[CU2] Repainting my Volcano Grey 2009 Luxury Navi a deep red or maroon color

[euro2009Lux]

I recently brought brand new Volcano grey 2009 Luxury Navi and really love the car. The only regret is the limited choice of colors that I get with the car. I wanted a very deep red like the old Ruby Red or a maroon color and thought that Milano red was just too light red. I didn't see a Milano red in the show room and based on the decision on a old model Milano red car i used to see in my car park, whose paint work didn't look that good.

It was a toss up between the Volcano Grey and the Milano Red , but I eventually went with the Volcano grey as everybody said that its having better resale value and my whole family liked it better , but in my heart I still wanted a red car , but just didnt like Milano Red.

Now that I got the volcano grey for 2 months, I realised that I want a red car and should have gone with the Milano red as i find the Volcano grey a very dull color. I have seriously considered repainting my car at an authorised honda body repair centre a red color. I want the forums user help on some points like

- Will repainting the car affect the warranty in any way other on the paint work ? I plan to have it done at an authorised dealer

- If i do it at an authorised dealer, will it be possible to paint it some other red than the milano red , perhaps a ruby red or maroon red ? Or will they only paint it a specific honda paint color

- Any idea of how much it costs to repaint a whole car ?

- Will it affect the value of it ? I plan to keep it for 7 to 10 years if i get the color i like.

- If i repaint the car at any other place than a honda authorised body repair shop will i make my warranty null ?

- Will the repainting at a honda authorised body repaint shop (i know there is one in Bentleigh who are also dealers )be of the same quality as the paint job done in the factory ?

To sum up, i want to repaint my brand new car. Is it a crazy idea ?

Really appreciate your feedback.

[tony1234]

Don't do it.Sell your car and buy a red one,itll be cheaper and easier.

[snYpz]

I think it costs about $3000 to paint the entire car...last time i asked my panel beater anyways.

I like your taste euro2009lux! ;)
I have a maroon euro! I didnt like the colour at first but its grown on me since. Its a rare colour.

Im suprised that you actually want to swap from what is a very popular colour, grey, to a deep red which may appear too "oldie" looking for most.

Here is my car...crappy pics but i think once modded, the maroon red doesnt look too bad at all.

BTW, this is the red your talking abt right? :p

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3050000-3050999/3050407_1_full.jpg

[snYpz]

BTW I dont think its worth it to repaint your car...which is brand new!
I was in your exact same shoes but other way around. I wanted mine to be grey lol.

I think stick with the grey for a few years then see if you still want the red. The grey is a really nice colour and goes with the CL9 and CU2 pretty nicely. Really not worth the trouble especially when the car is new. If you intend to repaint, better find a really good place that does a really clean job. You dont want patches and blobs on a brand new car.

The maroon red, i feel, is like a mix between the grey and the milano red. Thats my way of convincing myself to like the colour initially lol

[aaronng]

I'd swap with someone who has a red but wants a grey. Will cost you money in stamp duty though.

[euro2009Lux]

Here is my car...crappy pics but i think once modded, the maroon red doesnt look too bad at all.
BTW, this is the red your talking abt right? :p

Yes,thats the exact red I am talking about(Ruby Red) which is a maroon red. Honda discontinued on its Euro around the 2005 Model upgrade and on the Civic on the 2008 Nov time frame. Can't understand why since the Ruby red looks a lot better on a bigger car than the milano red.

Given that's it's a brand new car and only been around for about 3 months, there's not much chance of finding anybody who wants to trade a red for a grey so the only other option is trading it in for a new one which is a huge loss and not worth it. It will cost me around 6,000 to trade it in (3,300 km and July Reg) and get a brand new car which is not worth it.

Repainting it is the only possible option at least for a year or two until enough people have brought the car to make finding somebody who wants to do a swop a realistic chance. Would getting it repainted look like a factory job or will it spoil the brand new look ? Everytime i see a Milano Red car i start kicking myself for listening to other people and buying a color i find very dull.

[The X Man]

I wouldn't go to te hassles of repainting it unless you were loaded with money and prepared to strip the car completley. You couldn't possibly paint everything properly with all the "bits" still attached.

Sell it and buy a red car.

