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Poor paint quality on a new Panda?
I bought a new Fiat Panda 4x4 about two months ago on four year finance. It has a "Darkwave Black" paint finish.
The problem is the durability of the paint finish, which is awful. The bonnet had a deep scratch on it which I noticed about two weeks after I took delivery, and some haze marks on the bumper (presumably from overpolishing on the pre-delivery preparation) started to show up.
Everything looked fine when I first picked it up - and I did check carefully! I think they must have used a detailers silicone finish to mask a lot of the problems - as soon as this weathers off, everything shows up.
The dealer sorted out the scratch, which in the end involved a respray of the bonnet. The haze marks they polished out with mild T-Cut.
Last week I noticed a paint chip, and every time I look I seem to see new surface scratches, and the surface quickly loses its shine. I've had 2 black cars before this and never have seen paint this easily marked or looking weathered so fast!
Do I have any redress - can anything be done? I don't feel that the paint finish has any durability.
The problem is the durability of the paint finish, which is awful. The bonnet had a deep scratch on it which I noticed about two weeks after I took delivery, and some haze marks on the bumper (presumably from overpolishing on the pre-delivery preparation) started to show up.
Everything looked fine when I first picked it up - and I did check carefully! I think they must have used a detailers silicone finish to mask a lot of the problems - as soon as this weathers off, everything shows up.
The dealer sorted out the scratch, which in the end involved a respray of the bonnet. The haze marks they polished out with mild T-Cut.
Last week I noticed a paint chip, and every time I look I seem to see new surface scratches, and the surface quickly loses its shine. I've had 2 black cars before this and never have seen paint this easily marked or looking weathered so fast!
Do I have any redress - can anything be done? I don't feel that the paint finish has any durability.
Asked on 29 May 2013 by Nigel_P
Answered by
Honest John
Get them to give it a high-def waxing. Or pay up to £200 for Autoglym Lifeshine paint protection.
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