Watch out for those hedges!

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NitramA
Posts: 110
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2018 7:22 pm

Post by NitramA »

Even when driving carefully in t(e UK you sometimes brush the hedgerow on narrow country lanes.
I’ve done this twice in 18 months and both times have been surprised at the scratches that have resulted. I managed to buff the previous scratching out but you can still see them from certain angles.
I’ve not tried to do the same on the last lot running up the side of the car, but I expect the results to be the same.
I can see a visit to a body shop being part of Volvo ownership.

In over 40 years of driving, mainly company cars, I’ve never noticed such delicate paintwork on any of my cars. This included some robust hedge/ paintwork interfaces too.

So is this the colour (Pine Grey), the shape of the car, Volvo paint or just the rubbish water based stuff that all manufacturers are using?

A N Other
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2020 2:55 pm

Post by A N Other »

I've noticed the same. I have a Thunder Grey car and the other day inadvertently scraped the side when I was carrying something past the car.

It's nothing to worry about and it will remain as it is. However compared to previous cars the top coat is incredibly thin. It's scraped to the white undercoat, but the Thunder Grey thickness of the top coat is almost non-existent.
RonFleet
Posts: 144
Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2020 4:48 pm
Location: Hampshire

Post by RonFleet »

I had the same problem on my previous three cars over the last 7 years. I reckon (based on nothing but pure ignorance) it's the water-based paint.
Cheers,
Ron

XC40 B3 Plus Automatic
Fjord Blue
A N Other
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2020 2:55 pm

Post by A N Other »

I don't know which cars have water based paints but I would guess Toyota and VW don't. My two previous cars of those makes had paint like armour.
Spider62
Posts: 43
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2020 8:34 pm
Location: Sandbach, Cheshire, UK

Post by Spider62 »

All modern cars now have water based paints, although some are harder than others, VW being a hard but brittle paint doesn’t scratch quite so easily but suffers badly from stone chips. I know that from my previous golfs.

Many detailing sites will give details on how hard or soft different manufacturers paints are.

I still think that the old cellulose paint was better but it’s all about the environment now.
R-Design Pro T4 Auto FWD Bursting blue. Intellisafe Pro, Active 4-C Chassis, Rear Park Assist Camera, Front Park Assist, Tempa Spare Wheel, Smartphone Intergration.
Spider62
Posts: 43
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2020 8:34 pm
Location: Sandbach, Cheshire, UK

Post by Spider62 »

I forgot to say in my previous post Volvo paint is classed for detailing purposes as a medium hardness paint.
R-Design Pro T4 Auto FWD Bursting blue. Intellisafe Pro, Active 4-C Chassis, Rear Park Assist Camera, Front Park Assist, Tempa Spare Wheel, Smartphone Intergration.
WelshRobin
Posts: 161
Joined: Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:55 pm
Location: Norfolk

Post by WelshRobin »

One of the claims made for so-called "ceramic" coating is that it will provide a harder, more scratch resistant finish. I was (with some reluctance) persuaded to have this treatment applied to my new car in February, so I'll see how it performs. No scratches yet, but not much use either!
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