Most Fragile Car I've Ever Owned!

Boosted Josh · 05-28-2010, 07:26 PM

All manufactures are dealing with this issue. Blame it on environmental regulations not the car.

Oh and c5's are known to have a very heavy clear coat which is why they have orange peel like a mofo.

pauley · 05-28-2010, 07:58 PM

With black wash with 2 buckets, grit guards for both, clay bar, mequiars ultimate compound(does'nt scratch paint), and high quality sealant and wax. I use Klasse.
Maintaining a black nissan/infiniti cars is like a full time job.

Montez · 05-28-2010, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pauley

With black wash with 2 buckets, grit guards for both, clay bar, mequiars ultimate compound(does'nt scratch paint), and high quality sealant and wax. I use Klasse.
Maintaining a black nissan/infiniti cars is like a full time job.

Hell maintaining any Nissan of any color since 2000 is a Bi*tch! Like the guys said almost everytime you wash it you find a new paint issue.....on the door, hood, fender etc. My Max is the same way.......horrible.

m4a1mustang · 05-28-2010, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montez

Hell maintaining any Nissan of any color since 2000 is a Bi*tch! Like the guys said almost everytime you wash it you find a new paint issue.....on the door, hood, fender etc. My Max is the same way.......horrible.

Yeah, this is the worst paint I've seen on ANY car. Period!

I was helping a friend touch up a chip on her 2008 Honda Accord and was so pissed that the paint was 200000x better than mine. Another friend's 2003 Mercedes with 90k miles has fewer paint chips than mine and NO blemishes.

PapoZalsa · 05-28-2010, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pauley

With black wash with 2 buckets, grit guards for both, clay bar, mequiars ultimate compound(does'nt scratch paint), and high quality sealant and wax. I use Klasse.
Maintaining a black nissan/infiniti cars is like a full time job.

Maintaining ANY black car is a full time job!

I had a a Black BMW that I washed twice a week because I didn't have a garage.

I will never buy anohter black car!

joshs09slvrZ · 05-28-2010, 09:59 PM

Nissan's are known to have very soft and thin clear coats. The GT-R actually has a badge that states this paint is extremely hard...that that is the exception. Compared to Chevy (which uses an above average hard clear), it's crazy! I have a Cobalt before my Z and my Dad owns a C6 Vette. The Vette has a clear that is super hard. That's why you're seeing so much of a difference with your Z as compared to your Vette. The problem with hard clears is that they are a pain to correct sometimes.

Don't get a clear bra...it will turn yellow overtime and anything that is big enough to damage the bra will just go through and embed itself into the paint. Find a good detailer that knows what they're doing with a rotary and have them maintain it. A good sealant will last you a good 5 weeks or so depending on the elements and will protect against the bird bombs, water etching, etc.

m4a1mustang · 05-28-2010, 10:05 PM

I think the key is just to resign yourself to the fact that the paint sucks and don't fret about all of the imperfections. Just keep it looking as good as you can and don't let anyone get closer than 5 feet away from your car!

Montez · 05-29-2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

I think the key is just to resign yourself to the fact that the paint sucks and don't fret about all of the imperfections. Just keep it looking as good as you can and don't let anyone get closer than 5 feet away from your car!

Lol, could not have said it it better myself...lol.

PapoZalsa · 05-28-2010, 10:29 PM

All I did for example Zday was use Blue Painter Tape. I can tell you that it did it job, so far I have not found anything from that trip.

Is a little time consuming but is worth if you don't have a OEM bra or clear 3M bra. I only spent like $13.00 in Lowe's for the tape and used it for the roundtrip.

We also space ourselves at least 1 1/2 car in between us.

rj45 · 05-29-2010, 06:51 AM

I use this from time to time for long freeway trips... Protective Film : New Car Paint Protection : Paint Protector : Automobile Paint Protection : BuyRoadWrap.com

It's a temporary wrap that works pretty well. I'm not saying it looks good, but it does what it's supposed to. Much quicker to apply than painter's tape.

