Is the Octavia 2 known for thin paint work? The front of my car has been utterly devastated by paint chips from using the M25 & M1 on a regular basis (more road works then free roads) and I cant help but wonder if this is because of thin paint work, or just the monkeys digging the road up & dumping it onto the carriageways?

Next car will have to look into getting some form of paint shield! :(

Not thin, but VAG paint is said by many to be softer than other marques.

I took 1 trip recently on the m25 near heathrow, and yes I noticed alot more stone chips. Its thin paint and all the crap from the building work, playing havoc here.

VAG paint is actually one of the hardest, which is why it chips. Jap paint is soft, that scratches easily but tends not to chip as much. VAG paint is quite thick (normally), suggest you look at Ventureshield.

VAG paint is actually one of the hardest, which is why it chips. Jap paint is soft, that scratches easily but tends not to chip as much. VAG paint is quite thick (normally), suggest you look at Ventureshield.

That is my understanding too. The paint does chip easily but when it does it leaves a pretty deep hole so it is not a case of thin paint. Ventiureshield sounds like a good idea. Tailgating is the main cause of the chips on the front I reckon although it hardly helps that last winter destroyed nearly every road surface in Britain.

hmm, tail gating isn't much of a choice when everyone is stuck to doing 50mph along some of the busiest stretches of Britain's finst gravel tracks! :(

Next car will definitley get a good going over by a paint protecor of some form, I'd be shutting the door after the horse has bolted doing it now. It is gut wrenching driving along the motorways knowing what their doing to my paint work.

Sticking behind lorries, better or worse with their catch all mudflaps?

I've got 4 or 5 now on my octavia and being candy white they show up :(

On the subject of thin paint the rear bumper on mine at the top its starting to wear away (best way to explain it) does anyone else have this? Hopefully will take it to the dealership this week and ask to have it repair anyone want to take bets on if they will? lol

I feel competent to comment on this matter.

(i) Modern water based paint is poor (imho) compared to the good old solvent based stuff.

Though the much better "passiviting" prior to painting should prevent rusting.

(ii) driving too close to the vehicle in front is the main cause of chips.

I know cos as a younger man I used to "tailgate" (whilst seeking to overtake)

However after multiple chips and a couple of cracked headlights i worked it out.

One can drive as fast a wheen o meters back, and better placed to see to overtake safely forby forby.

Cheers

M

Erm?

Edited 22 September, 201015 yr by dieseldogg

VAG paint is very hard and is not thin. Just look at a paint chip.

What people often don't take into account is that because the paint is so hard, many stones don't cause a chip. I also find that the hard paint makes it easier to fix a paint chip, as there is a sharply defined crater to fill.

I had ventureshield applied at the dealer by a contractor before it even hit the road. I can only suggest that next time.