OK, so I took this 2003 SLE for a drive the other night. They said I could take it overnight, so I just picked it up and brought it home. I'm inspecting the paint in full sunlight, and I see this black paint isn't so black. Looking up close, it almost appears to have brown in it or something. I'm not against brown, but standing back a couple feet, it makes the black look kind of washed out in the sun. Other than a lot of swirl marks and such the paint looks fine, I'm just not sure about the actual color.

Is this how the black really looks, or am I looking at a car with a paint problem?

Edit: I just turned the car around to get a good look at the back of the car in the sun, and I think it'* a paint defect. Actually, it'* not so much that it looked brown, but I think it was more that there are almost white spots in the paint (more likely spots that didn't get enough?) that makes it look brownish. Taking a better look, it'* mainly the hood and portions of the front fenders that are noticable to me.

Maybe it got a cheap repaint job? Was it in a wreck?

founds like just some badly faded and swirled paint...

That paint needs a good cleaning, and atleast two coats of Liquid glass and adequite time to bake in the sun..that should bring it back out..black is bad for that if it has not been taken care of.

I found another '03 nearby that I took a look at. It also had a slight brown look to it as well. This one has a pretty prominent area of it above the drivers front door, that narrow panel between the door and roof. It looks like it didn't get enough paint from the factory as it looks noticeably lighter than anywhere else. A friend, who is a car guy, and my wife said it'* not noticeable unless it was pointed out and you look real close. I guess it will just bug me, but I think I can live with it. All signs seem to rule out a repaint.

odd....it really sounds like they repainted it at some point.

OK, I snapped a pic, not sure if anyone can see what I'm seeing from it. About a foot or so of this section has this lighter brown look to it. Again, it'* not terribly bad, it'* just noticeable in direct sunlight. In anything but direct sunlight it'* hard to see at all.

looks like a repaint to me now... how about under the hood, door jams and trunk?

By all indications it looks fine, though we're no experts on paint. No overspray anywhere, no visible ridges to indicate being taped off, factory stickers and markings are all over. In fact, the hood has the trademark bubbling started underneath. The paint on the car looks good, but has the usual chips and scratches that would indicate it'* three year old paint. Comparing it to the other black Bonneville, the paint seems consistent with the way the other one is painted, it just looks a bit funny in that spot. I do plan to have them show me the Carfax before I'll buy it.

This may sound dumb, but can you verify the paint code on the RPO sticker?