Quality of paint job on GTI?

[oystercard]

Hi all.

I've had my GTi a little over 2 months and am pulling my hair out - every time I wash it (weekly) I notice another scratch, stone chip or dent! The car is garaged at work and at home, washed by hand and treated with much kindness!
Daily commute from outer 'burbs to CBD and a little country driving thrown in once a month or so.

Excuse my ignorance but is the VW duco typically this precious? My previous car was a *cough* Ford Falcon and 12 years old. At the time I traded it in it had less in the way of damage than the Golf does after 2 months. Not a word of a lie.

I noticed at the first wash (about 2 weeks after delivery) a diabolically huge and perfect 8 cm flaw/scratch in the duco from the GTI badge on the front guard over the wheel. I didn't refer this to the dealer as I wasn't sure what had caused it...but now with all the above problems I am wondering whether the paint job on mine is a bit crap.

Any advice

[Brendan_A]

It must be where you drive and park your car to get stone chips and dents.

My GTI is 7 weeks old and is immaculate with only one small stone chip on front bumper which your always going to get. I'll parks miles away from other cars to avoid parking dents.

When washing your car you should use the two bucket method and a quality micro fiber wash mitt and chamois.

My 5 year old Jetta still looks in top condition.

[gldgti]

Hi all.

I've had my GTi a little over 2 months and am pulling my hair out - every time I wash it (weekly) I notice another scratch, stone chip or dent! The car is garaged at work and at home, washed by hand and treated with much kindness!
Daily commute from outer 'burbs to CBD and a little country driving thrown in once a month or so.

Excuse my ignorance but is the VW duco typically this precious? My previous car was a *cough* Ford Falcon and 12 years old. At the time I traded it in it had less in the way of damage than the Golf does after 2 months. Not a word of a lie.

I noticed at the first wash (about 2 weeks after delivery) a diabolically huge and perfect 8 cm flaw/scratch in the duco from the GTI badge on the front guard over the wheel. I didn't refer this to the dealer as I wasn't sure what had caused it...but now with all the above problems I am wondering whether the paint job on mine is a bit crap.

Any advice

What colour is it?

I have found that some colours/finishes show paint damage far more readily than others and hence you notice it more.

My previous car (2007 Octavia) showed every single tiny hairline scratch and chip - it was a pearlescent black. I would say it was pretty much impossible to keep in immaculate condition. I used to find myself breaking out the machine polisher sometimes once a month or even more. It always got a polish, dark gloss and then a wax coat ontop. Still it would show the damage.

On the other hand, my current allroad has 10 years worth of swirl marks and scratches, but because of the very fine metallic fleck in it and the deep blue colour, you dont readily notice all the paint damage until you are quite close to it. Out of the sunshine, it looks almost perfect.

Finishes that have a heavy clear coat and that also have a large pearlescent or large metallic fleck seem to show damage more readily. Then the actual colour can have an effect too.

I would say that black is usually the most difficult to keep looking good, and white the easiest (though there are some exceptions in the white category).

[Polo GTEye N9]

Hi all.

I've had my GTi a little over 2 months and am pulling my hair out - every time I wash it (weekly) I notice another scratch, stone chip or dent! The car is garaged at work and at home, washed by hand and treated with much kindness!

Two bucket system wash?

Daily commute from outer 'burbs to CBD and a little country driving thrown in once a month or so.

Sealed country roads or unsealed?

Excuse my ignorance but is the VW duco typically this precious?

VW should be able to measure your Golfs finish with a Paint Coating Thickness Meter Gauge to see if it meets standards.

Car Paint Thickness Gauge: Automotive Tools & Supplies | eBay

My previous car was a *cough* Ford Falcon and 12 years old. At the time I traded it in it had less in the way of damage than the Golf does after 2 months. Not a word of a lie.

I noticed at the first wash (about 2 weeks after delivery) a diabolically huge and perfect 8 cm flaw/scratch in the duco from the GTI badge on the front guard over the wheel. I didn't refer this to the dealer as I wasn't sure what had caused it...but now with all the above problems I am wondering whether the paint job on mine is a bit crap.

Careful with your words 'huge and perfect' are not really truthfully discriptive but a photo would save a 1000 words.

Any advice

See your dealer and get their feedback.

[oystercard]

Thanks for your replies.

Car is Reflex Silver. My Ford was also silver (Mercury, which is darker) and my car before that - yes, I like silver but also thought silver would be a safe and reliable choice yet again.

The issue I don't believe is with the washing - I am pretty picky and have been doing it the same for 20 years. No swirls because of dirty sponges etc, it's mainly chips. Country driving equates to 3 return trips to Echuca from Melbourne on sealed highway all the way.

If I can be fagged uploading a pic of the big one over the weekend I will do.

And will go back to the dealer although I am pretty confident they will say normal wear and tear. Only 5000 kms... and garaged when not being driven... on mainly city streets

[NCGR1]

....And will go back to the dealer although I am pretty confident they will say normal wear and tear. Only 5000 kms... and garaged when not being driven... on mainly city streets

Your experience with paint on older vehicles has little to do with modern paint. VW's paint and painting process is no worse than some and certainly much better than most.

I just traded in a 2000 GTI and the paint was still great after 13 years. After 2 1/2 years with my Mk6 R, the paint is still near perfect. It is all about how you car for it.

[brad]

This thread is probably better off in the Bodywork / Trim Detailing section.

My first question would be what have you used for paint protection?

Agree with the 2 bucket method but chamois are for windows. Waffle weave microfibre or towelling is the go for drying paint.

I've been washing cars for the past 40 years (including doing pre-delivery washes for a short while) and have totally changed my technique and equipment in the past 10 years as I was shown a better way to do things. You've got to have an open mind.

[mfl]

Thanks for your replies.

Car is Reflex Silver. My Ford was also silver (Mercury, which is darker) and my car before that - yes, I like silver but also thought silver would be a safe and reliable choice yet again.

The issue I don't believe is with the washing - I am pretty picky and have been doing it the same for 20 years. No swirls because of dirty sponges etc, it's mainly chips. Country driving equates to 3 return trips to Echuca from Melbourne on sealed highway all the way.

If I can be fagged uploading a pic of the big one over the weekend I will do.

And will go back to the dealer although I am pretty confident they will say normal wear and tear. Only 5000 kms... and garaged when not being driven... on mainly city streets

Although a mk6 GTI, also in reflex silver, the paint work is like new after 5 years, its always parked indoors (work & home), but has 63,000km. Hand washed, but only using single bucket method with microfiber mit, polished once very 18 months. - no scratches or swirl marks..

[MovieDude]

Agree with the 2 bucket method but chamois are for windows. Waffle weave microfibre or towelling is the go for drying paint.

Recently I've started to use the squeegee to wipe the excess water off the body panels before going over them with a chamois. Ofcourse the glass gets wiped first.

[brad]

Recently I've started to use the squeegee to wipe the excess water off the body panels before going over them with a chamois. Ofcourse the glass gets wiped first.

May as well use sandpaper