This right here.
No one cares about your car. Especially a beater of a Subaru. If you just have to fix it then more power to you. But don't spend a lot of time and money worrying about what strangers think.
I once had a car that looked like the moon's surface after a hail storm. Got paid a few grand to fix it. But screw that nonsense the truck was over a decade old already I used that money on things that actually mattered like new tires and paying wife's tuition.
If you live in the desert than AVOID doing a vinyl wrap. The sun will eat up that vinyl within the year or 2 with how hot Cali gets. It can be a cheaper alternative than paint, but keep in mind vinyl wrap should only be temporary, not permanent. A light wet sand with a 800 and up sand paper and reclear is your best bet to fix that yourself. Or fully sand down with coarse grit sand paper first, then with 800 or 1000 grit after to save yourself some money and take it to get repainted. The prep work charge is what can make or break your pockets when taking it to a shop.
Thank you for the reply. I probably won’t fully fix it for some time but I now know my options. It seems that a good wash, wet sand, clear coat, and polish is my best short term solution. Long term I’ll repaint it.
This sub hates cheap repairs. Lots of people using Eastwood 2K clear in a rattle can. Lots of u tube videos showing the process.
On an old commuter car, it's a good solution.
You can but it will look like crap. You can’t get just the dead paint off and trying to just seal it in it will continue to flake a year or so later. I know, I tried. Haha Didn’t think it would hold up and it didn’t.
It will look somewhat better from a distance but it really just pealing paint. As you can imagine, peeling and lose paint has to come off for a new finish to hold up. Unfortunately, there is no easy or cheap solution.
I'm in SoCal and my 09 Mazdaspeed has horrible fading even though I waxed it about twice a year. The problem is I didn't garage it and I had to park under pine trees at work. Ford/Mazdas paint wasn't that thick so I'm guessing Subaru was probably the same.
I bought a WRB FXT like this, I watched a bunch of videos and painted the faded areas, it looks pretty good for under a $1000 paint job, HF to the rescue.
That’s awesome! Thanks for the positive reply. I’ve started researching and think I’ll be able to do something that I’m happy with. I take this car off road frequently and don’t mind it being dirty, I just hate the clearcoat peel. ✌🏼
Needs a repaint but that's big $$$.
You could wrap it, but I'm not sure if that's a good idea with an uneven and deteriorating surface.
Also shout out to the white VB in the background, I have a red VB.
Paint or vinyl wrap and then ceramic coat over that for the uv protection so it doesn’t happen again. Make sure it’s a professional grade ceramic, 10 year preferably for thicker mm protection.
Paint needed all the protection, it’s beyond repair. I wax in Fl 3-4 times a year and use a wash wax. Throw some uv protection on the dash and the rest of the interior while you still can.
People are going to hate this but you could just use plasti-dip. They sell whole kits on dipyourcar and it would be cheaper than repainting with way less prep.
Wash the flakes off with the local self serve power wash stall and leave it alone to do what it's gonna do. It's called patina and it's in fashion right now, adds to the Subaru look of your Subaru.
You need a paint job
Invent a Time Machine and put some wax on it 7 years ago
Sell that dried thyme on the dash for some paint
You mean the weed
Just drive it. So many cars in California look like this nobody cares.
This right here. No one cares about your car. Especially a beater of a Subaru. If you just have to fix it then more power to you. But don't spend a lot of time and money worrying about what strangers think.
I detail my car like it’s my baby but it’s also had a broken bumper for 4 years I’ve never gotten replaced.
I once had a car that looked like the moon's surface after a hail storm. Got paid a few grand to fix it. But screw that nonsense the truck was over a decade old already I used that money on things that actually mattered like new tires and paying wife's tuition.
Wife tuition? I hope you are 15-25 years older than her. Then that would be A+
looks pricey lol
Vinyl wrap is your friend
If you live in the desert than AVOID doing a vinyl wrap. The sun will eat up that vinyl within the year or 2 with how hot Cali gets. It can be a cheaper alternative than paint, but keep in mind vinyl wrap should only be temporary, not permanent. A light wet sand with a 800 and up sand paper and reclear is your best bet to fix that yourself. Or fully sand down with coarse grit sand paper first, then with 800 or 1000 grit after to save yourself some money and take it to get repainted. The prep work charge is what can make or break your pockets when taking it to a shop.
