Paint fade red 996?

[gareth h]

Gents some advice please, I have looked at a red 996 which interests me, my concern is that I had a red 968 years ago and the paint faded, although I could recover the shine it would always fade again, i believe that the 996 has a clear coat which should protect the paint from uv, but to my eye the paint on the 996 looks like it has lost its lustre. Does anybody have any experience?
Thanks

[Evolved]

Newer red paints shouldn't fade at all if cared for, I know as I love red cars and have had a few!
I'm guessing it probably needs some TLC to bring it's shine back.

[Mad March Taffy]

It will depends on where you keep it - most/all reds will fade in time if kept in strong sunlight - if you keep a cover on it or in the garage you should be fine

[davek_964]

My 996 turbo was a dark red (Orient Red Metallic) and that didn't noticeably fade at all - and was kept outside on my driveway, which would be in direct sunlight for the first half of the day.

[EGTE]

I believe modern red paints are less likely to fade than before, but no paint is immune to sun bleaching.

As CMoose says, a quick machine-polish will probably restore it fine. Even try some Paint Restorer on it by hand (Sonax make a particularly good one, but there are so many).

[mollytherocker]

Fading happens.

But its red. And totally worth the effort!

[braddo]

Just say that it's not red, it's Lava Orange.

[PH5121]

In the last 14 years I have had two red 911's, both have been parked in a garage, neither has faded. But both have been a weekend toy, not driven every day and parked outside every day.

[WinstonWolf]

Always view a red car at night under streetlights, any repainted panels will stand out like balls on a dog.

[NicoG]

EGTE said:

I believe modern red paints are less likely to fade than before, but no paint is immune to sun bleaching.

As CMoose says, a quick machine-polish will probably restore it fine. Even try some Paint Restorer on it by hand (Sonax make a particularly good one, but there are so many).

Not completely true.

Part of the function of the Clearcoat is to protect the basecoat from degradation from UV.

However, if it does fade, then polishing the clearcoat just removes more clearcoat - it does not, and cannot, do anything to effect an improvment on the faded red beneath it. Indeed the polish never contacts it...

Wash marring can progressively build-up up over time given the impression of fading / chalkyness, but the red beneath will probably be sound and unaffected.
In this case, removing the marring from the CC layer will help enormously to restore the vibrancy of the red and the clarity.

It is true that Reds are nowhere near as fragile as they used to be in the days of 2K topcoats. OEM paint suppliers test them very very rigourously.

That said though, if a panel(s) has been re-painted in non-approved materials with no UV filters in the CC, and un-stable red pigments in the base, then anything can happen.

If it's a deal breaker on the red car you're interested in, then I would ask to try polishing a bit, and see what result you get.

If it improves, then what you're seeing is boosted clarity from polished clearcoat, NOT dead / oxidised red paint being removed. like when T-cutting using an old T-shirt...!

Edited by NicoG on Tuesday 27th October 14:23

Edited by NicoG on Tuesday 27th October 14:24