Faded red Fiat Panda 100HP - does it have a clear top coat?
Discussion
Hello peeps,
Just went to look at a red Panda 100HP (2007) which ticked all the boxes except for the paintwork which was faded in the way that some older red cars seem to go. From a distance it looked fine, but close up the metal panels were more faded than the plastic bumpers, and the bonnet and roof were more faded still.
My initial thought was that a good polish would bring the original colour back and then just to ask you guys what to do to prevent it from fading again, but having read another thread on here just now about a faded red Integra I'm wondering whether the car actually has a clear top coat which would prevent the colour from being restored at all.
Does anyone happen to know?
Many thanks
Ruari
Just went to look at a red Panda 100HP (2007) which ticked all the boxes except for the paintwork which was faded in the way that some older red cars seem to go. From a distance it looked fine, but close up the metal panels were more faded than the plastic bumpers, and the bonnet and roof were more faded still.
My initial thought was that a good polish would bring the original colour back and then just to ask you guys what to do to prevent it from fading again, but having read another thread on here just now about a faded red Integra I'm wondering whether the car actually has a clear top coat which would prevent the colour from being restored at all.
Does anyone happen to know?
Many thanks
Ruari
I had a red Cinquecento that was like this. It can easily be restored with a machine polish using a light cut. You won't avoid it blooming again but it can be delayed by keeping it out of the sunlight where possible (keep it in a garage / car port) etc.
Short of respraying it with a more UV stable paint, you are not going to stop this.
Blame the cheap first generation water based PPG paint that Fiat use. Much better products are available from PPG and others, but Fiat just don't want to pay for it...
Short of respraying it with a more UV stable paint, you are not going to stop this.
Blame the cheap first generation water based PPG paint that Fiat use. Much better products are available from PPG and others, but Fiat just don't want to pay for it...
The little Panda wasn't as bad as that, thankfully! I've decided to look at a couple of others first, then might go back to this red one.
I had a red panda 100hp incidently on an 07 and I found the paint work extremely easy to correct using a porter cable and some menzerna intensive polish. Sealed it all with 3 coats of collinite and it still looked great when I sold it
07 isn't that old really could it be evidence of a poor crash repair?
07 isn't that old really could it be evidence of a poor crash repair?
Arthur Daley said:
I had a red panda 100hp incidently on an 07 and I found the paint work extremely easy to correct using a porter cable and some menzerna intensive polish. Sealed it all with 3 coats of collinite and it still looked great when I sold it
07 isn't that old really could it be evidence of a poor crash repair?
Thanks for that also. I don't think it's due to crash repair though - the inconsistency was too consistent (if that makes any sense). Both front and rear plastic bumpers nice deep red, all the metal panels a bit faded, with the bonnet and roof both more faded still. Hopefully blue will be better!07 isn't that old really could it be evidence of a poor crash repair?
Ruari
Have fun with it, great cars. The best thing I did with mine was have the gearbox oil changed, it did have 40k on it to be fair but when cold it baulk a little into third... Fiat do list it as a service item at around 48k..
The only other thing advise I would give is stick to the goodyear eagle f1 factory fitted tyres, nice balance of grip and thye wear well.
The only other thing advise I would give is stick to the goodyear eagle f1 factory fitted tyres, nice balance of grip and thye wear well.
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