Paint Quality = Unacceptable
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 51
From: Georgetown TX
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 51
From: Georgetown TX
I know what you mean. I entered mine in a carshow this past weekend. and more than a couple of times, someone asked if I had collision damage in a certain area. It was embarrassing trying to explain that it came from the factory like that. One of the guys suggested that I should try a carpro denim pad and some cutting compound. He said its a great way to remove OP without wetsanding. May be worth a shot.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,531
Likes: 1,943
From: Austin Texas
Everyone knows orange peel is a issue with Vettes and most all cars.. We all know that before we buy... Chevy's are mass produced cars.... <snip>
If you don't like it, just hire a body shop to sand your clear coat down very thin so there is less orange peel... but be aware your clear coat will be thinner and probably wont have as much protection from scratches and chips.
If you don't like it, just hire a body shop to sand your clear coat down very thin so there is less orange peel... but be aware your clear coat will be thinner and probably wont have as much protection from scratches and chips.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,147
Likes: 7
From: california
St. Jude Donor '15
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 6,671
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2020 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I'm not picky on this issue but I have to say, it's not acceptable. It should be better. Some parts/ areas border on embarrassing. The area around my gas cap looks like a candidate for Proactiv.
It doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs a lot of improvement. I hope they realize this and get it worked out.
At the factory they said that the ONLY part not painted in the factory is the rear outside mirrors. It's done by one of their subcontractors.
I look at my rear outside mirrors and they are perfect. The car itself... not so much. I think that says a lot. It's the same clear coat. One does it well and the other poorly.
It doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs a lot of improvement. I hope they realize this and get it worked out.
At the factory they said that the ONLY part not painted in the factory is the rear outside mirrors. It's done by one of their subcontractors.
I look at my rear outside mirrors and they are perfect. The car itself... not so much. I think that says a lot. It's the same clear coat. One does it well and the other poorly.
Last edited by Sin City; Mar 25, 2014 at 02:02 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: RI
I had a black C7 and after 300miles, the front bumper was starting to chip big time and it needed to be reshot.....and I was careful where and when I drove. The swirls marks were so bad that I just traded it in for a blade silver Z51. There was no hope for that black paint.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 386
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta GA
Saw all the colors at a dealership a few weeks ago. The premium colors were pretty good. From what I recall, the matal flake paint mimimizes the orange peel affect.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
Like the C5 and the C6, it appears that the quality of the paint on the C7 is all over the place.
I was lucky with my C5 and C6 as they both had(have) very low amount of objectionable orange peel. But I have seen some C5's and C6's that were horrible. But the vast majority of C5's and C6's I've seen were pretty good.
We have two C7's in our club. The torch red one is okay, neither good or bad. The magnetic red one has low amount of orange peel but the hood is a different shade of red than the remainder of the car, as if it was repainted or painted in a different batch.
I was lucky with my C5 and C6 as they both had(have) very low amount of objectionable orange peel. But I have seen some C5's and C6's that were horrible. But the vast majority of C5's and C6's I've seen were pretty good.
We have two C7's in our club. The torch red one is okay, neither good or bad. The magnetic red one has low amount of orange peel but the hood is a different shade of red than the remainder of the car, as if it was repainted or painted in a different batch.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 51
From: Georgetown TX
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 51
From: Georgetown TX
Advanced
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I bought a black vette and also have OP. The factory agreed to pay for wetsanding the car. Awesome! Unfortunately I've talked to some of the best paint and body guys in the area and no one will touch it because of the lack of clear coat GM puts on the cars. They are all afraid they will sand right through it and have to re-clear or re-paint the panel. I am currently waiting to hear from the dealer on what other options they will offer. i.e. pay for Xpel?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 51
From: Georgetown TX
I bought a black vette and also have OP. The factory agreed to pay for wetsanding the car. Awesome! Unfortunately I've talked to some of the best paint and body guys in the area and no one will touch it because of the lack of clear coat GM puts on the cars. They are all afraid they will sand right through it and have to re-clear or re-paint the panel. I am currently waiting to hear from the dealer on what other options they will offer. i.e. pay for Xpel?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,023
Likes: 23
From: Metro-East IL
On my recent NCM (basic) tour.....orange peel was prevalent on all the cars on Corvette Blvd...and the ones I had a chance to see on the plant tour (exceptions were the Silver and White...as mentioned previously in this thread).
I asked the tour guide about the problem with Orange peel on the Vettes....he really had no idea (not surprising).
I'm wondering if anyone who has taken the "Buyers" plant tour or the VIP tour had a chance to talk to anyone in the paint shop department.... I know the C7 is still a great value....but come on GM---no excuse for the horrible orange peel on some of the C7s.
My Hyundai paint is perfect and my son-in-laws "Black" CTS Caddy is amazing....perfect from every direction in any light.....
I asked the tour guide about the problem with Orange peel on the Vettes....he really had no idea (not surprising).
I'm wondering if anyone who has taken the "Buyers" plant tour or the VIP tour had a chance to talk to anyone in the paint shop department.... I know the C7 is still a great value....but come on GM---no excuse for the horrible orange peel on some of the C7s.
My Hyundai paint is perfect and my son-in-laws "Black" CTS Caddy is amazing....perfect from every direction in any light.....
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,700
Likes: 15
From: Southern Florida
Everyone knows orange peel is a issue with Vettes and most all cars.. We all know that before we buy... Chevy's are mass produced cars.... Also many cars with metal panels have an electric charge going through the panel to help the paint stick to the surface... Vettes do not have those metal panels, they have composite body panels which may also affect the way paint sticks to the surface... There is going to be orange peel on the cars until the end of time... Everyone knows this.
If you don't like it, just hire a body shop to sand your clear coat down very thin so there is less orange peel... but be aware your clear coat will be thinner and probably wont have as much protection from scratches and chips.
If you don't like it, just hire a body shop to sand your clear coat down very thin so there is less orange peel... but be aware your clear coat will be thinner and probably wont have as much protection from scratches and chips.
This car is not a $100K and is a steal for what you are paying...BTW, the molicules of water borne clear coating will never be as small (smooth) as solvent base..
Last edited by metal; Mar 25, 2014 at 10:29 AM. Reason: addituion
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