2024 Clear Coat and Paint

I purchased a SR5 Premium in March this year to replace my 08 Taco. I've owned an 88 and 91 in the past including a 1984 FJ60. I absolutely love everything this last fifth gen. has to offer. Except for the clear coat and paint. Three months driving now on oil roads, concrete. The front end peppers so easily with any type of sand blowback. I'm ok with wear and tear, not someone with paralyzed perfection when it comes to the exterior. Damn, that clear coat and paint is thin as a paper plate!!!!!!!

 

The body panels are paper thin as well. I 've spent 750 dollars getting dent wizard ding repairs done.

 

I have that silver as well. The fj60 had true chrome bumpers. So damn nice.

 

A lot of people complaining about the paint. Time for a class action I think. For the price of these things they could do better on the paint.

 

The Japanese are known for their tin can panels and wafer thin paint quality. I spent close to a $1000 to get my entire hood painted because it had endless chip damage. Much more than any other car I ve owned.

 

I don't think you will have any luck, as it is environmental regulations that the likely cause.

 

I will say a 2007 camry i had for 10 years held up well paint wise

 

Only thing that will save you is quality PPF installed correctly.

 

Yeah, I don't believe this is a "Japanese car" thing either; I'm fairly sure it's the new environmental restrictions on the painting process which results in the paint being both thinner and more soft than before. Definitely a bad combination.

TimG

 

Having previously been a professional detailer, it's 100% a Japanese car thing to have shit and thin paint

 

Well, I've been solid about applying Adam's butter wax every month to help protect the clear coat. Finished this evening and ran my hand over the hood. Solid sediment stuck in the clear coat. Time for some clay bar action four months after purchase. Shocked at how cheaply finished this rig is. Good news is that I'm still loving it. It's just so damn salty to drive!

 

Interesting. Any idea when this changed? Reason I ask is, my 2008 Infiniti EX had awesome paint which held up great against stone chips, etc. Probably one of the most durable paint jobs I've had on any car...maybe with the exception of some old bmws I've had. Thanks!

 

Second oil change at 9181. My front end is peppered with chips. Owned a Lexus Gx470, held up so solid with front end debris. Paint and clear coat just shatters on this new 5th Gen 4runner.

 

If you watch The Car Care Nut on YouTube he measures the paint/clear coat thickness on the cars he reviews. The Lexus cars have noticeably thicker paint then the Toyotas, especially the 4Runner I am sad to say.