Orange Peel
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 7,288
Likes: 337
From: Decatur GA
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Orange Peel
Went to a local dealer in Atlanta - won't say which one to protect the seller and buyer - and saw my first three C7's. Man they are gorgeous cars, and I aim to get one in either the second or third model year.
So the paint on the silver and NRB Vettes was flawless - looked really good. However, the paint on the Torch Red had an incredible amount of orange peel. I was shocked to see this, and to realize it had passed the quality check and released for sale.
Would you accept a brand new car with significant orange peel? I don't think I would, regardless of how excited I was to get the new C7.
So the paint on the silver and NRB Vettes was flawless - looked really good. However, the paint on the Torch Red had an incredible amount of orange peel. I was shocked to see this, and to realize it had passed the quality check and released for sale.
Would you accept a brand new car with significant orange peel? I don't think I would, regardless of how excited I was to get the new C7.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,369
Likes: 142
From: For the strength of the pack is the wolf . . . . . . and the strength of the wolf is the pack.
It's an exclusive feature also known as Textured Finsished Paint.
It's order code RPO TROPICANA.
It's a highly desirable part of the total Corvette experience.
Some people pay extra for it.
Welcome to the club.
It's order code RPO TROPICANA.
It's a highly desirable part of the total Corvette experience.
Some people pay extra for it.
Welcome to the club.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 899
Likes: 166
From: miami, florida, usa
Every cars paint has this problem.
You're not meant to look that closely at a cars finish.
Imagine if someone looked that closely at even the most beautiful woman... you may not like what you see!
You're not meant to look that closely at a cars finish.
Imagine if someone looked that closely at even the most beautiful woman... you may not like what you see!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
We've read quite a bit about paint over the years. Friend of mine was a P-car advocate. We went to a large Corvette dealer and he was observant and saw the "orange peel"---just for kicks, we walked across the street on a Sat. afternoon to the P-car new auto dealer. As we walked in the door, almost every car could easily be seen w. Orange Peel. On walking out, we looked at customers' BMWs--none were without it that we saw. No doubt about it, some cars are worse than others, and some panels are worse than other panels on the same car.
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 202
From: Long Beach California
Personally, I'd rather select a color I love over it's tendency to orange peel. I have to keep reminding myself that I drive an expensive Chevy and that it's not a $300K Lamborghini. There are multiple "flaws" with my 2010 Grand Sport, but in good humor I try not to look at it in "High Definition".
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 292
Likes: 55
From: Dallas Texas
Interesting.....the Torch Red on the showroom floor at Huffines in Lewisville had only very very very slight orange peel, it was excellent. First C7 I've seen, and I was impressed.
If you get a car with bad orange peel, you can investigate having those areas wet sanded. However, that will make the clear coat thinner there, and will reduce how much you have left to remove other light scratches later in the cars life. I understand we do not live in a perfect world, but if my car came in with orange peel worse than what I would be willing to accept, I would reject it and order another.
If you get a car with bad orange peel, you can investigate having those areas wet sanded. However, that will make the clear coat thinner there, and will reduce how much you have left to remove other light scratches later in the cars life. I understand we do not live in a perfect world, but if my car came in with orange peel worse than what I would be willing to accept, I would reject it and order another.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 861
Likes: 141
From: Desoto Texas
I have learned alot from reading all the threads on this "orange peel problem" I though it was bad paint ect.When my torch red comes in i know i will just have to deal with it,and not reject the car/RSL
Pro
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 537
Likes: 30
From: Houston Texas
Went to a local dealer in Atlanta - won't say which one to protect the seller and buyer - and saw my first three C7's. Man they are gorgeous cars, and I aim to get one in either the second or third model year.
So the paint on the silver and NRB Vettes was flawless - looked really good. However, the paint on the Torch Red had an incredible amount of orange peel. I was shocked to see this, and to realize it had passed the quality check and released for sale.
Would you accept a brand new car with significant orange peel? I don't think I would, regardless of how excited I was to get the new C7.
So the paint on the silver and NRB Vettes was flawless - looked really good. However, the paint on the Torch Red had an incredible amount of orange peel. I was shocked to see this, and to realize it had passed the quality check and released for sale.
Would you accept a brand new car with significant orange peel? I don't think I would, regardless of how excited I was to get the new C7.
All my cars have some amount of orange peel.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 899
Likes: 166
From: miami, florida, usa
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
A friend took delivery of his CRM last week. I looked it over very closely and overall the paint was pretty good. Fenders had a little orange peel, maybe a little more than my CG 09, but the hood and front fascia looked very good. I would say it was about normal for any brand of car. I've seen a lot worse on some C6's and I've seen better on some C6's. I don't know why but the paint jobs seems to be a hit or miss proposition. Next week I might see another CRM C7 with a lot of orange peel, but might be even better than my friend's.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,456
Likes: 3,948
From: Omaha
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Saw a red one at the Corvette Expo in Dallas last weekend, the Orange peel was extremely bad on it. Way worse than the 01 Torch Red Z06 I had previously.
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 22,993
Likes: 6,042
From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
The three I eyeballed this past weekend had really good paint.
Sounds like the finish may not be consistent from car to car.
But it get one with orange peel, it's pretty straight forward for a top detail guy to "clean it up" (and if it bothers you, no doubt worth the small expense).
Sounds like the finish may not be consistent from car to car.
But it get one with orange peel, it's pretty straight forward for a top detail guy to "clean it up" (and if it bothers you, no doubt worth the small expense).
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,825
Likes: 2,474
From: Ft Lauderdale
Tech Contributor
1st time I've read this in many, many threads..and the truth....you can get it a lot better with a good compounding - without reducing the clear to dangerous levels...
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 22,993
Likes: 6,042
From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1