Soft paint easy chipping

[MaXPainT]

Maybe it is just me, but it seems like the Honda E paint lacks durability and I haven't seen the issue being discussed much nor has it been mentioned in any of the reviews. Therefore, I wanted to bring it up so that people considering getting the car would make an informed decision and the existing owners would be extra careful with it.

My charged yellow Honda E is a little bit more than one year old. I did not drive it on gravel nor have I a tailgating habit. Yet, when today I was carrying on a detailed spring hand wash I noticed many minor paint chips. Some of them are showing blue primer, while others (on the front edge of the bonnet, and the lower edge of a wheel arch) are metal black, which makes me believe that it won't take long until rust will be present in those places. Rust issue is not something one expects to deal with on a car that is still under the warranty... I am considering wrapping the car to prevent further damage.

Another thing I have noticed is that road debris sticks easily and deeply in the paint. Due to the soft coating, it doesn't come off with pressure washing and requires claying the car on regular basis. Pretty sure it is not as visible in less vibrant colors, but before the E I had a Fiat 500 in electric blue and this was less of an issue.

Is it just me or do you also find the coating on the E problematic? If so, is it a typical Honda thing or just the E thing?

[hondaeboy]

I did not notice the chipping, as I had already wrapped it as a precaution, but during my two day test drive I did notice that the car is really dirt prone. A bit of rain, sand, and dirt, and the car was totally covered in mud and crap on the side doors and back. Maybe it's because the (back) wheels are so close to the back of the car? I can't remember having this issue with any of my Civics.

That's why I added the mudguards. But even with them, i notice that the back is still easily covered in (a little bit less of) a layer of dust. Maybe I should add even better mudguards with those flaps or something?

[zemdega]

I'm really careful with our car but I found 2 little holes in paint in first year. Not sure when and how I got them but it looks that they chipped very easily. Only upside is that looks like under paint there's primer so these holes won't be rusting or something very soon.

[FDAD]

The paint is like a sheet of paper... It gets rusty if you let it.. last winter I've had to use a correction paint pen in a few rusty spots..
My car sees plenty of road but even so to my previous cars it is quite slim.

[MaXPainT]

I did not notice the chipping, as I had already wrapped it as a precaution, but during my two day test drive I did notice that the car is really dirt prone. A bit of rain, sand, and dirt, and the car was totally covered in mud and crap on the side doors and back. Maybe it's because the (back) wheels are so close to the back of the car? I can't remember having this issue with any of my Civics.

That's why I added the mudguards. But even with them, i notice that the back is still easily covered in (a little bit less of) a layer of dust. Maybe I should add even better mudguards with those flaps or something?

To my understanding this is a common thing with all hatchbacks. The shape creates large air turbulance area behind the car and causes the back to get dirty quickly. This is why sedans are more fuel efficient and less dirty.

I don't think any amount of mudguards would help in this situation.

[EEEE]

Yes, I noticed this as well. Charge yellow, 2 years old / 17k miles. Few stone chips mostly on the front bumper and front bonnet edge. Few impacts on the bonnet also.

Paint does seem thin and particularly grabby for particles like brake dust and black soot. All the dirt seems to end up on the tailgate below the rear wiper, or in the hidden shut under the boot. I suspect having a flat floor underneath the car help promote the hoovering affect?

As mentioned, I had to clay bar it once and it seems a pointless task, because just a few weeks later, black crap is stuck to it again in a way that is almost impossible to remove with snow foam / wash mit / APC. English weather doesn't permit frequent washing and waxing. It would be interesting to hear if a professional ceramic coating helps prevent adhesion. That said, hot brake dust particles will probably stick to anything. I don't use the cruise control and try not to use regen braking above 1 click (as in settings 2 and 3 you are using the brakes)

Wifes Civic (10th gen - cassis red) doesn't seem to suffer the same issue at all. There are a couple of damages , but not stone chips or anything, and she has done double the mileage I have. It's also ugly - so perhaps the stones avoid it on purpose

[londiniumperson]

Yes, I noticed this as well. Charge yellow, 2 years old / 17k miles. Few stone chips mostly on the front bumper and front bonnet edge. Few impacts on the bonnet also.

Paint does seem thin and particularly grabby for particles like brake dust and black soot. All the dirt seems to end up on the tailgate below the rear wiper, or in the hidden shut under the boot. I suspect having a flat floor underneath the car help promote the hoovering affect?

As mentioned, I had to clay bar it once and it seems a pointless task, because just a few weeks later, black crap is stuck to it again in a way that is almost impossible to remove with snow foam / wash mit / APC. English weather doesn't permit frequent washing and waxing. It would be interesting to hear if a professional ceramic coating helps prevent adhesion. That said, hot brake dust particles will probably stick to anything. I don't use the cruise control and try not to use regen braking above 1 click (as in settings 2 and 3 you are using the brakes)

Wifes Civic (10th gen - cassis red) doesn't seem to suffer the same issue at all. There are a couple of damages , but not stone chips or anything, and she has done double the mileage I have. It's also ugly - so perhaps the stones avoid it on purpose

How bad paint chips is in part due to the paint as we know and some colours on the e seem more susceptible than others.

The white MG ZS EV is well known for it's very think, easily to chip paint, whereas the tri-coat red option is a lot better.

Mine is black and got a nasty stone chip on the bonnet soon after I bought it but I've not seen any others since even though the first 2 years I mainly drove it on motorways & dual carriageways; though I do generally leave a lot of space between me and the vehicle in front, so much so that often 2 or 3 cars plug in the gap at motorway exits.

I had mine ceramic coated the day I picked my car up buy a professional company (not the dealer) and I haven't had to even use tar remover yet on it, however until the end of last year I had been cleaning it monthly with:
non-acid, non-alkaline alloy wheel cleaner

• Bilt Hamber non-acid, non-alkaline alloy wheel cleaner

• jet wash rinse of wheels, wheel arches & underbody

• clean tyre walls & jet wash rinse them

• 2 snow foams

• jet wash rinse

• 2 bucket method with at least 3 changes of water

• jet wash rinse

• dried with a top quality drying towel

• occasionally used a polish

and that's just the outside.

The Honda ALWAYS uses the brakes, no matter what level of regen you select.

[hondaero]

Paint chips and even rust reported on German site as well
Seeing the same topic here I'm becoming concerned
Their tip: stone chip protection film at least on the front edge of the hood.

Wondering if Honda recommends something.

Thanks,
~amo~

[londiniumperson]

I spent too many hours this weekend detailing the exterior of my car. In the process of clay barring it I quickly discovered that it has many more stone chips than I had realised, mainly on the bonnet & front wings.
To top this off it rained this morning
I’ll be giving it another clean on Thursday evening because my workplace is having a car meet on Friday to promote EV use as well as a general car enthusiast get together and I said that I can bring my Honda e.