Regarding auto paint, in general...the industry has got to come up with a better clear. I realize there are EPA restrictions they must contend with, but the paints today are just too fragile. I remember my father telling me that back in the good old days, you rarely got a paint chip (of course, those paints were lead based). But, with all the advanced chemistry today, they must be able to come up with a tougher paint. Paint chips suck.

m4a1mustang · 05-29-2010, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rj45

I use this from time to time for long freeway trips... Protective Film : New Car Paint Protection : Paint Protector : Automobile Paint Protection : BuyRoadWrap.com

It's a temporary wrap that works pretty well. I'm not saying it looks good, but it does what it's supposed to. Much quicker to apply than painter's tape.

Regarding auto paint, in general...the industry has got to come up with a better clear. I realize there are EPA restrictions they must contend with, but the paints today are just too fragile. I remember my father telling me that back in the good old days, you rarely got a paint chip (of course, those paints were lead based). But, with all the advanced chemistry today, they must be able to come up with a tougher paint. Paint chips suck.

It can't be the industry as a whole, though, because almost every other manufacturer out there has paint and clear at least 10 times superior to Nissan's. The paint on my dad's 2005 Chrysler, my sister's 2002 Mustang, and our beater 1997 Buick is BETTER than the 2009 370Z! It's pretty wild.

joshs09slvrZ · 05-29-2010, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

It can't be the industry as a whole, though, because almost every other manufacturer out there has paint and clear at least 10 times superior to Nissan's. The paint on my dad's 2005 Chrysler, my sister's 2002 Mustang, and our beater 1997 Buick is BETTER than the 2009 370Z! It's pretty wild.

Exactly! And look at some of the foreign cars such as Audi and BMW. They use a ceramic clear and is extremely hard. Even those gets chips and scratches though.

PapoZalsa · 05-29-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

It can't be the industry as a whole, though, because almost every other manufacturer out there has paint and clear at least 10 times superior to Nissan's. The paint on my dad's 2005 Chrysler, my sister's 2002 Mustang, and our beater 1997 Buick is BETTER than the 2009 370Z! It's pretty wild.

I agree, I had my old lady Toyota RAV4 for almost 4 years without any front protection and when I got rid off it a few weeks ago that paint looked almost brand new.

Few scratches and rock chips here and there for trips like to Florida 3 times, DC and daily driving, plus was not garaged.

But like m4a1mustang said, learn to live with it and try to take care of the car as much as possible.

antennahead · 05-29-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

It can't be the industry as a whole, though, because almost every other manufacturer out there has paint and clear at least 10 times superior to Nissan's. The paint on my dad's 2005 Chrysler, my sister's 2002 Mustang, and our beater 1997 Buick is BETTER than the 2009 370Z! It's pretty wild.

I owned a 1995 Lexus SC300. When I traded that car on my 2006 350 it still looked brand new. I drive the same interstate daily to work, a lot of 18 wheelers and road construction. The Lexus front end had almost no chips........ after one year the 350 looked like it had been shot with a shotgun

Because of the 350 experience, I immediately got a clearbra on the 370, and it has been a life saver. The bumper looks almost brand new, only two small spots where something VERY large obviously made impact. I agree with whoever posted that fact that with todays technology, they should be able to make a durable clear that also passes EPA muster

rj45 · 05-29-2010, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

It can't be the industry as a whole, though, because almost every other manufacturer out there has paint and clear at least 10 times superior to Nissan's. The paint on my dad's 2005 Chrysler, my sister's 2002 Mustang, and our beater 1997 Buick is BETTER than the 2009 370Z! It's pretty wild.

True, some are better than others, but none of them wear all that well. When comparing paint quality/durability, one must consider how much frontal area is painted, how low the painted panels go, etc. The very low portions (front spoilers, side sills, etc.) are especially vulnerable.

