ARainer

I'm thinking about putting a new clear coat on my 1991 Integra (done professionally, not by me). The paint looks fine but it scratches so easily. The other week a friend of mine put a box on the roof of my car then dragged across it. Tiny scratches as a result. Is this a sign of thin/degraded clear coat? Would a new clear coat help protect against further scratches?

Thanks for any insights.

zeroptzero

If you enjoy the vehicle and it will serve you well for more years into the future I would suggest having it re-sprayed. Mild sanding with a new coat of paint and clear. I just had that done to my 18 year old Integra. The clear coat was dull and a bit yellowed on my car with some chips and scratches. Spraying new clear over the original paint system sounds a bit ghetto to me, not sure how well it will adhere to the old surface, if it will peel in the future without sanding the surface prior to application. Whatever is under the paint will come through the new clear - scratches etc... If you don't want to respray the entire car you can try a professional paint correction, scratches buffed out and paint surface polished etc.

ARainer

Thanks! Except for the scratches and minor chips here and there, the paint looks reasonably good so I was wondering about putting just another clear coat on. But I think you're right about this not being a good long term solution.

Chrisfrom1986

iTrader: (1)

Talk to a professional who can see the car in person

ARainer

Well, that is my plan. Though I wanted to be informed before speaking to someone whose primary interest might be their business. A little bit of knowledge doesn't hurt.

zeroptzero

Yeah I was tortured with the same decision on my 2000 GS-R, see if you can find a professional detail shop in your area with a good reputation, you'd be surprised what a good paint correction can do to a used car, the good ones can do amazing work for relatively low cost compared to painting.

A paint respray can also be affordable if you don't have body work, needed, and will breathe new life into the car.

MotorMouth93

iTrader: (1)

You need a good detailer, not a painter.

All paint will scratch if you drag stuff across it. The solution is to not drag boxes across the roof.

safedriver

iTrader: (1)

What is your budget...3x or 4x or 6x the value of your 28 year old car?

Get a paint correction estimate, from a detailer that also offers ceramic coatings, preferably Modesta.
Just the Modesta coating on an Integra should't be more than $1,200.

If the detailer thinks that ceramic coating is a waste of time, then just clear coating the car will be also be a waste of time.

dilbeckskate

id spend $12-1500 on paint correction/ceramic coating if the clear coat isnt peeling (pictures of car would help) if not NOBODY is going to just re-clear your car because the paint underneath will be different thickness etc and have thick/thin spots all over and would affect longevity, soo choice is yours either correction/coating or repaint

zeroptzero

my paint respray was $1,500 complete, no body work included Money well spent as these cars seem to last forever.

wunfstgsr

Try paint correction then ceramic coat it.