How's your Toyota paint job holding up?

[The_Dark_Knight_Forever]

Hi everyone,

I'm really curious to know how everyone's paint jobs are holding up & what color y'alls 4Runners are. I've seen a few posts where some are finding certain colors to be thin or very prone to scratches & swirl marks. I'd like to hear about which colors are more problematic & which are holding up well regarding their appearance after many washes either by automatic car washes, hand washing at home, etc.. I'm looking forward to how people are feeling about their Toyota paint jobs now days & the colors they chose.

I personally have a full satin matte PPF on mine over the Cutting Edge color. It looks like a satin aluminum & glows in natural light rather than having the glaring shine that most vehicles have.

Sponsored

 

[NotApplicable]

My underground paint is great after 2500 miles. But so far I’ve only touchless washed it, no direct contact lol.

It is a flat color, no flake or anything, so I expect it to show scuffs, scratches, and swirls more than other colors, not because of “weakness” of the paint relative to the other colors but because of the flatness.

But I’m not worried about it. I think it’s important to keep one’s preciousness about these sorts of things reigned in. Lest ye start parking miles from building entrances or avoiding going on adventures in the vehicle, or not using it for what it’s purpose-built for!

 

[shine]

My everest color was holding up fine until I spent last weekend in the back country... It's so liberating when you get your first pin stripes!

 

[js_panda_rnr]

Ice Cap here. Paint looks excellent at 3500 miles. I don't have a garage or covered parking so I'm really trying to take care of it. Got a ceramic coat applied two weeks after bringing it home. Detailed professionally every 4–6 weeks. Will pop into a touchless car wash if it's really dirty in between details.

 

[4funner]

My underground paint is great after 2500 miles. But so far I’ve only touchless washed it, no direct contact lol.

It is a flat color, no flake or anything, so I expect it to show scuffs, scratches, and swirls more than other colors, not because of “weakness” of the paint relative to the other colors but because of the flatness.

But I’m not worried about it. I think it’s important to keep one’s preciousness about these sorts of things reigned in. Lest ye start parking miles from building entrances or avoiding going on adventures in the vehicle, or not using it for what it’s purpose-built for!

I hear you on keeping the preciousness reigned in. I have never had a new car before and the other day I washed my 4runner and was stressing about small imperfections from bird crap etching through the clear coat.
Then I remembered every other car I have owned has dents, pin stripes, bird crap, door dings etc and I need to just breathe and not worry about it so much lol.

I see the appeal of meticulous paint care, but it seems like unnecessary stress for a daily driver/off road rig. I will probably drive this for 10 years at some point it is not going to have a perfect clear coat .

 

[6thGen1419]

I personally have a full satin matte PPF on mine over the Cutting Edge color. It looks like a satin aluminum & glows in natural light rather than having the glaring shine that most vehicles have.

I have Cutting Edge as well. I'd love to see a pic of your full satin matte PPF over the Cutting Edge

 

[Desert_6Gen]

It's paint. All pain these days is thin. Not like how they were 20 years ago. Manufactures make everything as cheap and thin as possible; just enough to work. I'm sure they use the same clear coat for all their vehicles so swirls are equally as prone on every single color. Some just may show up more than others.

 

[Kennyg]

I'm very disappointed in the quality of the paint on my 2025 TRD Sport. It's too easily scratched.

 

[ChasingTrail]

It definitely is thin/chips easily (Heritage Blue, also that milky, opaque paint), particularly the front grille and the bottom sides where the factory strips of ppf are. We got ours ceramic coated pretty quickly to protect against the sun and contaminants, and I'd love a full ppf, but we spent that money on mods instead. Like you, trying to remember that these vehicles are meant to be driven and adventured in - not babied!