[snYpz]

Nah i think the grey is much nicer than the milano red imo.
The grey is a classier and more elegant colour as compared to the milano red.
I think the milano reds tend to fade due to not having a coating? (correct me if im wrong)
In the long run, i would take the grey over milano red anyday. If you really like the red, paint it after a while. Otherwise stick with the grey ;)

[Euro08Jaz]

look at aftermarket trims and wheels that could help accentuate the color of your car, im sure you could get much nicer looks going with it the way it is, darker cars look very sophisticated in my opinion. and the cu2 definitely looks better darker to me.

[PNR888]

Mate, please do not spoil your new paint!. Trust me, it is almost impossible even for the best penal beater to get the same paint finish as the factory one. it may look very nice and shinny when just done, but after a few years, you will regret.

I dont think Honda will still honour rust and corrosion warranty once your car get repainted, even by so call authorised honda smash repairer..

when brand new cars get spray-painted by car manufacturers, all penals and frameworks are still well apart with no interior parts (plastic, rubber, glasses etc) attacah to them. and all penals are "virgins" ( no previous paint) which will to hold on to the paint very well.

to respary the whole car, penal beater will have to strip down the car. but it is impossible to remove every single part from the car, that means the paint can not be bake in high temperature in baking booth coz it will melt the rubber or plastic parts.

When putting all parts back together, who can guarantee you all parts are put back in correctly... be prepare for lots of rattles. and faulty electrical connections. the list will just go on and on.

Having said that, if you are determined and got extra cash to spend, it is an exercise worth trying. Good luck and let us know the result.

[SPQR]

I think the milano reds tend to fade due to not having a coating? (correct me if im wrong)


I have owned three red cars. The paint eventually faded on all three.

Silver is the easiest colour to maintain and the one that shows scratches the least with time. That Ruby Red doesn't look all that good after a while; especially with a few scratches here and there.

[SPQR]

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3050000-3050999/3050407_1_full.jpg

Nice rims.

[snYpz]

I have owned three red cars. The paint eventually faded on all three.

Silver is the easiest colour to maintain and the one that shows scratches the least with time. That Ruby Red doesn't look all that good after a while; especially with a few scratches here and there.

The ruby red on my car is still going pretty well :) touch wood!
The colour looks awesome particularly on cloudy days...but then again, so do most colours :p

Good points mentioned early about all the associated problems with repainting. The grey is an awesome colour already. Really isnt worth the trouble especially on a brand new car to have everything taken apart and resprayed to a quality that may not match that of the stock new paint. As confirmed by SPQR, the milano reds do tend to fade over the years so might not be worth the trade anyhow. (ruby red is ok cos it has the extra coating)

[kimnkk]

I dunno, i've got a thing for grey cars but i know that i certainly do like snYpz's red! Definitely a hot red and classy looking. Likewise, love the rims mate.

[blk05gli]

my 2 cents - I have a gray/silver 04 euro and the paint is still top quality, no fade at all after 4 years parked outside.

[koray]

[QUOTE=snYpz;1894809]I think it costs about $3000 to paint the entire car...last time i asked my panel beater anyways.


Man, you're looking at more than double that, at least 6k for a good job...you have to strip the ENTIRE car.. can't have a grey engine bay, door jambs etc and have a red car.. It'll look like a rebirth! Seriously dude, just trade in or wait to see if Honda will bring out the Ruby again.. You never know:D

[Crapdaz]

not worth doing a bare metal respray, and you want someone reputable to do it and it will cost 3k+ and is too time consuming.

[UNLS1]

I think it costs about $3000 to paint the entire car...last time i asked my panel beater anyways.

I like your taste euro2009lux! ;)
I have a maroon euro! I didnt like the colour at first but its grown on me since. Its a rare colour.

Im suprised that you actually want to swap from what is a very popular colour, grey, to a deep red which may appear too "oldie" looking for most.

Here is my car...crappy pics but i think once modded, the maroon red doesnt look too bad at all.

BTW, this is the red your talking abt right? :p

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3050000-3050999/3050407_1_full.jpg

ur looking at least 5-7k if u want a factory looking job with engine bay, door jams ect. lol would be a crappy job or just the panels for 3k

silly idea to paint a brand new car imo, u bought it, ur stuck with it.

[Type R Positive]

I think you'll be looking at $8k+ for a quality engine out job.

If I was going to repaint it, Id go a Kandy brandy wine (think Queen St ferarri) or Kandy apple red.

[mp-]

respraying a 2month old car? :thumbdwn:

Like most has said. Just trade it in and get a new red car

[EuroDude]

Dont get your new car repainted, they will need to dismantle many parts of the car. It wont be the same again, and may introduce rattles, introdude scuff marks on the interior, and you may lose that quality door-close thud, amongst other things..

