Why does Nissan paint suck?

I

imported_Yosemite Dan

New member
In the next year I'll be looking for a mid-life crisis car (although I'm only 36, you gotta start somewhere). On the top of my list are the 350Z and G35 coupe. The problem is Nissan must have the worst paint on the planet. My father has a Maxima which he hardly ever drives on the highway and there must be hundreds of paint chips on the hood. I also have 2 friends with G35's with the same problems. Clear bras only go so high. I have a Mazda 6 and I have maybe 3 chips from heavy highway driving. Every other car I've owned(Subarus, Hondas, Fords) has never had close to as many chips as the lousy Nissan paint. It's a constant complaint from Nissan Owners all over the internet. Any Nissan owners out there without this problem consider yourself lucky.



I know lead isn't present in paint due to the EPA but all other carmakers also are regulated this way so why does Nissan's suck so bad?



I know if I buy a 350Z and it starts chipping like crazy it will drive me nuts.:wall What kind of products can I use for the hood to minimize this or should I just clear bra the entire car.

:rolleyes: or better yet just get the 2005 Mustang. :spot
 
Yosemite Dan said:
In the next year I'll be looking for a mid-life crisis car (although I'm only 36, you gotta start somewhere). On the top of my list are the 350Z and G35 coupe. The problem is Nissan must have the worst paint on the planet. My father has a Maxima which he hardly ever drives on the highway and there must be hundreds of paint chips on the hood. I also have 2 friends with G35's with the same problems. Clear bras only go so high. I have a Mazda 6 and I have maybe 3 chips from heavy highway driving. Every other car I've owned(Subarus, Hondas, Fords) has never had close to as many chips as the lousy Nissan paint. It's a constant complaint from Nissan Owners all over the internet. Any Nissan owners out there without this problem consider yourself lucky.



I know lead isn't present in paint due to the EPA but all other carmakers also are regulated this way so why does Nissan's suck so bad?



I know if I buy a 350Z and it starts chipping like crazy it will drive me nuts.:wall What kind of products can I use for the hood to minimize this or should I just clear bra the entire car.

:rolleyes: or better yet just get the 2005 Mustang. :spot
Click to expand...



I think everybody complaints about crappy paint these days, Everybody say ACURA paint suxs. Ford paint suxs. etc etc. I think it just something u have to deal with paint touchups and polish. I heard the clearbra is pretty good but It depends how anal u are because u can still see the bra.
 
In 2000, I bought the newly redesigned Maxima (SE Version)

In 2001, I was so fed up with the crappy paint, interior materials, and overall lack of quality, I sold it and bought a 1999 Honda Accord LX. I hated that Maxima about 6 months after I bought it because of all the paint issues it had - it would scratch if you breathed on it :eek: The Honda paint seemed to be MUCH more resistant to chipping and scratching. Just my observations :)



Check out http://www.freshalloy.com if you want info on the clear bra. Seems like everyone over there just accepts the paint as a known issue and clear bras their cars.
 
I don't mind using a clear bra but most of the hood will still be exposed. Basically my question is are there any waxes/sealants out there that do a good job protecting against chips so I can put 50 layers on there just so it can reduce it.



I know chips are part of life but the Nissans I've seen are absolutely ridiculous especially considering what you're paying for a 350Z.



berzerker, I know what you mean, my father has a 2000 Max GLE which is black(big mistake). The chips and scratches on that thing would make an Autopian puke. You figure Nissan would get their act together and pony up for better quality paint by now.
 
I have the G35c and had the clearbra installed immediately on delivery. Includes the front of the hood, bumper, fenders, mirrors, headlights, etc.



No chips here. IMO a decent and well installed kit will provide sufficient coverage for the leading edge of the hood (along w/the bumpers, etc) and there really isn't a risk of chipping beyond that where the hood is pretty much horizontal.



