Is the paint used in new cars poor quality ?

Just asking as I got a new vauxhall and the paint marks really easily compared to other cars I have had in the past.


I was told that waterbased paints are being used now and I am not sure if this could be my problem.Is the paint used in new cars poor quality ?
and poor quality steel.Is the paint used in new cars poor quality ?
Car manufacturers have been forced to switch to water-based paints for environmental reasons. These paints do not meet the same standards for scratch-resistance as older solvent-based paints, but the world at large benefits.
I had a new corsa once, pain did scratch easily but it was okay, my friend has a new vauxhall, black, and she said the paintwork is useless. If you buy a performance car, you get performance steel and performance paint, if you buy a cheap car, you get cheaper materials. That said, I would take it back to the dealership you bought it from and explain that this type of shoddy workmanship is not something you expected from such a well established brand and see what they will do for you. My friend got hers resprayed for nothing, with better paint as well!
Jeff g. is absolutely right. The manufacturers of paint and cars are bound by environmental regulations. They do a fantastic job of providing top quality finishes at reasonable costs considering they are not free to utilize the best chemicals.As a painter,I'm really impressed with the quality of factory finishes now as compared to several years ago when everything was acrylic enamel and lacquer.
Older cars seem to have been painted better. There used to be quality when the makers were producing now its all about how fast they can make a buck or two.
just a quick point, water based colour is protected with 2 pack laquer! work that one out!!
Yes it's the water based paints ( no environmental impact from solvents). All you can do is keep up with a good wax polish to protect the surface, and get bird s**t off immediately. I keep a water spray in the boot just for this as dried s*** leaves a mark in the paint after a day or so
just try to keep it well polished for protection
My goodness some people who have answered don't half talk pants - performance car/performance steel. Tosh complete and utter tosh.





Anyway as many have said thank the tree huggers for forcing the over reacting and the fact that the paints now have to be water based.
I would say it is! I would point to the problem of single stage paint though. A single stage paint is one where the color and the clear coat are mixed and applied at the same time. It is a cheaper and more time efficient way to paint. It used to be that you applied primer, sanded, applied color (2-3) then clear coat. In high end paint shops they primer, sand, primer, sand, color (3-6 coats), color sand, apply clear coat (3-6 coats), polish.


My Mazda has the same issues. It seems a hard bug will take the paint off the hood.
You can thank the EPA


they changed so many regulations on paint that it changed the balance and longevity of paint.
Some cars can be standing for up two years before they are even registered

concealer