I am considering buying a new, red car. (Well, actually maroon.) Now, there’s never been a red (or maroon) car in the family. Yet, I am aware that, over the decades, red cars have been consistently vulnerable to fading as the sun breaks down the red pigment thereby bleaching out the red. Similarly, I had a neighbor whose red car would “bleed” red with each wash! The color would literally run, some of it washed away with the soap each time.
However, paint technology has greatly improved over the years. And, I was seeking factual answer(s) as to what to expect with today’s red cars? Furthermore, does waxing or some other treatment help reduce the risk of fading? (i.e., Am I looking at spending every Sunday polishing the car to protect its natural color?)
Automotive paint is much better today than in years past. Back in the old days (until the early 80’s) cars didn’t have clear coats and faded badly. The early clear coats, although lasting longer than the single stage paints before them, broke down in UV and turned whitish and crumbled. Then in the early 90’s you started seeing water based paints with their own problems (peeling). But the last 10-15 years it seems the issues have been resolved and the paints of today is very stable and long lasting.
I would not worry about red paint fading on a modern car.
As for waxing you’ll hear different opinions. The clear coat has UV blocker in it so wax doesn’t protect the underlying base color. Wax may help protect the clear coat from oxidizing. My personal strategy is to wax my cars about 1x/year and I have had no fading/oxidation problems. And I’ve had red cars in Texas (lots of sun).
I drove a red pickup for about ten years. I never waxed it. I lived in Southern California with lots of sun and parked it outside all day at work. It never faded or oxidized. I’ve had two red SUVs since then with no trouble, though for fewer years. I don’t think red is a problem.
I have a maroon car, 15 years old, with no sign of fading. I used to have another similar car, plain red. One wing had been resprayed before I bought it and at that time it was undetectable. Over the next few years, the wing became noticeably faded. I assume that the respray was not carried out to the same high standard as the original paint.
When wax and discounting the scratches, my 2001 Lincoln – maroon but not the official Ford name – looked just as good in 2011 as it did in 2000. I presume the same is true of the current owner, too.
My red 2003 BMW looks new except for some road gravel dings. For most of its life it’s been garaged overnight but spends most of most days outdoors.
The clear coat on the plastic front bumper is now peeling and scabby looking and has been for about 3 years. But the red color of that bumper, as well as the rest of the metal car and the rear plastic bumper, is as good as new.
Another vote that a modern red car won’t fade. At least not a modern red car from a major world-wide manufacturer. All bets are off for Chinese- or Indian-made cars.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, all! Your responses raise an additional question along these lines: Is clear coat one of the “extras” a dealer tries to sell you that’s already there?
yes. in 2014, anyone trying to sell you “clear coat” is a charlatan. automotive paint has been “base coat/clear coat” for a long-ass time. Or a long ass-time, if you read xkcd. the base coat (or color coat) contains all of the pigments and fillers, and when sprayed is a fairly dull or matte finish. The clear coat gives it “pop” and shine. Some colors are “tri-coat,” which means they have a metallic or pearl base coat, a tinted top coat to give it color, then a clear coat for gloss.
They’ll often try to sell you some ‘paint protection’ crap. You can wax the car yourself once a year and get much better results.
Same goes for any interior protection product. Pick up a spray can or two of Scotchgard and spray down any fabrics per the directions on the can. If you get a leather interior, use a leather product once a year or so.
Extended warranties? The reason they sell them is to make money. If you plan on replacing the car after only a few years, don’t bother. Most such extended warranties aren’t transferable when you sell the car. Also find out who actually backs the extended warranties. Many consumers find that the company is long gone out of business when they try to make a claim. I do not get extended warranties on any products.
In the industry, red is referred to as a “fugitive color.” It got that name from how quickly it fades. However, today’s chemistry has done wonders for the longevity. There are several “waxes” that you need only apply once or twice a year that help too. I would avoid those miracle sealants they try to sell you that solve “all the finish protection” problems.
I had always heard that you shouldn’t wax a car that had a clear coat finish. Is that no longer the conventional wisdom? (If it ever was…)
I drive a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe that is dark red/maroon/burgundy whatever you want to call it. It sits in the sun at work all day and for the last 3-4 years it gets parked in the driveway at home rather than the garage. The paint seems fine but the clear coat is peeling in places so it looks like it has a rash. If I wax it will it help with something like that?
Paint is WAY better than in the past. I have a 2005 Dodge Dakota in Poppy/Flame Red, and it’s as red today as it was when I got it in 2006. Also, I can look at the inside of the door jamb, and there’s no color difference in that protected space versus the top of the hood or anywhere else.
The clearcoat is also still shiny, which is amazing to me since I do nothing other than run it through the carwash at the gas station every now and then.
I think the combination of much better paint and using clearcoat has made auto paint look much better for longer than in the past.