Can anybody attest to the paint quality on the current Accords?

Reason why I ask is because I came across a nice 2003 EX the other day, but it had a small rust bubble at the tip of the hood. I bought my current Civic (currently being sold in the classified forums) with a small bubble and it turned into the hole you see here:

(I like to say its missing a tooth)

Anyways, I sense that Honda has made some improvements form ten years ago, but would the consensus still agree with the fact that there is no cure for this rust bubble?

 

there is no cure for rust..... but regular waxing should prevent it.

 

probably not very good. the paint is water based.. ive not seen too many good factory paint jobs from any car manufacturer. there is rust and clearcoat failures on many makes and models of hondas. the dreaded quarter panel rust on many generations of them. the rust on the 96 to 2000 civic generation esp in the dk green color. clear coat failure on the 98 to 2001 accord is surprising. rust starts on the inside for the most part so repainting the car under warranty can be tricky to get the dealer to do. they have their way of getting out of repairs and resprays.

 

Has the hood ever been repainted or replaced?

Today's eco-sensitive paints are unimpressive but it's usually from a cosmetic perspective not rust.

Consumer Reports dropped the "rust" from its "frequency of repairs" charts because (it says) nothing much rusts any more.

 

no its the hood from the factory. the bump has all the classic signs of a rust bubble.

 

I have a 7th Gen Accord Sedan and I have had this problem.

Call me crazy, but it was last summer when I had some bird droppings on my car.

Don't ask me why, but for about two weeks I was so busy with work and school, that I never got around to cleaning it.

When I tried to clean it, there was a rust circle under it. THAT'S ONE THING.

The other is I've noticed when I go through automatic car washes, I've seen some "paint streaks", meaning I can see the gray color of the steel under the paint job in small "streaks".

I've stopped getting my car cleaned in the automatic car wash (at many gas stations) and the streaking has stopped.

Just something to think about.


- HD

 

all my problems with paint would be solved by purchasing an Audi or BMW.

 

I plan on getting a full body paint job once all of my additional parts are installed.

Four coats of paint, and ten layers of clear coat.

Sound a bit much? I want my paint to look like liquid candy.

A good solid paint job with a decent amount of clear coat layers can outshine a Euro automobile anyday. My personal opinion.


- HD

 

Your 2003 will eventually have a hole in the hood as well since it's already starting to rust. I don't think paint quality would make a difference here because it probably started as a rock chip and rock chips will damage any quality paint job. The telltale signs of rock chips usually expose bare metal under the paint and once that happens it starts to rust. I have plenty of rock chips on my 98 but I've always touched it up and applied wax to it regularly so it's never started rusting. In your case it sounds like you're too late for touch up paint.

 

I thought 3 or 4 were the most times you could use a clearcoat? Can you really use 10 coats? Never heard of that. I think it would have a yellow tint.