Oppo. Haaaalp!

"anothermiatafanboy" (kvnkiley)
09/04/2014 at 09:30 • Filed to: None

I am very interested in this accord and considering driving an hour to check it out this weekend. He mentioned it had a 'scuff' and sent pictures of it. I don't know what's going on. It looks like the clear coat is faded for a couple feet, even up on the pillar. Especially in the 3rd pic the trunk looks shiny and the panel looks dull. What could this be? How did it happen? How much should I care? Thanks oppo!

DISCUSSION (33)

Jonathan Harper > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 09:32

Title is clear?

McMike > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 09:33

CLEARCOAT!

Kinja'd!!!

ACESandEIGHTS > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 09:33

Which year are we looking at here? I can't tell my sight.

I think the scuff might be elsewhere but you're looking at typical paint wear.

Had a buddy buy a 5-year-old model recently and its entire roof is starting to show this.

StoneCold > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 09:35

Sun bleaching? Or a botched repainting, but that's less likely.

Party-vi > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 09:38

Ask if it's been in an accident. Strange that only the paint on the rear passenger quarter panel is bad but every other spot is OK. It looks like there has been a re-spray on that body panel (most likely due to replacement or repair) and they didn't do a good job at it. Check the panel gaps on each side of the trunk and doors, as well as the rear taillight fitment on each side; I bet each side is different. Stay away from this if the seller can't explain what happened. Grab the VIN and pay for a VIN check or Carfax.

Party-vi > McMike
09/04/2014 at 09:39

*slow clap*

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 09:40

Just wear and tear by the looks of it. Sometimes it can be a bad respray though.

JGrabowMSt > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 09:43

Its a Honda thing. The motors are great and last a long time, so they decided to cheap out on the paint. Some years had a recall for certain panels as well. The clear coat is basically coming right off the car, nothing you can do about it other than getting it redone. I personally wouldnt bother unless your aim is to keep the car for several years. If its just a DD/commuter, not worth the cost of a full paint job, but know that the paint is only going to get worse from here.

Boxer_4 > JGrabowMSt
09/04/2014 at 09:45

Chrysler and Mitsubishi paint used to do this as well.

JGrabowMSt > Boxer_4
09/04/2014 at 09:49

I want to say chrysler and mitsu got better around 2004/2005, but my coworkers 2010 civic was recalled for the hood, and the recall job is starting to go bad as well. My Neon is losing clearcoat on the trunk, but my Magnums paint is fine. Difference between the chrysler econobox and luxury cars...

As Du Volant > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 09:54

Looks like it had crash damage repaired on the quarter panel and was fixed on the cheap.

If it was sun damage the flat parts of the body (trunk, roof, hood) should be affected too and they're clearly not.

anothermiatafanboy > Party-vi
09/04/2014 at 10:33

carfax shows a minor accident.

anothermiatafanboy > ACESandEIGHTS
09/04/2014 at 10:34

2003

anothermiatafanboy > As Du Volant
09/04/2014 at 10:34

Could be. Carfax shows minor accident.

Party-vi > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 10:40

There are enough of these for sale that you should avoid this one. You don't know what what hit, what-all was replaced or the quality of work done (which looks sub-par since the paint hasn't held up). Skip this one unless it's for a ridiculously low price.

miadaman? yes please > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 10:41

That is the laziest attempt at a matte finish that I've seen.

7th gen accord? Aren't those (like many other Hondas) unibody frame? Since you mentioned the pillars are faded too, it's more likely that if it was a salvage, the trunk/bumper was replaced and the flat finish is the original paint. How are the conditions of the paint on the hood?

Flat paint shouldn't be too difficult to fix yourself, polish it with orbital sander, clearcoat then wax to bring up the lushness.

/backyardbodyshop

anothermiatafanboy > Party-vi
09/04/2014 at 10:47

Probably good advice. It is pretty cheap though. 5900 asking price for an 03. It's an EX (top model) with only 95k miles.

anothermiatafanboy > miadaman? yes please
09/04/2014 at 10:54

In the second picture it looks to me like that 'matte' look is continued, at least up on top of the rear window. Wouldn't ya say? And all the panels on the other side and the hood look good.

Party-vi > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 10:55

No not a bad price, but it's been hit and repaired, so any attempt at resale on your part is going to suck.

anothermiatafanboy > Party-vi
09/04/2014 at 10:57

Well, I guess I will forget this one. It is listed under for sale by owner and I called and it was some strange sounding man who informed the car is actually being sold through a dealership. But that he has been driving it around...? I guess Im back to looking for 99-00 Civic EX's. I was just tempting by finding one of these in my price range. Maybe I will try to lowball him. Offer 4700 and maybe we could meet at 5k. Then I might still be getting a deal.

Party-vi > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 10:59

Probably a dealer driving a car around. If it's a dealer advertising on CL through the Owners section I'd stay away.

miadaman? yes please > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 11:00

As far as my knowledge goes with used vehicle goes, the body (if it's unibody) is the only thing that reasonably reflects the true condition. So I would pay special attention to any new-ish looking part that you see. Now it could be that the PO just decided to polish one piece of bodywork at a time but ran out of time before deciding selling, but it pays to be suspicious.

Like many suggested, check gaps and seals to ensure they are symmetric, if not, either the body was damaged (walk away) or it's a patterned part (aftermarket). For trunk especially, get a hose and spray water around the seal to make sure it doesn't leak. If it leaks it's damaged/replaced. Different gap on wheel arc may mean suspension is possibly knocked out.

anothermiatafanboy > Party-vi
09/04/2014 at 11:02

ok. I'll have to let this one go. Damn shame. I think it's sexy. 2.4, manual. Oh well.

anothermiatafanboy > miadaman? yes please
09/04/2014 at 11:03

thanks for taking the time to type that out. I appreciate the advice.

Boxer_4 > JGrabowMSt
09/04/2014 at 11:21

Kinja'd!!!

I just remember seeing lots of 3G Eclipses with terrible paint.

miadaman? yes please > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 11:23

You are welcome, happy hunting!

JGrabowMSt > Boxer_4
09/04/2014 at 11:24

Weird, might be UV damage out in Cali, because out here, I can't say I've seen that myself.

Boxer_4 > JGrabowMSt
09/04/2014 at 11:27

That's just a picture I grabbed off Google. I was seeing them in Pennsylvania for a while, too. It's definitely an issue.

anothermiatafanboy > Jonathan Harper
09/04/2014 at 11:35

No title shows a minor accident.

anothermiatafanboy > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
09/04/2014 at 11:36

Seems like the trunk would be affected as well if just wear and tear.

Jonathan Harper > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 11:38

Any details? That's probably it. Car got banged up on the passenger rear quarter and never got repainted right.

anothermiatafanboy > Jonathan Harper
09/04/2014 at 11:51

That sounds like it unfortunately. The dealer seemed a little shady. He only mentioned this in passing at the end of our talk. He kept saying over and over that all the panels have matching vin tags so they are all stock so none have been replaced.

Jonathan Harper > anothermiatafanboy
09/04/2014 at 12:02

ask him if you can take it to another dealer for a PPi