[euro2009Lux]

Thanks a lot for the advise , it really helped heaps.Looks like repainting is much a bigger deal than I though and not worth it as it may cause other issues. Just debating whether it's worth a trade in or not and hoping the answer to the two questions below will put the issue to rest.

(Question 1.) I got it for 48,800 drive away cost with no discount since it was a brand new model (2009 Luxury Navigation) and just released. Given that it was registered on July 02 and its done 3,600 km and in brand new condition how much do you think it will cost to change over to red color car of the same model. Now that it's pointed out that the Milano Red fades much faster I am not sure if its a good idea any way. So to sum up just wanted to know if anybody can estimate how much it will cost me to trade this car in and walk out with a Milano Red color car of the same model.

(Question 2.) Has anybody had problems with fading of the Milano Red color.(I have seen on US Honda sites thats it fades to a sort of pinkish color if parked in the sun for many years) Does Milano red fade more than other Euro colors and I am better off with the current car color I got. Just want to know everybody's opinion on the Milano Red color.Is it better or worse than Volcano grey ?

(Question 3.)Volcano grey is a metallic paint and the Milano Red is a flat color without any metallic or pearl paint, does that mean Milano Red is missing the additional metallic or pearl coat of paint and could that also be a reason why it fades faster. I have seen the Mazda6 having a metallic red coat which looks similar to the Milano red but is much more brighter and looks better, so not sure why Honda decide to make the Milano Red without metallic paint option.

A huge thanks to everybody who replied so far , i just want all the information to make a final decison to trade in or learn to like the Volcano grey. I really love the quality of the car otherwise. I am looking at keeping the car for about 10 years.

[Type R Positive]

Red pigment fades faster than any other colour. That's just how it is.

You might lucky enough be able to find a Milano Red demo that you might be able to swap.
Then again, Milano Red is not a very popular colour, and I doubt any dealer would use on as a demo. It would be a whole heap harder to get rid of later.

I would stick to the Volcano grey. I got Volcano Grey, I think it's a sweet colour. I truely think it looks a whole heap better than Milano Red a few years down the track too. Swirl marks and spider webs in flat paint are a bitch, even after a few months.

I will tell you a little story. At the start of last year, the missus and I got a runout Toyota Corolla. We ordered the last '06 metallic black one they had. Anyway, they crashed it in the holding yard, so we couldn't have it. There was a blue one left when we ordered the black one, but that had sold by that time we needed to make another choice.

Anyway, we ended up getting a '07 Metallic Red one, for the '06 price, with free tint as well. It was agood deal, but I was never happy with that car because the colour wasn't what I wanted. I did get used to it, but when you are spending this amount of money, you want to get what you want.

If you really really want a Milano Red one, talk to the dealer you got it from. I don't like your chances, but you never know.....

[snYpz]

the reds fade quicker but im sure its because the milano reds were missing a coating. The ruby reds are fine...thats what my panel beater told me anyhow. My car is 4 years old and the paint is still pretty immaculate. :)

[leonr64]

Why not sell it privately? You have a near-new car, and a plausible reason to sell it, so the buyer has no reason to suspect there's something "wrong" with it. (Heck, you could even show them the receipt for the deposit on the new one!) A private buyer will give you much more for it than a dealer.

BTW, I had a good experience with a 1996 Corolla in solid red, which I sold in 2002. It came out of the (then) new paint factory that Toyota installed in Altona. It looked so good after I washed it, that I didn't even bother to get it polished before selling it. Can't speak for Honda's Milano red though.

[viper8548]

Red pigment fades faster than any other colour. That's just how it is.


Correction! Its not 'Thats just how it is', I remember learning in physics that it has something to do with the wavelength of the colour red and how it reacts more to sun light that other colours with different wavelenght. I used to have a mcdonalds sticker near my window when I was a kid and i alway wondered why all other colours are in perfect condition except for mr ronald with no hair and lips lol.

[mypinkhonda]

I have a 2005 Milano Red Euro purchased brand new, and it has started to fade dramatically (first noticed Sept 08). First started on the boot lid, mades it was onto the roof, and down the side pillars. I think they call it oxidisation, it's turned milky cloudy looking.

It's been inspected twice (2nd time by the area manager) at the dealer - and the result, a total respray at a cost of $7000. In the letter from Honda, they blamed me for my lack of maintenance and the current environmental conditions...but 'cause I'm a loyal, longstanding customer, and in goodwill they've offered to cover 50% of the costs. :-)

Has anyone else had problems like this?? Do you have any advice?

cheers.

