Up until this year I was impressed as to the condition of my paint. Seems this year the clearcoat is flaking off in patches. Maily roof and boot (had bonnet resprayed a year or so ago) I tend to forget the car is nearly 7 years old but starting to look its age even with all the attention it gets.

I have seen a few 380's with shocking paint work also, usually flaking on the rear spoiler. Black and blue in particular. I saw an 08 Platinum 70k on the clock, same colour as yours, in a car yard the other day and noticed the boot and roof looked alot older then 4 years old. Quiet disappointing, then again these cars probably haven't been very well looked after.

My lip spoiler is SHOCKING hence why I have the spare wrapped in CF ATM

So much for all the washing in neutral ph shampoo and waxing over the years. Makes you wonder if its worth it. Then again all the attention and waxing I 've given 'my' body(work) hasnt amounted to much LOL

5+ years or not - the paint on the 380 is sub-standard.

Even though my car sits outside all the time - I don't think the lip spoiler clear coat should be peeling at this stage (which it is).

A few other Mitsu models I know of are loosing the clearcoat off horizontal panels (spoilers mainly), 2004 Lancer (Black with gold metal flakes) and a red 1997 Lancer in the family. Why put clear over a solid colour, I ask you? When did Mitsu start doing that?

I wonder if Mitsubishi left cars too long before spraying clear coat over paint! My old TL magna gold did same mainly roof near back window prob got written off just before bonnet and boot peeled as had started to craze.

The rear boot spoiler for the GT/VR-X was painted by an outside vendor for MMAL, sent to the factory and then simply bolted on to the car on the production line. This is the reason the paint on them always goes long before anything else.

Actually my boot spoiler is in perfect condition. My problem is roof and bootlid. I do think however that overall the paint appears very easily scratched by the slightest abrasion.

Of course, people who have white 380s will tell you their paint is still in perfect condition.

The mrs. has a white 380, the lip spoiler was pretty crap. Luckily, the dealership seems to have put a strip of masking tape either side and hit it with a spray can after we pointed it out =|

Of course, people who have white 380s will tell you their paint is still in perfect condition.

Or silver ones that have been fully re sprayed ;)

Actually my boot spoiler is in perfect condition. My problem is roof and bootlid. I do think however that overall the paint appears very easily scratched by the slightest abrasion.
Mine's silver (Platinum really) and is one of the older 380s (Dec 2005 build) and my paint is in perfect nick. Other than for tiny almost invisible swirl marks that I CBF buffing out coz I don't have the tools or skillz.
The VRX wing spoiler I fitted a couple of years ago is also in perfect nick.
I try to keep it clean, I remove all stains and tree droppings and bird shit etc immediately , I polish it about once a month, and I've clay-barred it twice so far.
It spends on average two nights a week out in the open at the GFs joint, the rest of the time it's under cover (when not being driven!).
So Chris I can't explain why your paint is giving you grief.

KJ.

Or silver ones that have been fully re sprayed ;)

Fair enough.
Bit unreasonable for the paintwork to die so soon for some people though, I mean where does it say in the service schedule "respray car" after 7 years? lol Considering the car is mechanically capable of going for 20 years at least, it's a bit disappointing.

Fair enough.
Bit unreasonable for the paintwork to die so soon for some people though, I mean where does it say in the service schedule "respray car" after 7 years? lol Considering the car is mechanically capable of going for 20 years at least, it's a bit disappointing.
Yes I agree, though my paintwork was in pretty good condition prior to the re spray, it was just a few small marks that stained the paintwork due to a leaky underground car park. I don't think my paint work would have needed touching if it weren't for the chemical stains from the lime in the cement.

it the shitty paint protection people get when they buy new that does the most damage

it the shitty paint protection people get when they buy new that does the most damage

Prove it and you have grounds to sue! lol