So I cleaned both my 97 max (96k miles) and my 00 max (85k miles). A normal person would expect with the slightly less miles and age the 00 would have better paint. That normal person would be wrong. Its paint is comparitively worse. The 97's paint is really nice at the front, but the highway has done a number on the 00 with regards to tiny rocks and bits of dirt that have worn it down. Really depressing actually!

 

Hasn't gotten any better with the 5.5th gens either. Makes me ill whenever I wash my car.

 

even my FORD has better paint than my max, and its 7 years older.

 

this has been discussed since 5th gens were out...f*ing learn to live with it

 

Whooooooaaaaa...looks like someone has sand in their vagina!

 

No need to be a d!ck about it. Geez.

 

hahahahahahah

 

He's always bitter.

Oddly my glacier pearl 5.5th gen has pretty decent paint, only a few chips. It's nowhere near as good as my old oatmeal pearl 3rd gen but it's better than the green '96 my dad had.
Maybe it has to do with the color, showing more on the darker colors.

 

I'd be bitter, too.

 

So what, you posted a pic of my car, and what?

There were so many posts about bad paint on 5th gens that everyone is aware of this issue.

CoolMax-I am bitter to jerks with pea-sized brains. Next time test drive a new vehicle and write a review article on your own.

 

What I find odd about the paint s**** threads, is I wonder if such paint is the result of bodywork or original? Because most people here seem to get their cars used.

Anyway, I could list all the defects in the 4th gen Maxima, yet paint is not one of them imho. I am the original owner of a 1998 SE and I do have chips on the hood, but that happens with any car. The thing to note is that on those chips, the paint has been bare for 3 years, and it has not rusted.

Long story short is I question if what people are observing are the end result of bodywork, that would make sense.

 

Exactly. I do believe though that these chips ahppen more frequently on newer nissan. My friend has a 5th gen max and its chipped to **** from hwy driving. So is my 02 altima, nearly all hwy miles.

I think nissan was trying to make the paint more "flexible" and comprimised its wear qualities. My car has a large hit on the bumer and the paint has not spiderwebbed nor cracked yet. I am impressed.

 

I don't have any issues with my paint. It's still shining and lustering since I got it new. I think the problem is those who live in the snowbelt state are having paint issues due to the salt air or even the roads during the winter.

 

nothing wrong with paint that looks like orange peel

the 350Z has the same problems

 

I believe all nissan paint just horrible in general!

 

In my case, no, it's original paint. I've not seen rust, but then I live in the south and wouldn't expect to

I know this has been discussed before. I was just ranting and making sure no newbies happened to miss it

 

Good one.

As for the test-drives, I'd rather let the pros do it,especially when the cars are above the limit you've set for the .org.

Are you still reading those edmunds reviews I post?

 

the new paint is pretty bad

looking at the 3 nissans in my driveway: 92 max, 03 max, and 04 murano. All 3 are black and the paint on all 3 are in equal condition with regard to paint chips/imperfections... (hint: age difference)

 

I got my 2k used in 04. I wash it every 2 weeks, wax every 6 months. Looks great except someone key swirled my trunk Monday

 

How is the 2004+ Maxima's paint? Has Nissan improved the paint on their new models?

 

no sir, i have onyx 2004, my girlfriends 92 ES300 seems to have better paint. I hand wash once every week or two at most and wax once a month. swirl marks drive me nuts

 

Yep - my results:

95 SE - paint still looked good (some chips) at 120k miles
2k3 SE - original paint looked like crap after 8k miles.
Talked Nissan into repainting it at no charge - with clear bra only one chip in the hood (actually dented the hood), and a lot less chips on the front bumper. And this is now with 39k miles. Guess it's the double-thickness of paint? Or maybe the dealer body shop sprays thicker layers...?

 

I learned my lesson and I'm done with black cars

 

My majestic blue is lookin rough after 87K! I might repaint but figure the chips will come right back driving around Northern VA.

Problem is they dont make a full frontal bra for the AE's and I dont like the idea of just the hood piece. Anyone with a 20th Ann'y find a bra?? if so, where?

 

japanese paint isnt as good as american paint

 

You've got to be kidding me! Most cars running down the road looking all oxidized out and peeling, etc. are American cars (specifically GM's). We had a 1990 Chevy Beretta that I could have peeled the paint off the entire car once when washing it. American cars have plenty of paint issues. Paint is NOT a major priority with any auto manufacturer. It's ridiculous how thin they spray it and then what crap quality they use.

 

The R34 at stillen day was beautiful (black)....it was mirror like. Then a black G rolled by, and I thought somethig was wrong with it.

I agree with DOC, most newer cars are like this now.

 

Same here with my '05. There's just no avoiding it short of a bra. However, I've got rock chips on my roof too so a bra won't take care of it completely. I guess it's just the price of driving a Nissan.

 

I remember the problems you're talking about. It seemed like the whole Chevy lineup from those years had the same paint problems.

I think the only way for automakers to solve the problem is to use multiple (2 - 3) coats of base and clear but that's not happening anytime soon.

 

I always thought it was automakers in general (not saying ALL the way across the board, but widespread) using more eco-friendly paint/a different type of paint that chips more easily. I've seen the same complaints on a ton of newer model cars across many different makes.

Just wish I would have had the $ to put a 3m clear protection system on my ride when it was new and free of chips.