For what it'* worth, the paint on our 99 is full of stone chips. In one area, the paint is peeling. And, the gas door is BADLY rusted through.

Very true, GM'* paint is not so great, however my paint is mint for the age, however it was taken care of and detailed by the previous owners, never left in the sun...always garaged at etc.

at 115k my paint still shines

however on the olds with the same miles and year it has tons of chips.

agree 100% Can all depend on the owner and where you live. My car was garaged since new, so a majority of the paint is in good condition, but the constant trips to South Dakota took it'* toll on the front and sides (road rash)

Can't speak for Honda, but Toyota'* paint appears to have gotten thinner over the years as well. I know a guy in the local Toronto Supra Club, he bought an Echo Hatchback (aka Vitz) for a daily driver; stone chips come WAY easier compared to his late 80'* Supra tank with 98437598347698476 layer thick paint. But then again, we *are* comparing budget hatchback to flagship sports coupe here...


I also don't have original paint on the SSE, so I can't really say. What I have now is really thick though

You'd think that with GM saying that they are putting extra focus on quality that you would not hear such things as far as the paint goes. But I guess they had to cut corners some place in order to stay afloat. It happens.

I counted 9 chips as I was washing my car today.

GMs rust from the inside out too!

This is why I let the dirt and crud build up on my car. I've found that it helps protect from chipping as it absorbs the impact... :P J/K

I truly did get more chipping on my paint and 2 windshields when I lived in Michigan than I do now here in Florida, but I would expect that to be so, to some extent.

I do know that all car manufacturers were unhappy when they had to remove all heavy metals (Lead, Zinc, etc.) from their paints and at the same time reduce the VOCs (volatile something somethings :P ). It may just be that some companies have found better replacement paints. It may also be, as mentioned, the result of cutting cost/corners.

Sad to see really. :(

My old 2000 acura TL must have had the thinest layer of factory paint I have ever seen. Every rock chip would take paint off to the bare steel and rust.