I think most of us G35c owners either accept that it's gonna be rockchip city or cough up $500-$800 for a bra when we get it. Well, the ones who surf the boards do, anyway.



Get the clearbra and drive! The car's a rocket and a LOT of fun. Well priced for the features and performance, too.
 
lol, I got the chips, had the front end repainted, wish I had the front of the hood done too. Washed my car, thought I had snow on the front of the hood. It is horrible, I have really given up on that part of the car, unfortunately.
 
Deep Freeze- Did you get it repainted at the dealer and are you still getting chips on the repainted area because I've heard the only saving grace in repainting the hood is independent body shops tend to use higher quality paint. Don't know if I wanna spend that much on a 350Z to find out if that's true though.
 
Well, it is alot better after the repaint. Nissan did the job. The chips are a bad point, but hardly a reason I would miss out on this car. The car is just too good to miss, and enjoy driving it everytime I am behind the wheel.



Now, the repaint does make the front end a lot better, got one place where a big rock must have hit it. The extra coat helped in that spot also, needs some retouch paint though to make it OK again.



The biggest difference is between the hood(not repainted) and the front end(repainted). Now, by some people's standards it would not be that bad, but I notice every spot on the hood. Haven't noticed any on the front end, but on the hood there are more than a few. So far, the repainted part has held up pretty well, don't know what it will do long term though. Guess I need to inspect the front end again when my car is clean, don't really remember right now.
 
Hmmm i dont know about the way how the rest of you drive since some of you complain about chips here and there.My 240 will be 15 y/o next month and i only have a few rocks chips,driving/following too close to the next vehicle ahead of me.After not following so close never had a chip since.
 
Toyota paint is no better. The front of my Tundra is literally peppered with chips, and I've even got two on top of the ROOF!

Couple on the rear of the tailgate too.

Also, on the plastic bumper cover, in addition to a couple of hundred small chips, I have one large chunk that's nearly an inch in diameter.



Independent shops are no better... last year I had an accident and wiped out one front corner. Hood and front bumper cover were replaced (along with a few other parts).

Caliber did a great job of matching Toyota's 4Q2 color, but it is no more durable.



I'm about ready to take it to Mexico and have some real paint applied.
 
The paint on my old 93 Nissan was teriffic. The paint on my 99 Honda chips off if you just look at it the wrong way.
 
Though I'm sure you've had many chips, I don't think that Nissan paint is any more susceptible than other Japanese or U.S. makers; it's probably just circumstance. I drive a 1992 champagne gold Silvia K's, and with the original paint there are about 5 very small nicks on the hood (unnoticeable unless looking carefully for them), and 2 or three that are bigger than 3mm (but just). The paint on my Nissan definitely DOESN'T "suck"; in fact, it's tough as nails and gorgeous! :xyxthumbs
 
In recent years the EPA has imposed regulations limiting the VOC's released during painting and coating processes. Reducing VOC's is very expensive and the automotive manufacturers turned to modifying the paint composition to reduce the cost of removing these VOC's. This has resulted in more brittle paint. Until manufacturers find a better paint or a better VOC control process we wind up with paint that chips easily.
 
Well I really don't tailgate and will change lanes if I even sniff an truck ahead on the highway so maybe that's why my Mazda is pretty much scratch and chip free but than I noticed the paint seems to be thicker on my car than my father's Maxima.



Is there any sealant\waxes that anybody has used on their new car and have found it to be resistant to chipping. Just want to do anything I can to keep my future baby looking good.
 
Because they spend all the money on the engine.:D



I agree it chips incredibly easy. I never seem to get just a small nick - its always a full blown chip. And I use a rock/bug deflector.
 
"Because they spend all the money on the engine."



Yeah but they use the same engine I think on every car they ever made so you figure the money they save on R & D would go into their paint. :p
 
2003 Acura TL-S -8000 miles I have chips on the right and left from quarter panels down to the metal - 2002 Maxima SE same thing - Just something I have to live with I guess.
 
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