Factory Paint
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 180
Likes: 2
From: Montana
That is the answer. Remember these are not several hundred thousand dollar cars and orange peel is common on nearly every vehicle if you look for it. I had my AW professionally color sanded and buffed for just under $1000 and it looks incredible. Either personally fix or quit whining about it. Looking at a new Porsche Turbo S and the paint isn't much better for double the money.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 8,243
Likes: 4,617
From: Southwest Florida
That is the answer. Remember these are not several hundred thousand dollar cars and orange peel is common on nearly every vehicle if you look for it. I had my AW professionally color sanded and buffed for just under $1000 and it looks incredible. Either personally fix or quit whining about it. Looking at a new Porsche Turbo S and the paint isn't much better for double the money.
"Remember these are not several hundred thousand dollar cars? Are you kidding? What a load of crap. The Ford Festa doesn't have OP, Kia Optimas don't have OP. Hell, even Fiats don't have OP!
Get serious.
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 414
Likes: 95
Hold on a minute!
All you ever read is what a performance bargain the C7 is! "Supercar performance at a fraction of the cost!" Of course there will be compromises. Shoddy paint and spotty build quality is the price we pay to have such a "performance bargain" car. I still think GM has a fantastic product for the money! Sure a 911 has silky smooth paint, but oh my Gawd the customer pays for that nice paint!!! If the Corvette community wants smooth paint, will they willingly spend tens of thousands of dollars to get it??? I think not.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 8,243
Likes: 4,617
From: Southwest Florida
All you ever read is what a performance bargain the C7 is! "Supercar performance at a fraction of the cost!" Of course there will be compromises. Shoddy paint and spotty build quality is the price we pay to have such a "performance bargain" car. I still think GM has a fantastic product for the money! Sure a 911 has silky smooth paint, but oh my Gawd the customer pays for that nice paint!!! If the Corvette community wants smooth paint, will they willingly spend tens of thousands of dollars to get it??? I think not.
Kramer says, "Oh Yeah You're Out There"
Last edited by Maxie2U; Sep 1, 2015 at 02:10 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 180
Likes: 2
From: Montana
"Orange peel is common on nearly every vehicle if you look for it." I call B.S.
"Remember these are not several hundred thousand dollar cars? Are you kidding? What a load of crap. The Ford Festa doesn't have OP, Kia Optimas don't have OP. Hell, even Fiats don't have OP!
Get serious.
"Remember these are not several hundred thousand dollar cars? Are you kidding? What a load of crap. The Ford Festa doesn't have OP, Kia Optimas don't have OP. Hell, even Fiats don't have OP!
Get serious.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,213
Likes: 387
From: Harrisburg PA
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 920
Likes: 87
Looks like that's the answer. All of the whining C7 owners simply need to switch to Kia's and Fiats. The car is fun to drive and looks incredible especially after color sanding. Life just isn't fair and you can't expect to get all this sports car has to offer and incredible paint. Part of the problem I have been told is the varying surface types; carbon fiber, plastic, etc. The only gripe I have on the paint is the minimum amount of clear they spray on. When color sanding the big fear is going through the clear coat.
nobody is complaing of lack of " incredible paint " we just do not feel that the worst paint job in the industry should be associated with a very high dollar car ... if bad paint is going to be an issue.. buyers should be made aware ahead of ordering ...who's kidding who here ..the paint jobs suck !
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,597
Likes: 101
From: TN PA
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10-11 Vet
I'm offically retired, but I detail cars, mostly high end or sports cars. BMW's, Jags, Corvettes ect. If there fairly new they all have orange peel. I was in a new car dealer show room about 2 weeks ago (Lexus) there was no shortage of OP there...Some worse than others. I did an 07 Victory Red Corvette today. Plenty of orange peel on the sides. My 08 JSB had plenty of OP. Buying my 15 I knew I would have plenty of OP and I did. Havent seen a new Vette in years that didn't have it to some degree.
With that said I did remove most of the op on my 15... here's the link...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ange-peel.html
With that said I did remove most of the op on my 15... here's the link...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ange-peel.html
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,825
Likes: 2,476
From: Ft Lauderdale
Tech Contributor
But to each his own, nice job on the OP reduction, wet sand gets it done. However some having luck with the CarPro Velvet and denim pads on a high-speed orbital and no wet sand. But it takes longer. Probably a bit safer.
Again for anyone who thinks the Chevy's problem is no worse than anybody else, I submit to you that Chev would not be spending 10 zillion at BG if they thought their current paint formula/procedure was industry-standard.
I wish this was an anomoly, but its not. Put 20-30 vettes on a new car lot and at least one will look like this:
As always, JMO.
Last edited by Glen e; Sep 1, 2015 at 04:23 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 875
Likes: 311
From: Sundance WY
I too am retired and detail as a hobby. In addition, after 30 years as a field rep for Porsche, Honda and BMW , I have been looking at paint jobs all my life. I cannot i agree that "they all have it equally". My answer is yes they do, but not this bad. The Corvette in my opinion is clearly worse than any other car that I've seen in this price class and many of the Chevrolet products below this price have better paint jobs.
But to each his own, nice job on the OP reduction, wet sand gets it done. However some having luck with the CarPro Velvet and denim pads on a high-speed orbital and no wet sand. But it takes longer. Probably a bit safer.
Again for anyone who thinks the Chevy's problem is no worse than anybody else, I submit to you that Chev would not be spending 10 zillion at BG if they thought their current paint formula/procedure was industry-standard.
I wish this was an anomoly, but its not. Put 20-30 vettes on a new car lot and at least one will look like this:
As always, JMO.
But to each his own, nice job on the OP reduction, wet sand gets it done. However some having luck with the CarPro Velvet and denim pads on a high-speed orbital and no wet sand. But it takes longer. Probably a bit safer.
Again for anyone who thinks the Chevy's problem is no worse than anybody else, I submit to you that Chev would not be spending 10 zillion at BG if they thought their current paint formula/procedure was industry-standard.
I wish this was an anomoly, but its not. Put 20-30 vettes on a new car lot and at least one will look like this:
As always, JMO.
walk around a bunch of C7s at a show and look at the hood gaps!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,072
Likes: 196
From: Arizona
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,597
Likes: 101
From: TN PA
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10-11 Vet
I too am retired and detail as a hobby. In addition, after 30 years as a field rep for Porsche, Honda and BMW , I have been looking at paint jobs all my life. I cannot i agree that "they all have it equally". My answer is yes they do, but not this bad. The Corvette in my opinion is clearly worse than any other car that I've seen in this price class and many of the Chevrolet products below this price have better paint jobs.
As always, JMO.
As always, JMO.