I spoke my .02 cents to GM about the crappy paint on the 2010 Camaro - kinda sorta...

[el ess A]

I truly believe if it weren't for Scott, we likely wouldn't even HAVE a 2010 Camaro to complain about. He was pressing the brass's buttons ad nauseum to get a new Camaro.

He didn't earn the name Fbodfather for nothing. He'll listen to you and discuss nearly anything concerning GM (except corporate secrets). But he can't control every aspect of GM and their daily operations. But he DOES listen to customers, and since he himself is an enthusiast, he's GM's secret weapon in going to the shows and being the eyes/ears of GM to give them honest customer feedback. He's a good man in my book.

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by Hylton

Is a customer who lives in the snow belt expecting too much if the paint will not withstand the salt or sand put down on the roads during the winter?

No the paint should be able to withstand certain elements and still look good. I'm just saying though that if a rock comes off a truck tire and hits my car, I would be amazed if I did not have a chip.

[SS Mike]

It seems to me like this issue is mainly based on luck or driving conditions. I have 20,000 miles on my car. I've driven from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Diego and back a few times. I drive fast, I drive it hard, and I wash it as often, if maybe even less than most, and I only have a couple chips as to be expected. In fact, what gets me is all the chips I have are only through the clearcoat, or partially through the clearcoat. On my front bumper the rocks that hit the car seem to have just pushed the paint and plastic in a bit, leaving an indent with no scratch! I found 1 near the gills on the rear fender, and it was almost unnoticeable.

I know that this is waterbased paint so it is more environmentally friendly, and unfortunately it is weaker. However you can still protect and maintain it with normal wax and polish procedures. In fact the paint issue didn't come up because GM is trying to save a buck, or make more profit, they only wanted to make it through bankruptcy in one piece. The government and its extremely tough standard on everything relating to all kinds of emissions from cars to factories is the reason for this weaker paint! I remember hearing how California was considering banning the color black from cars because it attracted sunlight to the car, heating it up which caused people to use their A/C more thus using gas and causing more pollution! How much more convoluted can you get!?

I don't know if there is a real "issue" or not, but I don't think GM is the real cause behind it. I'm more than happy that this car even exists for me to enjoy it everyday. If I have to be a little more protective of my paint then so be it.

[swansor]

Originally Posted by bobby35ny

I have ALOT of chips for 6600 miles, I NEVER go on truck routes and I know not to follow to close. The BIGGER issue in my eyes is reaction to "acid rain". I have more than my fair share of etching. My wife has a 2004 Toyota minivan, she has maybe 3 chips on her van and it has 60K on the clock and ZERO etching. The rain falls from the same cloud onto the same driveway. There are paint issues here, lets not hide it. I'm not looking for a paint job nor repairs, I want them to correct it in future models.
-bobby

Well said about the fix. Not looking for anything but get it right for the 2011's
I have 3 vehicles and the camaro (newest) has more chips then the other 2 combined. I love this car but the paint is less then desirable. I would think a few more coats of paint couldnt add that much more to the cost of the Camaro. ???

With all due respect to Scott as he has done so much for the Camaro I dont see why one of us cant express our concerns. GM needs to hear all the complaints, weed out the frivolous ones and make a business decision on whether the resolutions are worth the sales.

[skuttduck]

I have the clearbra on my car, and the splashguards. I drove it during the winter, down dirt roads, and have 6670 miles on it. I have a total of about 5 chips. Most of them were at the gills.

I saw another members aqua blue, that was really road rashed up in front of the rear tires on the rocker panel.

I did however mark the paint down on my survey, not because of some drips in the door well, or stuff stuck in the clearcoat, or chipping, but because it peeled away a bit in the seam near the rear tail lights. That should not have happened.

[FI4T0MCAT]

Welll i have been having the rock chip issue myself. My car around the gills looks like its been hit with white spackle. I called gm and talked to customer service about the issue, they told me that its a "design flaw" and there is nothing they will do to correct it at this time. if i want them fixed i must take care of the issue out of pocket. wow talk about customer service. GM just lost a big customer, after that poor customer service and the lack of quality paint, not only will i not buy another camaro, I wont buy another GM in general. I was making a deal on a yellow z06 to match my 2010, but no way in hell will i buy one now.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by FI4T0MCAT

Welll i have been having the rock chip issue myself. My car around the gills looks like its been hit with white spackle. I called gm and talked to customer service about the issue, they told me that its a "design flaw" and there is nothing they will do to correct it at this time. if i want them fixed i must take care of the issue out of pocket. wow talk about customer service. GM just lost a big customer, after that poor customer service and the lack of quality paint, not only will i not buy another camaro, I wont buy another GM in general. I was making a deal on a yellow z06 to match my 2010, but no way in hell will i buy one now.

