Today's Honest John Column - cheddar
... with regard to a couple of answers to correspondants in today' Telegraph "Honest John" column.


1/ In my experience a slight difference in colour between the wings and bonnet is far less noticable than a difference between the wings and the doors. In fact most body shops etc would blend the colour in across the width of a door as opposed to paint up to the shut line as advised by HJ.


2/ Re the comment about the new Passat, no reason to think it is going to be problematic however historically the first 6 months to a year's production of a new model has been the period in which minor faults occur which are corrected for later production, I doubt that there is any evidence to prove HJ's assertion that end of line models are less reliable because the manufacturer has "cut ocmponent costs", to the contrary it costs a lot to design, specify and source revised components so any minor unit cost saving would be unlikely to be justified if the model only had a year or so to run.


3/ Not down to HJ this one, the back page feature quotes ...

"admits to using the old French method of bumping cars fore and aft to fit into a slot so needs something quite robust"

... therefore seems to condone this activity that only serves to damage other people's valuable property particularly if performed when driving an ML with rear mounted spare wheel and chrome bull bar as per the lady featured. Shame the article did not take the opportunity to critisise this almost criminal practice.


Regards.
Today's Honest John Column - Badger
Reading of that arrogant airhead's attitude to the peasantry and their property has brought me close to supporting Livingstone over what Sir John Whitmore calls SAVs -- Suburban Assault Vehicles.
Today's Honest John Column - cheddar
HJ,

Thanks for correcting the typos on my original post, clearly they caused a little confusion.


Regards.
Today's Honest John Column - Altea Ego
Body workshops will always nearly spray bonnet and wings because the differnce in shades shows up more there than anywhere else on the car This is because they point upwards where the light and reflections are much more even, therefore shows up imperfections. The sides of cars often face slightly downwards and suffer much more uneven light and reflections and therefore show up paint imperfections less.
Today's Honest John Column - Adam {P}
Because of this thread I've looked at my car even closer and asked the bloke who did it (mate of my Dad's) if he sprayed the wings. He insists he never and I swear to God, you really cannot tell.

I don't care how good an eye you have for paint matching, you couldn't tell my bonnet has been resprayed at all.
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Adam
Today's Honest John Column - Civic8
Adam.Never look at a car close up to see any difference in shade.Around 10-15ft is best in bright but cloudy light conditions..this also shows up any defects in bodywork done before you got the car.ie ripples in door skins not fitted correctly/sprayed..its not possible to respray a panel without blending in elsewhere.Not on metalics anyway
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Steve
Today's Honest John Column - Adam {P}
I know the two back doors have been resprayed by Ford before we got it. I never noticed until one day I was walking down the drive and saw it. The bloke who sprayed it asked that straight away. They must have an eye for these things.

As for looking close, you're right. I think I'll take a few photos. The flash might highlight any indiscrepancies. Actually, I'm not going to do that - I don't want to know! It looks fine, I'm happy with that!
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Adam
Today's Honest John Column - cheddar
Body workshops will always nearly spray bonnet and wings because the


"always nearly" ..... I get the drift.
differnce in shades shows up more there than anywhere else on

the car This is because they point upwards where the light and reflections are much more even, therefore shows up imperfections.
The sides of cars often face slightly downwards and suffer much
more uneven light and reflections and therefore show up paint imperfections less.


RF, I must say, I reckon the facts are the complete opposite, colour diffences show between adjecant panels when the panels are level, i.e. on the same plane, as each other and there for are refelecting the same light, i.e. wing v front door v rear door etc, while this can be the case with wings v bonnet, on most cars the bonnet is pretty flat and the wings taper away at quite an angle so they are not on the same plane.

Should also say that often colour differences will be most apparent under artificial light, some cars can look fine in the day light though horendous on a well lit garage forecourt at night.

Today's Honest John Column - Altea Ego
The point is - sides get far much less light and as angled slightly downwards, get the inconsistent reflection of the surface they are standing on.