Softer than butter. Incredible for a car of this value. Was warned by the dealer, but never thought it could be this soft.

Mine is 7 years old and looks like new.

I was warned about the softness of the paint by a body shop a few years back, but guess that's the price for having such a good finish. Only use high quality products to keep the paint in first class condition. Think of it like lady Victoria Hervey: you have to be gentle on high class body work or it'll bruise.

All cars have softer paint since manufacturers had to move to water-based and eco paints.

But, like the comments above, mine is two years old and has one stone chip, no swirls, no scratches.

So what has happened to yours?

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I think the point we're making is that it's manageable.

I've known people that drive crazily close to the car in front then complain about the stone chips, stone chips are a function of the distance from the car in front.

Oddly, people that regularly use a scouring brush car wash tend to be clueless about the finish on their cars, and don't seem to notice the damage they do.

Snow foam, two bucket washing, sensible distance from the cars in front, and avoiding car washes should mean the car will go years without showing damage.

Two buckets, both with grit guards at the bottom. One with warm soapy water, the other used as a rinse for your sheepskin glove.

As you lot know, I've seen my fair share of different Astons and I have to say that some colours are worse than others. Some are indeed very soft, but others just mask the swirls well. The silvers and whites are best for this. It's always good when people say their car is mint and when you get there, it's clearly not and then they are amazed at the difference after it has been detailed. One of the best looking cars I've detailed was mr rob gt's vantage. That's a wry good colour for hiding swirls. Sadly, mr jase b's db9 is the other end of the spectrum, being painted in "doom blue" and very easy to marr the paint. Looking good now though.

The best way of keeping your cra looking their best is to keep them waxed, so there is less water to mop up, therefore reducing the amount of contact with the paint.

Snowfoam, two bucket wash, open hose rinse to sheet the water off and pat dry with soft drying towels.

That's the best way to wash them.

>chortle<

Another one for my litany of dislike of any car that isn't the same colour as mine (or California Sage which is also acceptable)

If you really want to look after your car, this is the stuff you need:

http://www.bamfordbody.co.uk/travel-gifts/bamfordr...

Makes it go much faster too

+1....except substitue the leaf blower for those heated air blowers with soft rubber ends (check out metro vacuum)....I used a leaf blower until I scratched my car with it