[Type R Positive]

you are very lucky that they pay half.
If your paint is oxidised, means you are not looking after it.
How often did you polish / wax / seal the paint?

[tony1234]

you are very lucky that they pay half.
If your paint is oxidised, means you are not looking after it.
How often did you polish / wax / seal the paint?
True but even red duco shouldn't fade like the OP has described it in less than 4 years.:confused:

[Type R Positive]

True but even red duco shouldn't fade like the OP has described it in less than 4 years.:confused:
Yeah, that sucks...... but if it was unprotected? must have been in the weather too.
Red just sucks as a colour. I guess thats why it's a girls colour! :p

[Bobjones]

If it was not that bad they could have had it detailed by a decent detailer and would have come back to life. Red with no clear fades, its single stage and unless you wash and apply a sealant or wax regularly, ie about 4 times a year if its outdoors often it will fade. Once all the protection goes then it starts to oxidise, though as I have already said can be buffed off in most cases...

I as a detailer, now only in my spare time, will NEVER buy a red car, red metallic yes as it has a clear, but never red, including the new CU2 red that is also single stage paint...

[aday]

I have an 05 Milano Red Euro, and prior to that I had an EK Civic in the same colour, which I bought new in 97 and sold in early 05 when I bought the Euro.

In all my years of ownership, neither of my Hondas have shown any signs of paint fade or oxidation. Admittedly my cars have always been garaged and well cared for, but it's not possible to isolate your car from harsh sunshine and UV all the time (especially here in Adelaide).

I would suggest that, with a little care and occasional TLC, it's entirely fine to buy a bright red car. You just need to be prepared to go that bit further to keep the car protected from the weather whenever realistically possible, and apply a good wax or other protectant from time to time. Given that most of us here reading the ozhonda forums could be described as enthusiasts who appreciate their cars, that shouldn't be too difficult for us. ;)

[mypinkhonda]

you are very lucky that they pay half.
If your paint is oxidised, means you are not looking after it.
How often did you polish / wax / seal the paint?

Well I want them to pay 100% and thats what I will be pursuing, as far as I'm concerned it's not good enough to start fading 3 years in and therefore was not fit for sale. There is ample evidence across all honda forums that milano red is crapola, and they know it. I wish I was more informed back then. They continue to sell Milano red cars - is the UV protectant up to scratch? I doubt it.

I was thinking of getting my own independant advice, paint thickness measurements, UV content, etc. Does anyone know if there are Australian Standards for automotive paint?

Waxing was 2 or 3 times a year atmost, which is obviously not enough. How often should you wax??

Maybe Milano Reds should only be driven at night and housed in basements when not in use. :)

[The X Man]

Interesting. Mitsubishi used some red paint on their Ralliarts that was designed to not fade and reports are it doesn't so that blows the myth that ALL red paint fades because it simply doesn't.

Many years ago i had a red magna and despite how many times i polished, waxed and sealed the paint it would still fade in no time and i did it multiple times a year.

I would say Honda is using cheap and crapola red paint on the vehicles.

[Type R Positive]

is the UV protectant up to scratch? I doubt it. UV protectant? It's got no clear coat......

[Type R Positive]

Waxing was 2 or 3 times a year at most, which is obviously not enough. How often should you wax??Depends on several factors like humidity, fall out, heat, etc.... But generally, wax doesn't last long at all. Could be 2 weeks, maybe up to 2 months if you are lucky. A sealant would have done much better. You can get a good 6+ months out of a good sealant like Klasse and Zaino.

I would take it to a good detailer before you choose to respray. Might just need a good cut and polish. :) Talk to the mod Aarong, he's a detailer. ;)

But still persue Honda for full cost respray by all means. :thumbsup:

[Type R Positive]

Interesting. Mitsubishi used some red paint on their Ralliarts that was designed to not fade and reports are it doesn't so that blows the myth that ALL red paint fades because it simply doesn't.

Many years ago i had a red magna and despite how many times i polished, waxed and sealed the paint it would still fade in no time and i did it multiple times a year.

I would say Honda is using cheap and crapola red paint on the vehicles.
The new ralliart model? Paint might still be too young?
You would think with the technology they got now, they would be able to do it.

I seen a paint on beyond tomorrow once, that if you scratch it, you just tip boiling water on it, and it's gone.