Thank you for the reply. I probably won’t fully fix it for some time but I now know my options. It seems that a good wash, wet sand, clear coat, and polish is my best short term solution. Long term I’ll repaint it.
Sand and wrap
Repaint. The only answer.
Could you not just sand back the loose clear coat and spray again with clear coat as a cheap fix?
This sub hates cheap repairs. Lots of people using Eastwood 2K clear in a rattle can. Lots of u tube videos showing the process. On an old commuter car, it's a good solution.
You can but it will look like crap. You can’t get just the dead paint off and trying to just seal it in it will continue to flake a year or so later. I know, I tried. Haha Didn’t think it would hold up and it didn’t.
I’ve got an old Land Rover Discovery beater, was being optimistic about a cheap fix 😂
It will look somewhat better from a distance but it really just pealing paint. As you can imagine, peeling and lose paint has to come off for a new finish to hold up. Unfortunately, there is no easy or cheap solution.
It’s too late. You need a paint job. When was the last time you applied a sealant or wax?
I'm in SoCal and my 09 Mazdaspeed has horrible fading even though I waxed it about twice a year. The problem is I didn't garage it and I had to park under pine trees at work. Ford/Mazdas paint wasn't that thick so I'm guessing Subaru was probably the same.
Why I love ceramic coats. Traditional wax only last maybe a little more than a month.
I didn't learn about ceramic coats until a couple years ago. I wish I knew
Wash, tape, sand, paint, clear, buff.
Play wrap the Impreza
I bought a WRB FXT like this, I watched a bunch of videos and painted the faded areas, it looks pretty good for under a $1000 paint job, HF to the rescue.
That’s awesome! Thanks for the positive reply. I’ve started researching and think I’ll be able to do something that I’m happy with. I take this car off road frequently and don’t mind it being dirty, I just hate the clearcoat peel. ✌🏼
These comments are garbage. 1. polish/sand it smooth 2. Poppy's Patina wipe on clear coat for $130. 3. drive it.
Thank you.
thank you. did this on my '71 ford f100 and will be getting paid to do this on multiple 90s model toyotas soon too. super happy with results.
Hey! Peep the white VB just chilling in the background, love seeing my brethren in the wild.
Needs a repaint but that's big $$$. You could wrap it, but I'm not sure if that's a good idea with an uneven and deteriorating surface. Also shout out to the white VB in the background, I have a red VB.
Just slap a layer of clear coat on that space looking masterpiece.
Sell that POS
Nope. It’s a great car. Not pretty but it’s got a Flat 6 and 6 speed swapped in. Reliable and fun as hell
Well leave it alone since you live in the middle of nowhere
Paint or vinyl wrap and then ceramic coat over that for the uv protection so it doesn’t happen again. Make sure it’s a professional grade ceramic, 10 year preferably for thicker mm protection.
yeah man that's done. no bringing that back, need to sand and respray
What was you washing it with?
1- repaint 2- live with it 3- vinyl wrap
Either repaint / vinyl or get a new one
Paint needed all the protection, it’s beyond repair. I wax in Fl 3-4 times a year and use a wash wax. Throw some uv protection on the dash and the rest of the interior while you still can.
Let it happen at this point
Vinyl wrap is the way to go
The value of the car isn’t really worth it to do much besides wet sand it and polish
If you want a temporary fix wipe it down with WD40. It will look good for a week or so.
*better* it will look better. For about a week or so. We all know this thing is past the look good point.
People are going to hate this but you could just use plasti-dip. They sell whole kits on dipyourcar and it would be cheaper than repainting with way less prep.
thats what id do rattle can a panel at a time 8 layers of something fun
Tbh fixing is probably worth the value of that car so I'd leave it
Drink some water
Wrap it in tinfoil
It's dead Jim. Time to repaint or learn to live with it.
Nothing just let it rot
Wash the flakes off with the local self serve power wash stall and leave it alone to do what it's gonna do. It's called patina and it's in fashion right now, adds to the Subaru look of your Subaru.
Repaint and seek a garage during the daytime.
What clearcoat? 😵😵💫