Why does Honda/Acura use a stick of butter for paint ???

DTailN

New member
Seriously, is there a car made that has softer paint than Honda/Acura? My theory is the guy that makes the paint decisions at Honda invented the clear bra. It seems that everything that flies into my hood and bumper swallows a hand grenade before making impact. Probably worthy of another thread but has any Honda owner installed a clear bra and been happy with it?
 
I hear you on the paint, my black Accord looked like I tailgated a gravel truck going down the highway. But that was from the previous owner so who knows. I had a friend of mine that had a clear bra on his Civic it lasted over a year but the salt(Chicago winters) and other crap from the road started to get in around the edges and peel it away. It did help a little to protect the front of the car, allthough big stones and such went right through the bra.
 
Tell me about it. I have had my new Black Accord for a little less than a month and have disaster all over my hood. I was about ready to cry this weekend after I washed my car and discovered the damage from a rock.
 
put it this way pinkmoose does a number on my accord with a white LC pad. Had a slight scuff on my front fender and it now gone, most of the time PM doesnt do a damn thing but not on my accord.
 
Yes, Honda/Acura paint is softer than most other manufacturers'. In Honda's quest to be the greenest automaker in the world, they use a unique water-based paint process that is better for the workers and the environment. It sacrifices durability for tree-huggability.



Personally, I take very good care of my paint ('06 Civic Si) and I have a few rock chips; no different from any other brand I've ever owned. Besides, for all the solid qualities that makes Honda rise above other makes, weaker paint is a worthy trade-off.
 
My 95 civic looks great after many many years of back and forth driving. Just keep it clean and don't let the bug burn in. But i might have been lucky. Becouse my car was repainted before i got it. The hole front end was painted.
 
Yea my CL-S has chips everywhere. Looks horrible! I have seen a lot of cars with clear bras. IMO if I get a new car I will have on there. The clear bra makes detailing a little more of a PITA but the reduction in chips will pay off.
 
My 05 TL has a few rock chips on the hood, but I think it's due to a lot of construction in town. I do have a clearbra and it's the best thing you can do for your car.



I'm thinking about putting an extended piece on my hood, but I have to have touch some of the rock chips before I do.



I don't know what soft paint is., but in the Acura forums a lot of people complain about how honda/acura paints are very thin.
 
SpoiledMan said:
Interesting enough I'm finding that the current gen TL's are not as soft as my cars.
It could be cuz your just getting older now Chris, and "That object in the mirror"? It was there yesterday as well............Dont worry about it..:heelclick
 
It seems like everyone complains about Honda's thin and soft paints! Count me in. My Accord's front end really isn't too bad but it's Naples Gold Metallic, which hides just about everything from dirt to rock chips... and you thought silver did! lol :nixweiss



Anyway. My parents just purchased an '07 Accord in Graphite Pearl (it's a gorgeous color!) and had a clear bra installed about a week after delivery. In that time frame, there were two large chips I had to touch up and quite a few mini "dings" from rocks hitting the surface.



Clear bras are FTW! :clap: Get one installed before you leave the dealer or have an appointment so you can drive directly from the dealer to the installer. If you want, you can do it yourself. Check out xpel.com, order the film in bulk with a bit extra to practice. It can be nicely done if you have patience and follow the instructions.



It's not just Honda/Acura with this problem, other manufactures are having the same issues as they progress towards more "green" paints. Hopefully someone introduces durable water based paints. :nervous2:
 
I have two clieints with Honda Accords, both the same color and from the same assembly plant. One has paint that swirls if you look at it wrong, the other has paint that is as hard as a rock... go figure.... :think: :think:
 
DaGonz said:
I have two clieints with Honda Accords, both the same color and from the same assembly plant. One has paint that swirls if you look at it wrong, the other has paint that is as hard as a rock... go figure.... :think: :think:



"first one has paint that is as hard as a rock" that because it was painted on monday

"One has paint that swirls if you look at it wrong" this one was done on friday night since the supervisor made all employee stay since end of month quotas not surpassed:chuckle:
 
DaGonz said:
I have two clieints with Honda Accords, both the same color and from the same assembly plant. One has paint that swirls if you look at it wrong, the other has paint that is as hard as a rock... go figure.... :think: :think:





See Pat, I knew I wasn't crazy!:D
 
JB_TSX said:
My TSX has a lot of rock chips. I wish I put a clear bra when I first bought it.



You should see the front of my wife's TSX it looks like it was hit with bird shot from a 12 guage. I swear a bug can chip the paint, it's that soft. Mike...
 
If you look at it long term they are contributing more to the greenhouse emissions. Even though they are painting with a "greener" paint with a trade-off of poor durabilty there are a lot more repaints on Honda/Acura cars and trucks leading to muliplying emissions at body shops. Picking up what I'm laying down?
 
I agree the lessened durability can be annoying, but that's not true. The reduction of hazardous chemicals used while painting hundreds of thousands of vehicles far outweighs the fraction of Honda owners who will repaint their car.



I love detailing my Honda, so it hurts me at my heart. But even with a trillion paint chips, the resale value will still be higher than its competition!
 
my older honda (92 accord) has very hard paint...my 05 TL seems to be "normal". i haven't done any major corrections on the TL though...but it has resisted swirls from a year of washings.
 
televascular said:
. In Honda's quest to be the greenest automaker in the world, they use a unique water-based paint process that is better for the workers and the environment. It sacrifices durability for tree-huggability.



Wow! That's an interesting claim. Do you have any data to back it up?:rolleyes:
 
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