Yeah, those reds are a pain. I see the same thing on a lot of pickups and SUVs—especially the ones that park outside all year. Doesn’t matter if it’s a fancy “crimson pearl” or just plain red, the sun chews them up. I’ve had a couple buddies try to get their roofs resprayed after the original finish started chalking. Mixed results, honestly. If you find a shop that preps it right and uses a good clear, it’ll look decent for a while, but I’ve noticed even the repaints start to haze up after a few years, especially if you’re not babying it with wax or parking in the shade.
Seems like the factory stuff is just barely good enough to last through the warranty, and after that, you’re on your own. I guess it’s cheaper for them to use a different formula for every color, but man, red always seems to lose the fight first. Maybe it’s just more obvious when it fades? Either way, if you’re gonna repaint, I’d say don’t expect miracles unless you’re willing to really keep up with the maintenance.
- Totally get what you mean about red fading fast.
- My neighbor’s old Tacoma turned pinkish after just a few summers outside—looked wild next to my silver car, which still looks new.
- It’s frustrating, but at least you’re not alone.
- If you do go for a repaint, maybe try a lighter color? Seems like they hold up better, at least from what I’ve seen around here.
- Either way, you’re doing your best—can’t fight the sun forever.
Either way, you’re doing your best—can’t fight the sun forever.
That’s the truth. Red pigments just don’t have the same UV resistance as some other colors, so they’re always the first to go chalky or faded. I’ve seen it a lot after hailstorms too—once the clear coat gets dinged up, that fading speeds up big time. If you’re thinking about repainting, step one is definitely making sure you get a good UV-resistant clear coat on top. Lighter colors do seem to hide the fade better, but honestly, even those can get dull if you’re parked outside all year. Regular waxing helps a bit, but yeah... the sun wins eventually.
Red paint is like the Achilles’ heel of cars, I swear. I had a ‘98 Mustang in “Laser Red”—looked amazing for about five years, then one summer it just… gave up. The hood and roof turned this weird pinkish-orange, and no amount of polish could bring it back. I always figured it was just because I parked outside, but after working a few hail claims, I started noticing how much faster reds go chalky when the clear coat’s compromised. Black and blue cars get hot, but they don’t seem to bleach out the same way.
I get why manufacturers keep inventing their own “signature” reds, but honestly, they all seem to fade in their own special way. I’ve seen some Toyotas go almost salmon, while old GM reds just turn dusty pink. Maybe it’s a marketing thing, or maybe they’re just trying to keep us guessing. Either way, if you’re set on red, a good ceramic coating or at least a solid wax routine buys you a little time… but yeah, the sun always wins in the end.
That’s interesting about the Toyotas going salmon—never noticed that before, but now I’ll probably see it everywhere. I’ve always wondered if the fading is more about the pigment itself or the type of clear coat they use. Anyone ever tried color-matching a faded red panel? I’ve heard it’s a nightmare, especially if you’re doing it yourself.
