paint quality

[charlie]

anyone else have issues with the honda fit paint quality? my rear bumper developed a spot where the paint just melted off. now i see that on the top of the car are spots where the shine is totally gone. 2007 with 24,000 miles. and i have had two panels replaced to due rust. the back door by the key hole had rust and the running board inside the car on the drivers side. i know paint protection is a rip off, but i am getting a 2010 fit soon and need to know how to protect the paint?

[manxman]

anyone else have issues with the honda fit paint quality? my rear bumper developed a spot where the paint just melted off. now i see that on the top of the car are spots where the shine is totally gone. 2007 with 24,000 miles. and i have had two panels replaced to due rust. the back door by the key hole had rust and the running board inside the car on the drivers side. i know paint protection is a rip off, but i am getting a 2010 fit soon and need to know how to protect the paint?
It is possible to get a very badly painted new car. In the mid-80's, the Ford truck plant in Tennessee had a severe problem with the primer used on trucks & SUV's, and the paint would just flake away on roofs and hoods at about one year. Now, just like then, there is no warranty on paint.

I had a Blaze Orange '07 Sport for two years and never had any problems at all with paint quality. My only suggestion to you would be to wash and wax your new Fit as often as you can. Most of us obsessives clay bar and wax at least twice a year. In the case of snow belt owners, I would suggest spring and fall, to remove the winter road grime and the summer tree sap/bird crap. Acids from organic material sitting on the paint can eat away at the clear and color coats. When the clear coat is damaged, the underlying paint layers begin to be chemically attacked, and eventually will lose the bond with the steel surfaces.

[claymore]

First time ever hearing about a rusty Fit. Most new paint will last a very long time if you maintain it. You might want to try using car washes to get rid of the salt used for ice control in your area.

[charlie]

just to verify, i do wash my car. and the rust was covered under the warranty because it was in places that are not affected by road salt and what not. the key hole on the back, when i wash it, would bleed red rust. the running board on the inside when i opened my car. always had the feeling it was rushed through the plant and things just weren't finished on it. no biggy. trading it in for a 2010 honda fit sport - white again. love the white. plus i bought the "jazz" logo with a red dot to trade out because the new fits have no dot above the 'i'. :( i also bought the original fit logo with a blue dot in case i don't want to rename it jazz.

[manxman]

charlie,

It sounds like your original Fit had an unusually bad paint job. I don't think that I have read a description that bad in any post, and I have read and posted in Fit forums since 2006. It is REALLY unlikely that your new one will have these problems. Good luck!