Why is the Envision's paint so thin?

[CourtneyLynn]

The key reason for the thin and soft paint on Japanese cars lies in the advancement of material technology, which replaces the earlier part of the spraying process with more advanced techniques, resulting in relatively softer paint. After using the vehicle: It is essential to promptly remove dust from the car body to minimize the adsorption of dust due to static electricity. Wash the car promptly after rain: Rainwater contains many acidic substances and dust. The rain marks on the car body will gradually shrink, increasing the concentration of acidic substances in the rainwater. Combined with the dust in the rainwater forming rain marks, if not rinsed off with clean water in time, the car's paint will be damaged over time.

[MacManuel]

I've been running an auto repair shop for over a decade, and I often hear Buick owners complain about the thin paint. It's mainly due to cost-cutting measures that reduce the number of primer layers and compress the thickness of the clear coat. For example, small stones on the road can easily cause white spots on the hood, especially noticeable with white metallic paint. I suggest keeping a safe distance from large vehicles when passing highway toll booths and avoiding parking under trees with heavy sap. If you really want peace of mind, applying an imported ceramic coating when the car is new can last over three years—more cost-effective than repainting every other year.

[CatherineRose]

Last week, while helping a customer evaluate a used Enclave, I noticed that the paint thickness on the front bumper measured only about 90μm with a paint meter, nearly one-third less than that of German cars. This type of paint tends to show swirl marks very noticeably after two or three years, and even a rotating brush at a car wash can leave fine scratches. I recommend choosing darker paint colors for better aging resistance, parking in a way that avoids direct sunlight from the east or west, and applying glaze treatment twice a year to slow down aging. If you're really particular about it, consider applying a paint protection film—7mil thickness is sufficient to protect the original paint from minor scratches.

[StJude]

A friend in the spray painting industry mentioned that car manufacturers are reducing paint film thickness to meet environmental standards. The water-based paint on the Envision is eco-friendly but lacks hardness, as even a fingernail can leave marks. Here’s a DIY tip: Avoid using wax-containing car wash detergents, as alkaline liquids can corrode the clear coat. Buy a spray coating agent and apply it yourself twice a month—it only costs a few dozen yuan. If scratched by branches, don’t rush to repaint; first, apply toothpaste to cover the metal layer and prevent rust. Wait until there are multiple scratches before addressing them all at once.

[DanteAnn]

Comparing my old Envision with the newer model, I feel the domestically produced ones after 2018 are thinner. Especially the plastic parts of the front and rear bumpers - the paint shop mentioned poor paint adhesion. It's recommended that owners install mud flaps to reduce stone chip impacts and frequently rinse with soft water to prevent scale corrosion. After rain, promptly dry any accumulated water in the door handle recesses, as those areas are particularly prone to bubbling and peeling. Be cautious with cheap color-changing films - if they pull off the original paint when removed, you'll suffer significant losses.

[Rose]

From an owner's perspective, my Envision already has star-shaped paint peeling all over the hood after just three years. The 4S dealership admitted the paint standard is about 15μm thinner than imported vehicles. I've noticed direct high-pressure water jet during car washes easily damages the paint surface - recommend maintaining half-meter distance when rinsing. Avoid parking near shopping cart return areas as door impacts leave dents even if the paint doesn't chip. For resale value preservation, consider regular paint correction - original factory paint can fetch ¥5,000 more in the used car market.