That's all it took to demonize an entire company? Impressive.

[Hylton]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

That's all it took to demonize an entire company? Impressive.

Come on Joe - that's not fair man. That's how customers react regardless of what the product/company is. One bad experience (in the mind of the customer) is all it takes to turn someone off. F14TOMCAT's reaction is normal human nature at work.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Hylton

Come on Joe - that's not fair man. That's how customers react regardless of what the product/company is. One bad experience (in the mind of the customer) is all it takes to turn someone off. F14TOMCAT's reaction is normal human nature at work.

It doesn't make it right, and it's as fair a chance as he's apparently giving GM, would you disagree? I don't judge people, or at least I try my hardest not to -- yet if I'm being unfair, then surely so is that reaction.

[Hylton]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

It doesn't make it right, and it's as fair a chance as he's apparently giving GM, would you disagree? I don't judge people, or at least I try my hardest not to -- yet if I'm being unfair, then surely so is that reaction.

That's how we all react. Suppose you went to a nice restaurant and the meal was perfect but you had a rude waiter who took forever to serve you, would you go back there?

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Hylton

That's how we all react. Suppose you went to a nice restaurant and the meal was perfect but you had a rude waiter who took forever to serve you, would you go back there?

....Absolutely. Because that waiter is one of many, and I like the food. Ditto for this case, too -- another rep could have answered who was much nicer. Doesn't change the situation or the outcome though, so it doesn't matter. Why issue an ultimatum?

I don't think so simply, I guess...too many factors to write anybody or anything off for just one.

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by FI4T0MCAT

Welll i have been having the rock chip issue myself. My car around the gills looks like its been hit with white spackle. I called gm and talked to customer service about the issue, they told me that its a "design flaw" and there is nothing they will do to correct it at this time. if i want them fixed i must take care of the issue out of pocket. wow talk about customer service. GM just lost a big customer, after that poor customer service and the lack of quality paint, not only will i not buy another camaro, I wont buy another GM in general. I was making a deal on a yellow z06 to match my 2010, but no way in hell will i buy one now.

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

That's all it took to demonize an entire company? Impressive.

Originally Posted by Hylton

Come on Joe - that's not fair man. That's how customers react regardless of what the product/company is. One bad experience (in the mind of the customer) is all it takes to turn someone off. F14TOMCAT's reaction is normal human nature at work.

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

It doesn't make it right, and it's as fair a chance as he's apparently giving GM, would you disagree? I don't judge people, or at least I try my hardest not to -- yet if I'm being unfair, then surely so is that reaction.

I don't believe it anyway. I mean I believe that he had the bad experience, but I don't believe it when he says he won't buy another GM product. Heat of the moment reaction. At least I hope that's all it was. That certainly wouldn't make me go as far as to say I would never buy another product from them. I mean seriously, you are gonna cheat yourself out of a new
Z06? No way I would do that. Go get it man!!!!

[FI4T0MCAT]

Well you can look at my sig and see i have been a pretty good gm customer (other than the ram) I am a firm believer in customer service, and after being told basically to get bent ( i omitted some issues i had with customer service and the dealer) yeah thats all it takes. I will keep my collection, but my next toy will not be GM out of principle. Im sure im not the only person that would feel this way after having this kind of experience either. Im not loyal to GM i dont get anything special to purchase their cars, so i will go where my business is appreciated. My dodge customer service has surpassed GMs in every way. some guys here are die hards and would stay with gm even if the cars exploded randomly. I wont, i like to feel like im getting my moneys worth, and now i do not.

[BICHN CAMARO]

Originally Posted by Bad Karma

I'd suggest at least another coat (mil) of Clear.

The paint itself is always going to be thin, however some protection (clear) would go a long distance.

I do applaud the clear coverage on the leading edge really down low right before my cemetary of where rock chips are.

There are some good ideas floating around but honestly, I'd rather have paint problems then others.

I don't wanna get into the story of a particular new 1995 GMC K2500 owner having to drive his brand new (490 mile) truck to the dealership in REVERSE so that he could physically show the service manager that something was afoot with the transmission.

Paint is easy compared to severe mechanical/electrical problems.

Ivan

Dude, how many mils of paint do you have on your car? I am trying to collect data on this but all I can find is people bitchin about thin paint without mil test info. You cannot look at your paint and determine it is thin or needs another coat of clear.