Subaru paint - is there something I should know?

[benpocock]

Was detailing a friends blue WRX STi today and was amazed at how "hard" the clear seemed to be. His car was swirled beyond belief, but nothing too deep or serious, just thousands of what I'd call "normal" swirls.



Anyway, I take a look at it and figure #83 on a polishing pad (Sonus green) should be aggressive enough for what they looked like. Nothing. Stepped up to an orange pad with not much more success. Tried the Megs burgundy pad which was better but still not great. Anyhow we gave it two passes of this, then some #80 on a green and then VM, EX-P and CMW all on blue pads.



It came up great but there still some light swirls there that aren't going to go unless I step up to something really aggressive.



So, is Subaru paint particularly different to any other? I've taken swirls that looked the same out of cars with just #80 and a green, but this was ridiculous!



Ben.

 

[m4xmw]

Yes the swirls are a bit stubborn.

Its more of a reduction than removal with Scooby paint.



I have removed it with yellow LC pads, but they can leave hazing on dark colours...



All with SSR2.5.



Mark

 

[Accumulator]

I always found Subaru clear (last one I did was the WRX I used to have) pretty *soft* compared to Audis or even our Mazda, so I guess it's all relative. I could get most stuff out with PI-III MG (05937), with a few spots needing PI-III RC (05933) first. Could do it all by hand, PC (4" pads), or Cyclo, never needed the rotary for it.



I've heard odd reports about the Subie clear, that it's harder/softer depending on what color coat it's over. I find this utterly inexplicable, but that's what I've heard. FWIW, I've only worked on white, burgundy, and silver Subarus.

 

[Jesstzn]

I worked on a badly abused blue WRX and I never did bring it back .. it was hard but the depth of some of the scratches were pretty deep .. I think the WRX has harder clear cuz it goes faster right out of the box so the clear cures differently with the accelerated wind speed.

 

[superstring]

Posted by Jesstzn



.. I think the WRX has harder clear cuz it goes faster right out of the box so the clear cures differently with the accelerated wind speed.

Funny guy!

 

[koreanbeefcake]

i have an 03 wrx, and it was ALWAYS a pain to clean. but then i got rear ended and paid for a new paintjob so they didnt have to blend and now its so easy to keep clean and the paint doesnt just fall off when you touch it.

 

[colche]

I've got a '03 impreza and have noticed too its a bit tougher. I went at what I thought were pretty light swirls with #80 and LC Yellow and after several passes I went up to SSR 2.5 LC Yellow.



Similiar swirling on BMW, gone in one pass #80 LC Yellow.

 

[TEGBOY]

Just don't wash it with a kitchen scrub pad, I like saw an elderly customer had done to their new WRX at the dealership the other day.....

 

[josh_s70glt]

Just don't wash it with a kitchen scrub pad, I like saw an elderly customer had done to their new WRX at the dealership the other day.....

Customer: "How else am I going to get the bugs off?"

 

[SVR]

It's only run of the mill acrylic laquer paint so shouldn't be any different

Dad's 04 WRX STI is in need of some paint refinishing. You can amost cut your hand when you feel it.

Have only done interior vinyl and wheels (speed clay, p21s Finish restorer, AIO, Wheel sealant) but I am concerned about what paint damage is irreversible