Sunlight and fading paintwork?

[HonestIago]

I realise this sounds rather paranoid:

I have bought a parking permit for the area where I live during term time so I can have access to my car for the last few months of uni. Its a relatively nice area of town so not too worried about it being on the street. However I am worried that, being bright red, a few months UV damage will fade the paintwork. Its been garaged throughout my ownership and by the previous owner. Prior to bringing it here I've thoroughly washed and waxed it with Raceglaze 45, is that likely to be enough or is there anything else I can do?

Feel free to laugh/flame/give honest opinions!

PS Apologies if wrong forum!

[buzzer]

Dont worry... Pink will suit it

[mat777]

My bright red land rover is exactly the same - and indeed it was a nice salmon shade when I got it...

All I can advise is that you give it a good t-cut and wax every 2 months or so. Or, you could buy a uv-proof car cover

[Codswallop]

It says in your profile that you live in Scotland. Having lived there for a good while, I can tell you from experience that there isn't enough sun for you to worry about your paint fading

Also, I haven't heard off/ seen many faded red Renaults, suggesting their paint is not susceptible to fade.

[Mr Gear]

Codswallop said:

Also, I haven't heard off/ seen many faded red Renaults, suggesting their paint is not susceptible to fade.

I think they are normally scrapped before the paint is faded.

[buzzer]

I didn't know what car you had when I made the pink comment... I looked in your profile and saw you have a Trophy?

I have just sold mine and one of the things I noticed when I have looked at others was that some are faded a bit on one side more than the other... Plus the plastic bits (bumpers, door handles and roof strips) can be quite bad...

Comparing mine when it was sat next to our Audi TT in Misano Red, the Trophy always looked faded anyway...

I have seen a few references on Clionet to pink Trophys...

[J4CKO]

Is this down to the paint being a proper red paint, rather than a base and clearcoat ?

Easy to tell which you have, t-cut a small arae and if you get a red residue you have the kind that will fade, if not you have a base and clear and that is less likely.

[LuS1fer]

Some polishes have a UV filter.

Failing that, smear it with a good suntan lotion...

[furrywoolyhatuk]

As above, a car cover is the way forward. You can get covers that have clear plastic laminate in the areas where the tax disc and number plates are displayed.

Or a vinyl wrap?

Edited by furrywoolyhatuk on Tuesday 6th March 07:56

[HonestIago]

Thanks for the replies. Don't have spare cash for a vinyl wrap or a cover. Realistically car will only be outside for 3-4months. It probably gets 3-4hrs direct sunlight per day (assuming not cloudy!) and is shaded the rest of the time.

Its just that my Trophy is very much red as it is and couldn't bear the idea of it going pink! I worry far too much...

[DHE]

Presume youmean Raceglaze 42, which is 42% pure Carnauba by volume. A good wax, apply a coat or two every 2-3 months and you shouldn't have an issue with fading.

[Fat Albert]

I love my Car in Guards Pink.....not!
It takes about 4-6 hours every spring to get it back to shiny red

[HonestIago]

DHE said:

Presume youmean Raceglaze 42, which is 42% pure Carnauba by volume. A good wax, apply a coat or two every 2-3 months and you shouldn't have an issue with fading.

Ah I think I remembered there being a 55 and just assumed mine was 45, its 42 though you're right. I applied it thoroughly and will do so again in a few months. Thanks for the vote of confidence!

[HonestIago]

Fat Albert said:

I love my Car in Guards Pink.....not!
It takes about 4-6 hours every spring to get it back to shiny red

Is that just through polishing?!

[Fat Albert]

Liquid Clay and then polishing

[HonestIago]

Fat Albert said:

Liquid Clay and then polishing

Absolutely fantastic results!

I washed, clayed, machine polished and waxed the car back in the summer and whilst very laborious its definitely worth doing once a year. Rest of the time just wash with a wool mitt and wax every 2-3 months.