Metallic finishes do seem to hold up a bit better in my experience, but it’s not a huge difference. I think a lot of it comes down to the clear coat quality and how much pigment is in the paint. Reds are notorious for fading fast, especially here in the south. I’ve got a red truck that’s turning pink on the hood, but the silver one next to it still looks decent. Some brands just cheap out on their paint, honestly.
I’ve noticed the same thing with red cars—mine started out as a deep cherry and now, after a few Texas summers, it’s more like faded lipstick. I actually tried buffing and waxing to slow it down, but honestly, once the clear coat goes, it’s a losing battle. I’m convinced a lot of these “unique” reds are just marketing, and not all brands invest in UV protection equally. Silver and gray seem to hide the fading way better.
That’s been my experience too—red just doesn’t hold up in the sun, especially down here. I’ve actually wondered if the extra cost for those “premium” paint packages is worth it, or if it’s just more marketing fluff. Has anyone tried getting a clear bra or ceramic coating to help with fading? I’m curious if that’s a smarter investment long-term, or if it’s just delaying the inevitable.
Honestly, I’ve seen ceramic coating help a bit with fading, but it’s not magic. Down here, the sun just eats red paint for breakfast. Clear bra is great for chips, not so much for UV. I’d say if you’re super picky about color, maybe it’s worth it, but otherwise… it’s just delaying the fade. My neighbor’s “premium” Mazda red still turned pink after a few years.
Clear bra is great for chips, not so much for UV.
That’s been my experience too. I did a clear bra on the front of my old Accord, thinking it’d help with everything, but the hood still faded just as fast as the rest of the car. The red turned kind of chalky after about four summers in Texas—no real difference where the film was. I think these “special” reds just need more upkeep than most people expect.
I’ve tried ceramic coatings too, but like you said, they’re not miracle workers. They help with water spots and maybe slow down fading a bit, but if you’re parking outside all the time, it’s a losing battle. I started using a car cover when I know it’ll be sitting for days. Not ideal, but it helps stretch out that deep red look.
Honestly, after seeing how quickly my neighbor’s “Soul Red” Mazda faded (and that stuff is supposed to be fancy), I’m starting to think sticking with silver or white might be smarter if you care about resale or don’t want to deal with touch-ups every few years. Red looks great... until it doesn’t.
