Hi!

I currently have a 2003 Red Evo. Love the car, no problems, 30k miles, except for the crummy red paint. It's very clear and glossy, dont' get me wrong, but the hood chips are crazy. Luckily I found a product called Langka which lets you touch up chips, and still have a nice level surface. It doesn't look perfect, but it does look very good after its waxed up. Much better than the chips or regular lumpy touch up paint alone.

My question is this: Planning on buying a IX very soon. Is the red paint any better now? We are trying to decide between red and white, and if the red paint is still this touchy, then we will probably go with the white for that reason alone. Any input on the matter is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Robb

 

It's all relative. Get what color you want, and then get one of those clear bra's. You should be fine.

 

I got an 05 and my paint sucks. I just washed my car today and I see 3 huge rock chips. Two on the hood and 1 on the passengers side fender. I heard that the fenders are aluminium(someone confirm this) so that might help it from rusting. I know the hood is aluminium so i'm not too worried about that. I should've gotten a clear bra. I so regret that.

 

yeah.

 

Yeah, I dunno about the clear bra. That line across the hood would drive me ape **** I think. Why can't an auto mfg lay down a decent paint job? lol. I have over 50k miles on my 2003 Focus SVT and I think it has 3 rock chips, and that's driving behind Semis on I-80 doing 80 miles an hour all day. I can't even count how many I've repaired on the Evo.

 

yea i got a 2005 gg and there are so many chips on my hood its almost embarasing.i have a 89 prelude and it has less chips in it. does anyone know hoe to repair them and it still looks good.

 

I have a 2006 rally red IX, and the hood has a ton of chips in it, and I've only had the car a couple of months. My 2003 apex silver paint fared much better than the red.

So I think they still have a problem with rally red.

I'm going to see what they say when I take it to the dealer tonight to sign up for my free diamond care, maybe I can get a re-spray on the hood, and then clear bra it.

 

You bought a fast car that happens to have a hood. Roads happen to have debris. Add 2 and 2 together, and you're going to get paint chips.

 

On my 05 GG MR, I had a clear bra installed on day 2. Now, 1.5 years later, you can see a clear line of delineation between where I have absolutely 0 paint chips, rock ships, abrasians (area covered by the bra) and a minefield of white spots where my hood got obliterated by rocks and debris (above the bra). The line is not a problem, because it's nearly invisible, and it's definitely worth it. If I had it over again, I would have paid more to cover more of the hood, because my bra only goes up to just below the hood vent. Of course, this is the most important area, since it is sloped downward, but even the nearly-flat part of my hood above this area is riddled with chips...and the chips show white because the paint is so thin.

 

iam not worried about chips on the hood right now, i will just get a carbon fiber hood and them the clear bra

 

Thank you for that feedback!

(I've been debating going with the extended kit vs. standard.)

 

Fenders are Aluminum, I've had a rock chip from a Porche that cut me off and when doing so threw a rock up and it nailed the fender. It has no rust whatsoever and it is all the way to the metal.

 

i just paid 750 bucks for the extended clear bra on the front of the car and window tinting all around at a very professional place. I feel much much more comfortable driving on sandy, or gravely roads knowing that ive got that covering on there. The clearbra ends about halfway up the hood vent and covers the entire front and mirrors. The protection it provides far outways the minimal line on the hood. Ill post some pics up later if i get around to it.

 

my 05 is the same way, thats why next week the hood, front and rear bumper, and trunk are getting repainted.. next year, ill either get rid of the car or repaint it.. depends if i finally swear of the whole mitsu name and go back to american..

 

my 04 is chipped more up than my dad's 1995 nissan with 200,000 miles, and he never waxes it.