Paint quality

[Elapido]

Taking a look at the Caterham price sheet, you can see there's a huge difference between solid non-metallic and metallic paint, I mean in price. Why? Is non-metallic paint low quality? Is there a difference in durability? Honestly, metallic paint look nice in most cars, but in a car like this, which is raw and racing, and elegant metallic paint finish is not essential. However, the difference in price makes me wonder about how resistent a solid paint in red, orange or yellow will be in a tropical country where the sun shines hot for most part of the year.

[David Long]

I'll stand to be corrected but I think the metallic paint requires and additional coat of lacquer that the flat colours don't need - so more paint and time required.

[Elapido]

But does that mean it's more durable (old paints became matt with the years) or more resitant to stone chips, for instance?

[mickrick]

Most paints these days are clear over base. Even solids.
The reason the metalic colours are more expensive, is that the paint itself is more expensive in the first place.
As far as durability, nothing is more durable than car paint. Think what gets chucked at it! Rain, snow, ice, bugs. Then there's temperature extreems.
Of course you need to take care of it. A regular coat of wax ensures it keeps its shine.
Forget this, and your nice shiny car will be dulled by the suns UV rays.