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Old 02-08-2009, 02:45 PM   #1
miller91
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Default Is it just me or does Subaru have the crappiest paint?

It was way nice out today, and this is the first time I ever got to wash my car and clean it. While doing this, I noticed that there are swirl marks and smudge marks everywhere, even orange peel. This irritates me because I am somewhat OCD when it comes to a clean car. With this being said, have any of you experienced this? Is there something I can do about the orange peel? Also, what is the best way to get rid of swirl marks?

Thanks all for the look.

Edit: car is a MB 02 wrx
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Last edited by miller91; 02-08-2009 at 02:50 PM.
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Old 02-08-2009, 02:59 PM   #2
Pakelika
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Yes Subaru paint is generally not the best. As for the swirls, if its an 02 and you've never polished it before, I am sure that years of washing you're car would be full of swirl marks. (On just about every car really)

I'm not sure on fixing orange peel, but you can get a Random Orbit Polisher like a Porter Cable or Flex and some polishes and you'd be able to get the majority of those swirls out, depending how deep they are.

Check out www.autopia.org. Lots on there to read
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Old 02-08-2009, 02:59 PM   #3
Pakelika
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Sorry Double Posted

Last edited by Pakelika; 02-08-2009 at 03:00 PM. Reason: Double Posted
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Old 02-08-2009, 03:50 PM   #4
nhmtns
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miller91 View Post
Is it just me or does Subaru have the crappiest paint?
No, Subaru's paint is as crappy as yours
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Old 02-08-2009, 08:27 PM   #5
ejswimmer45
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yeah, subaru paint is not the best. mine is a lease and is due back in a year. mechanically it runs great, but i am afraid that i am going to have to do some touch ups, or have a professional do some work before i turn it back in. you would think that as incredible as they are mechanically, the paint job would be the same
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Old 02-09-2009, 01:10 PM   #6
DC16A2
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The Subaru paint seems thin and brittle to me. Our Taurus has better paint. I try to keep the Impreza under sealant pretty much all the time.
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Old 02-09-2009, 03:50 PM   #7
miller91
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DC16A2 View Post
The Subaru paint seems thin and brittle to me. Our Taurus has better paint. I try to keep the Impreza under sealant pretty much all the time.
I think thats what i am going to start doing. I just got the car in november, so I have never been able to clean it. But ive been noticing great amounts of swirl marks, so I think when i can im going to give it a full on detail. And if that doesnt work, ill just send it off to a professional.
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Old 02-09-2009, 05:48 PM   #8
DC16A2
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Haha, the Taurus is 5 years older than my Impreza with 63K more miles... and the paint looks better =T
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Old 02-09-2009, 06:13 PM   #9
FunkRider
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I'll give it to ford, it may be full of orange peel these days but they have excellent and durable paint. My used and abused ex police Crown Vic came back to life with just a hand polish.
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Old 02-09-2009, 06:57 PM   #10
wade869
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i am a detailer, to get swilrs out, i use a circular buffer with Perfect it- Swirl remover from 3M. and a Perfect it light pad. orange peal you can't really get out, but you could wet sand it to make it lighter. or just get it painted.
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Old 02-09-2009, 07:39 PM   #11
miller91
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wade869 View Post
i am a detailer, to get swilrs out, i use a circular buffer with Perfect it- Swirl remover from 3M. and a Perfect it light pad. orange peal you can't really get out, but you could wet sand it to make it lighter. or just get it painted.
Its on the bottom of the slant by mr rocker. Im not going to be to worried, but it annoys me that i know its there. I have been reading on autopia and i think i have the general idea of what to do. Hopefully it works, when i do it ill take pics!

Thanks all for the help.
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Old 02-09-2009, 10:49 PM   #12
dobie0791
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miller91 View Post
Its on the bottom of the slant by mr rocker. Im not going to be to worried, but it annoys me that i know its there. I have been reading on autopia and i think i have the general idea of what to do. Hopefully it works, when i do it ill take pics!

Thanks all for the help.
The OP at the bottom of the doors/rocker panels is intentional- its to help protect against chips.
If you want to see bad OP all over a car, just check out my buddy's new E92 M3...real bad.
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Old 02-10-2009, 02:45 AM   #13
2007RedGT
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The paint on Subaru's is thin. I've noticed a lot of chips in the front of most of all new Subaru's. Especially ones that are driven to the mountains.
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Old 02-10-2009, 12:57 PM   #14
miller91
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After reading around autopia and other sites, ive noticed that many detailers wont do cars because they are afraid of taking off clear coat. This got me thinking, and now i am afraid to polish my car for that reason. If I clay, use a small cut polish, and wax, will i strip my clear coat?
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Old 02-10-2009, 01:22 PM   #15
Exploderdude
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java black, lots of vinyl

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As for orange peel, really the only way to get rid of it is to wet sand. I've done it to both my STi and explorer, and to dozens of customer cars. I wouldn't try it yourself, leave it to a trained professional. Most detailing shops even won't do it, to risky.

If you really want it done, it makes your car look brand spanking new, and perfectly glass-smooth. Here's an example...

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i6...rogression.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i6...t/RIMG0448.jpg
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Old 02-10-2009, 02:09 PM   #16
scprs
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i have an 03.....i compounded it with turtle wax rubbing coumpound and then hand waxed it. I was very happy with the results. Takes a really long time though took me 4 hrs haha
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Old 02-10-2009, 03:15 PM   #17
little rex
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before i had my wrx i had a 91 and 92 sentra se-r and they bar far have the worse paint, Nissan paint ftl.
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Old 02-10-2009, 03:25 PM   #18
justincredible
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box

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Subaru paint does chip way too easily.

Jeeps have the best. I could practically scrape the Jeep along rocks and not damage the paint.
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Old 02-10-2009, 04:32 PM   #19
aresbykes
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Quote:
Originally Posted by justincredible View Post
Subaru paint does chip way too easily.

Jeeps have the best. I could practically scrape the Jeep along rocks and not damage the paint.
i can attest to this. I rolled my jeep, the sheet metal had crinkles dents and wrinkles everywhere, but the paint remained. lol.
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Old 02-10-2009, 04:33 PM   #20
iRace559
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Subaru Paint is crap and the doors/fenders are made of tin-foil.

If a bird crapped on your car, the impact would leave a fist sized dent and within an hour your paint would be eaten down to the primer.
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Old 02-10-2009, 04:41 PM   #21
ozzy370
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iRace559 View Post
Subaru Paint is crap and the doors/fenders are made of tin-foil.

If a bird crapped on your car, the impact would leave a fist sized dent and within an hour your paint would be eaten down to the primer.
more truth has never been typed
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Old 02-10-2009, 05:10 PM   #22
VWGrk1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iRace559 View Post
Subaru Paint is crap and the doors/fenders are made of tin-foil.

If a bird crapped on your car, the impact would leave a fist sized dent and within an hour your paint would be eaten down to the primer.
Classic!
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Old 02-12-2009, 12:15 AM   #23
pt_customs
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What do you think about that?

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Old 02-12-2009, 01:23 AM   #24
miller91
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the chip on the bumper? it will probably have to get sprayed again, but try to polish and wax it, it may make it less noticeable.
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Old 02-12-2009, 11:01 AM   #25
pt_customs
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Would it need a new paint job or just another coat? There's alot of rock chips on the hood as well.
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