is RED A BAD IDEA?
Originally Posted by rsm4
I doubt I could find anything in writing that says 03 red Evos have no clear. That's exactly what I am looking for.
Look, I think we're after the same thing here. I'm looking for evidence one way or the other about what the deal is. I've called around and I have received the same response. For the dealer reasons you state, I called Mitsubishi's PUBLISHED national customer support line. I have PAINTERS telling me my car has a clear coat. Did it change between 03 and 05? I don't know. Give me a number that I can call and talk to a reputable person or give me some documentation that says this.
If I waxed or polished my car and red came onto the cloth, I would be back at the dealer for an explanation very quickly. (And demanding my money back) Has anyone done this? What was the explanation? (And give me the number and name of who you spoke to)
So far the verifiable evidence I have is:
1) I called Mitsu's customer support line and asked.
2) I called my dealer and spoke with the service manager. (And had them check it)
The non-verifiable evidence I have is:
1) Some person online (with credentials I can't verify who claims to be a painter) says there's no clear coat. Sorry, but I'm going to believe you just as much as you're going to believe me. Have you done any of the steps I have done to verify my information?
I see the post about Mitsu R&D is from 2003. Perhaps they are now clear coat since then? I'd like the number for the R&D so I can follow up on this. (PM sent to Batty)
Look, I think we're after the same thing here. I'm looking for evidence one way or the other about what the deal is. I've called around and I have received the same response. For the dealer reasons you state, I called Mitsubishi's PUBLISHED national customer support line. I have PAINTERS telling me my car has a clear coat. Did it change between 03 and 05? I don't know. Give me a number that I can call and talk to a reputable person or give me some documentation that says this.
If I waxed or polished my car and red came onto the cloth, I would be back at the dealer for an explanation very quickly. (And demanding my money back) Has anyone done this? What was the explanation? (And give me the number and name of who you spoke to)
So far the verifiable evidence I have is:
1) I called Mitsu's customer support line and asked.
2) I called my dealer and spoke with the service manager. (And had them check it)
The non-verifiable evidence I have is:
1) Some person online (with credentials I can't verify who claims to be a painter) says there's no clear coat. Sorry, but I'm going to believe you just as much as you're going to believe me. Have you done any of the steps I have done to verify my information?
I see the post about Mitsu R&D is from 2003. Perhaps they are now clear coat since then? I'd like the number for the R&D so I can follow up on this. (PM sent to Batty)
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 24
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From: Pittsburgh
For those of you who really care... I haven't heard from batty, but I believe I got in touch with the woman he spoke with. She remembered talking to someone a while back about this issue. She said that when she checked certain colors had no clear coat. I then asked her if this was specific to the 2003 model year or if it was across all years. She said that she only checked for the first model year (2003) and she knows they have done major manufacturing changes since then. She also stated that there should be something about this in the owner's manual. I told her I didn't see anything about this in mine and she said that it is very possible they now clear coat all colors for the 2005 model year. She will get back to me with some actual information from Japan about this, probably next week.
So it looks like TurboMeg may be correct that the earlier years do no have clear coat.
Finally, can any 2003 owner find something in their owner's manual that says some cars may/may not have a clear coat? I'm curious what section it is in (I assume exterior care?) as I'd like to see if I have a similar section in mine.
And I did forget to ask which colors (she said plural) had no clear coat. I'll try to remember when she gets back to me with more information.
So it looks like TurboMeg may be correct that the earlier years do no have clear coat.
Finally, can any 2003 owner find something in their owner's manual that says some cars may/may not have a clear coat? I'm curious what section it is in (I assume exterior care?) as I'd like to see if I have a similar section in mine.
And I did forget to ask which colors (she said plural) had no clear coat. I'll try to remember when she gets back to me with more information.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
OK, I finally got confirmation from the woman at Mitsubishi R&D. The paint formula was reformulated for 2005 and it is now a clear coat based paint for both the solid red and solid yellow models. She informed me that the color appearance is still the same, though, but the paint formula has changed. This explains why I could not reproduce the effects of a non-clear coat paint on my Evo.
She said that the formula changed for 2005, so this would mean that red and yellow 2003 and 2004 Evolutions do not have a clear coat finish. (And I presume are a single stage paint) I haven't seen anyone mention this on the yellow colors before.
If the color appearance is the same, this may explain why the touch-up paint includes the clear coat--it is/could be the new paint formula. I'd think that the paint code would be different between the two formulas, though?
Now, if you still don't want to believe me, that's fine--I recommend you do the research I have done.
She said that the formula changed for 2005, so this would mean that red and yellow 2003 and 2004 Evolutions do not have a clear coat finish. (And I presume are a single stage paint) I haven't seen anyone mention this on the yellow colors before.
If the color appearance is the same, this may explain why the touch-up paint includes the clear coat--it is/could be the new paint formula. I'd think that the paint code would be different between the two formulas, though?
Now, if you still don't want to believe me, that's fine--I recommend you do the research I have done.
My car just got detailed by a certified paint expert and switzer performanceinnovation in ohio, and he said that it is just crazy for any one to think that my 03 Rally red does not have a clear coat, he said that there are actually federal standards that have to be met for durability and that my car definatly has a clear coat!