So... I bought my brand new fit in June of this year and already I have having trouble with paint chips. I don't know if I am just unlucky or if the paint isn't that great because my hood keeps getting attacked! Also, I have a rust spot on my hood that I called Honda about and they said they can't do anything about it...

I put some touch-up paint on it that I got from the dealership, but I want to know what I can do to stop this from happening? Would it be best just to save the money for a carbon fiber hood and roof or is there an alternative? NEED HELP!

Thanks!

 

Often, if you are getting paint chips on the hood, it is because you are following too closely to the guy in front of you. Sorry, but that is a fact. If you have a few extra bucks, get a 3M hood protector put on. clear, and does the job of protecting the paint. A bit pricey, though.

 

i have the same problem. i don't follow the person in front closely. i have a ton of paint chips on my hood and other areas of the bumper. the original honda paint sucks big time. i'm just saving my money for a new paint job.

 

Lamin-x.com that should take care of the problems.

 

I wrapped my hood with 3M Di-NOC. It helps protect the hood.

 

Paint chips are going to happen because our cars sit low to the ground. That is one reason for my deciding not to show my Fit next year but for a few shows. I don't go on the interestate if I can avoid it and definitely try to stay back away from traffic in front of me. I have even gotten rock chips on the side panels. The paint is just really soft and there is not much we can do about it. The wraps, bras or deflectors may help some.

 

I don't see Honda paint any worse than others.

I am 2 plus winters now and drive a couple 100 kms each week on freeway getting a dose of sand/sand residue. I have maybe 5-6 tiny chips on bumper I have touched up. I have stone guard on hood protecting it. I had to replace once as it took a stone but saving my hood.

Can see the hole here

 

Are you sure they're rust spots? It's probably iron particles which can be cleaned off with this:
CarPro's Iron X in use - YouTube

 

Out of all the cars i've owned, the Fit has the thinnest clearcoat out of them all. No real rock chips for me but there's not a lot of rocks flying about in Southern California.

I do have some scratches that piss me off, but it probably wouldn't be as bad if my car wasn't black.

 

In 1.5 years, only 1 or 2 chips, small, and that is after 2 trips from Phx to LA and another to LV. 18k. Paint seems pretty good to me.

 

My Taffy was a mess after the first winter. Even with the Honda Special paint sealer crap I got sucked into buying. By the way that wty covers pretty much nothing.

I had many many rust spots. Clay bar did the trick. The second winter only had a few show up.

 

The Fit's paint is definitely better than my old 09 TW Accord. 90+% of my driving is highway and the Accord's paint after 12k was embarrassing. I touched it up every other week and still had a considerable amount of nicks and gouges from road debris. I do not follow closely to other vehicles, especially semis and back off when I hear that "sandblasting sound" from other vehicles. The Fit, after 21,000 miles is doing great with minimal nicks and gouges. I've only had to touch up the front once.

 

Really depends on where you live and what the highway people do in snow. I had a Taurus SHO for about 15 years in Houston and it was pristine......rare snows are dealt with by spreading salt......3 years in Castle Rock CO and it was just blasted by the sand they use there.

geo

 

its not really the rock chips that bother me, even though my front bumper looks like it is 10 years old after only 21k miles. what bothers me is the fading. it almost seems like all the clear coat has worn off and the paint is fading in more than one spot on my front bumper. especially right around the fog lights. i have had it professionally polished and buffed and they cannot get it to look any better. we just need a company to come out with a full carbon front end and problem solved

 

I agree. It also depends on Interstate use vs. city roads. Interstate roads in areas with contruction are the worst. That being said, our Fit is the worst of the 17 cars I've owned when it comes to delicate paint.

BTW, '89 and '93 SHO previous owner here. I miss both of those cars terribly.

 

What color is your Fit jazzhands?

 

blackberry

 

Thanks...hope you find a solution