Poor Quality Paint on 2002 Astra.

I recently purchased a 52 reg Astra in Prestige Blue. I am happy with it in
every way except for the paintwork. It seems to scratch extremely easily,
not big scratches just tiny ones that I no dought can not touch up. Every
time I wash it I seem to find more of them. Can anybody offer any
suggestions of how to protect the paintwork and if possible touch up the
existing scratches. The anoying thing is that I didn't really look after my
past 2 cars (G and R reg Rover 400's), yet they still looked as new after 5
or 6 years. Looks like the Astra will look a right mess if I keep it that
long.

Gav

 

I recently purchased a 52 reg Astra in Prestige Blue. I am happy with it
in

These are possibly just lacquer scratches so a sparing application of T-Cut
blue for metallic finishes should sort you out.

Dark blue is a terrible colour for showing these kinds of scratches. Light
metallics safer choice in this respect.

 

Is it the pearlescent metallic paint? - can look great can't it!

I had a Cavalier with the Sapphire Red Pearlescent paint, and now have an
Astra with the green.

The cavalier did show the symptoms you describe, the top coat or lacquer was
very soft, even a careless fingernail can leave a tiny mark. I think the
Astra will be the same.

What did I do about it?

Good quality polish, twice a year (spring and Autumn) worked well - every
now and again I used the one with the red colour in it (Turtlewax I think).
Took an hour or so every 6 months, no big deal. If feeling lazy, used the
10-minute spray wax!

Don't forget the sills and door edges - any small, almost invisible chips
fill with wax and stop any damage before it starts. Special attention to the
front edge of the bonnet and the front of the car of course!

If I spotted a scratch, just went over that bit with the coloured polish
and/or a chipstick (the wax stick you get with some polishes.). Same If I
went along a road with the dreaded chippings - just a quick polish of the
bonnet and front end, 10 mins max.

Car was a 1995, bough in 96 S/H, traded in Jan this year with 125k miles -
body almost perfect, looked great.

 

Think your right, it looks like it is the lacquer. I bought a chip repair
kit the other week with bottle of lacquer in it. I put a little bit on a
scratch in the door sill and the scratch disappeared.

thanks

Gav