Opinions on paint finish quality

[ekfinn]

Well, I've been looking at the new 2011 trucks for some time now, wishing I could justify the expense of a brand new truck this year. They are absolutely magnificent machines, but is it just me, or do these trucks seem to have quite a bit of orange peel texture in the paint? When I go to car shows, or when I shop for a vehicle, the quality of the paint is absolutely imperative for me. Back around 10 years ago when a lot of the Japanese imports had pretty sub-par paint, I was impressed with VW's 5-coat paint process that produced a glass-smooth finish. Heck, even my '97 F-250 with its non-metallic white with metallic gray middle stripe has a very flat mirror-like texture on the paint.

I don't mean to make anyone feel bad about their 6.7 truck, and I am still drooling over the burgundy and tobacco brown rigs (I don't know what Ford calls these colors), but is there something I am missing here in regards to the paint process the blue oval is putting on these trucks?

[TW720HVY]

You are 100% correct about the "orange peel" on their trucks, mine has it as well.

A friend of mine who is a detailing fanatic owns an old F-150 Lightening, which is a SVT (if any product line that shouldn't have this would be it) also has the same "orange peel". He said it is a very common trait Fords have.

[mor4wd]

I've noticed it on other trucks, however I thinks it's hit and miss as mine has none whatsoever. Very nice mirror finish after I get the salt and road dirt off of it.

[STRKTHS73]

its the way the truck is baked when it comes from the factory

[ekfinn]

Originally Posted by mor4wd

I've noticed it on other trucks, however I thinks it's hit and miss as mine has none whatsoever. Very nice mirror finish after I get the salt and road dirt off of it.

That's a bit of a shame that it's hit or miss on the paint. My 2004 VW Jetta had fantastic paint, as well as my 1965 Ford Galaxie with ORIGINAL paint. My '97 OBS truck has great paint. I guess after those days in high school helping my friend hot-rod his '88 Olds with a 383 stroker under the hood I learned to appreciate how much love goes into creating a nice finish after three coats of primer wetsanded between coats, three coats of color, wetsanded between coats, and four coats of clear, wetsanded between coats. That was the summer I learned to hate anything body-work related, and learned to love a car with fantastic paint.

I dunno, when I see a 60 thousand dollar crew cab king ranch sitting there with a beautiful burgundy wine color, and orange peel texture all over it, it kind of makes me want to tell the dealer, "I'll give ya 40."

[TW720HVY]

My GMC did not have any "orange peel" but I have to tell you this truck is so much better. If you are really wanting this truck you're not going to be disappointed and I personally wouldn't let this issue keep you from getting it.