 

[MikeK]

Improper wash techniques and neglect generally lead to the swirls and marring you see on vehicle paint. Most modern vehicles, including Toyota, have thin paint so proper car is necessary to keep it looking it's best.
If you're concerned about rock chips and scratches, PPF is the way to go.
I went with full front PPF and the rear quarter panels on my Trailhunter, then fully ceramic coated the body, plastics, and wheels.
I use ONR rinseless wash to maintain it and touchless washes after camping/ offroad trips to "rinse off" the heavy dirt.

 

[6thGen1419]

Improper wash techniques and neglect generally lead to the swirls and marring you see on vehicle paint. Most modern vehicles, including Toyota, have thin paint so proper car is necessary to keep it looking it's best.
If you're concerned about rock chips and scratches, PPF is the way to go.
I went with full front PPF and the rear quarter panels on my Trailhunter, then fully ceramic coated the body, plastics, and wheels.
I use ONR rinseless wash to maintain it and touchless washes after camping/ offroad trips to "rinse off" the heavy dirt.

Improper wash techniques and neglect generally lead to the swirls and marring you see on vehicle paint. Most modern vehicles, including Toyota, have thin paint so proper car is necessary to keep it looking it's best.
If you're concerned about rock chips and scratches, PPF is the way to go.
I went with full front PPF and the rear quarter panels on my Trailhunter, then fully ceramic coated the body, plastics, and wheels.
I use ONR rinseless wash to maintain it and touchless washes after camping/ offroad trips to "rinse off" the heavy dirt.

It only delays the inevitable, and at what cost?

 

[MikeK]

It only delays the inevitable, and at what cost?

One can argue that taking care of your body, eating healthy, and exercising only delays the inevitable as well. What's your point? Are you simply trying to start an argument?
The fact is PPF, ceramic coatings, or any paint protection for that matter is going to protect the paint and keep it in much better shape for years than unprotected paint.

 

[NotApplicable]

One can argue that taking care of your body, eating healthy, and exercising only delays the inevitable as well. What's your point? Are you simply trying to start an argument?
The fact is PPF, ceramic coatings, or any paint protection for that matter is going to protect the paint and keep it in much better shape for years than unprotected paint.

PPF/ceramic is a lot like motor oil viscosity/brand or interval debates. Everyone has their opinion, there is no universal truth. The "right" answer for someone is specific to their own preconceptions, superstitions, and goals.

 

[MikeK]

PPF/ceramic is a lot like motor oil viscosity/brand or interval debates. Everyone has their opinion, there is no universal truth. The "right" answer for someone is specific to their own preconceptions, superstitions, and goals.

Well, there's fact and opinion.
Fact: PPF will protect the clearcoat against rock chips, scratches, and UV damage.
Fact: Ceramic coating will protect the clearcoat against UV damage and make the vehicle easier to wash/clean.
Those aren't opinions, preconceptions, or superstitions. That's just the nature of the beast.

 

[NotApplicable]

Well, there's fact and opinion.
Fact: PPF will protect the clearcoat against rock chips, scratches, and UV damage.
Fact: Ceramic coating will protect the clearcoat against UV damage and make the vehicle easier to wash/clean.
Those aren't opinions, preconceptions, or superstitions. That's just the nature of the beast.

UV protection from ceramic is indeed debatable. It's one of the massively oversold marketing claims; it's not that a couple microns of coating can't block/reduce any UV, but the UV protective nature of it is incredibly miniscule. Clearcoat itself is far more protective from UV.

There are also negative "facts" and mitigating factors. For example, water spotting can actually be worse on hydrophobic coatings. The relative "ease" of washing a ceramic-coated car compared to a properly waxed car with some modern waxes is not substantial. PPF can cause uneven panel aging if not applied to every painted surface. PPF can permanently stain much more readily than clearcoat to certain contaminants.

Everyone's specific situation affects how they weigh the actual "facts", both positive and negative, relative to each other, and combine that with their opinions, preconceptions, and superstitions, to arrive at a decision. This is why these decisions are not portable from person-to-person. It's also why these products are not the right decision for everyone.

It kind of seems like you're trying to start an argument on the matter...

Sponsored