Red paint is just brutal for fading, especially if you park outside. I’ve seen a few cars where the hood and roof turn almost pink after a couple summers. Not sure why every brand has to make their own “signature” red, but it definitely makes touch-ups a pain. Even with the right code, it never looks quite right in the sun.
I’m with you on ceramic coating—pricey up front, but way less hassle than trying to polish out oxidation every year. Still, I wonder if anyone’s had luck with those DIY kits? I tried one once and it didn’t last through winter.
On the paint matching thing, do you think it’s worse on metallics or pearls? Seems like flat colors are easier, but maybe that’s just my luck.
Honestly, I’ve seen just as many issues with flat reds as with metallics or pearls. Flat colors might seem easier to match, but once they start fading, even a perfect code doesn’t help much—sun exposure just changes the tone too fast. Metallics and pearls are tricky because of the way the flakes catch light, but at least they hide minor imperfections better. I’d actually take a well-done metallic over a faded flat red any day. As for ceramic coatings, I’m not convinced the DIY kits hold up unless you’re really meticulous with prep... most folks just don’t have the time or patience.