thing they're "baking" is their customers... I'd love to have them try to tell me that BS.
Think about it from an empirical perspective:
"Baking" implies heating the body of the car.
In the AZ sun, the surface of a dark car can reach 200F.
So it stands to reason that whatever they want to do to the car will require a container of some sort that can apply sufficient heat to exceed 200F (look around for a big oven at the dealership, it doesn't exist).
With that being the case, your tires, rubber and vinyl become endangered (ask them how they'd protect the rubber at those temperatures, they'll start crying).
While several of the better products on the market contain Teflon, it requires NO heat to adhere to the surface of the paint (sales people think we're all morons) and is actually a 30-45 minute application process. I have heard of dealerships charging $600-700 for this, but the $1000 you speak of takes the cake.
If it were something that would actually help, the manufacturer would include it from the factory AND brag about it in their advertising.
Sad that in this information age, snake oil sales are still thriving.
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greg_atlanta
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nuQ
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2009 Dodge Caliber SXT - Location: Bethlehem PA
honestly, no wax can touch the shine or durability of 5 star/Zaino,,,,,hands down. can't say enough good about them!!! applied the 5 star last sept., been only using the self/serve washes since. last week took my wash mitt, and did a quick scrub while the soap was still on (from the high pressure wand), did the entire car, then rinsed off. was shocked how good it still looks. there is NO wax that can maintain it's shine that long, i've tried them all!!!!! i also live in a town with a nearby cement factory,,,,,,dust everyday!!!! used to chew right through ANY wax i applied within weeks!!!!! bottom line,,,,,worth the extra money for 5 star/zaino if it keeps me from spending an entire afternoon re-applying waxes every month!
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AZhitman
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- Location: Surprise, Arizona
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I have probably 20 bottles of half-used premium waxes and polishes in my garage -
Nothing you can buy at the local PoopBoys is worth using, unless your sole purpose is to build up your forearms and waste a Saturday.
Cindy Crawford doesn't use 99 cent Suave shampoo, and there's a reason.
Leave the common waxes for the Cavalier / Neon crowd.
Nothing you can buy at the local PoopBoys is worth using, unless your sole purpose is to build up your forearms and waste a Saturday.
Cindy Crawford doesn't use 99 cent Suave shampoo, and there's a reason.
Leave the common waxes for the Cavalier / Neon crowd.