Someone mentioned the Corvette's hard clear. Unfortunately, it doesn't do much for stone chips, IME. The painted area around my old C6 Z06's rear brake ducts got chipped up pretty good within a month. My pop's new Camaro (6 months old) has numerous chips (I'm assuming the clear is the same as the Corvette's). The Camaro hood is pretty flat, and it's already showing some chipping, which is surprising.

I guess it's just something we have to accept, these days. The only options are not driving the car (ridiculous) or installing a clear bra.

05-28-2010, 07:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
pauley Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Md Posts: 103 Drives: 09 370Z + 07 G35S Rep Power: 16	With black wash with 2 buckets, grit guards for both, clay bar, mequiars ultimate compound(does'nt scratch paint), and high quality sealant and wax. I use Klasse. Maintaining a black nissan/infiniti cars is like a full time job. __________________ 2009 370Z Blk/Blk Touring/Sport + 2007 G35SModified

05-28-2010, 10:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	I think the key is just to resign yourself to the fact that the paint sucks and don't fret about all of the imperfections. Just keep it looking as good as you can and don't let anyone get closer than 5 feet away from your car! __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

05-28-2010, 10:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
PapoZalsa A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Not in Sunny Florida Posts: 6,358 Drives: 16 Nismo w/Tech Pack Rep Power: 4500	All I did for example Zday was use Blue Painter Tape. I can tell you that it did it job, so far I have not found anything from that trip. Is a little time consuming but is worth if you don't have a OEM bra or clear 3M bra. I only spent like $13.00 in Lowe's for the tape and used it for the roundtrip. We also space ourselves at least 1 1/2 car in between us. __________________ 2009 370Z MB Base w/Sport Package 6MT Modshack's Custom Air Intakes /3M Clear Bra/ Illuminated Kick Plates / F. I CBE w/12" resonators / EVO-R Front Lip / Rear Hatch Wing / Tein S-Tech Springs /Ilegal Tint in the Rep. of VA/4x20mm Z1 Spacers/ Vinyl Roof/Liquid Carbon Designs

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05-28-2010, 07:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Boosted Josh Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 85 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 16	All manufactures are dealing with this issue. Blame it on environmental regulations not the car. Oh and c5's are known to have a very heavy clear coat which is why they have orange peel like a mofo.

05-28-2010, 09:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
joshs09slvrZ Track Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 547 Drives: 09 7AT 370Z Rep Power: 17	Nissan's are known to have very soft and thin clear coats. The GT-R actually has a badge that states this paint is extremely hard...that that is the exception. Compared to Chevy (which uses an above average hard clear), it's crazy! I have a Cobalt before my Z and my Dad owns a C6 Vette. The Vette has a clear that is super hard. That's why you're seeing so much of a difference with your Z as compared to your Vette. The problem with hard clears is that they are a pain to correct sometimes. Don't get a clear bra...it will turn yellow overtime and anything that is big enough to damage the bra will just go through and embed itself into the paint. Find a good detailer that knows what they're doing with a rotary and have them maintain it. A good sealant will last you a good 5 weeks or so depending on the elements and will protect against the bird bombs, water etching, etc.

05-29-2010, 06:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
rj45 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA Posts: 60 Drives: 40th Anniversary Z Rep Power: 16	I use this from time to time for long freeway trips... Protective Film : New Car Paint Protection : Paint Protector : Automobile Paint Protection : BuyRoadWrap.com It's a temporary wrap that works pretty well. I'm not saying it looks good, but it does what it's supposed to. Much quicker to apply than painter's tape. Regarding auto paint, in general...the industry has got to come up with a better clear. I realize there are EPA restrictions they must contend with, but the paints today are just too fragile. I remember my father telling me that back in the good old days, you rarely got a paint chip (of course, those paints were lead based). But, with all the advanced chemistry today, they must be able to come up with a tougher paint. Paint chips suck.