This is my repair project #4 on recently purchased 2002 X-Type.

Not being a well versed (or even marginally versed) individual on auto exteriors, I was wondering if someone could tell me is the damaged shown below simply clearcoat wear, which could be professionally buffed out, or a more significant paint problem.

 

Panama, that appears to be only clear coat damage. But, with that being said, in short, your clear coat is gone in that area and while they may be able to buff it out, you need to get the car re-sprayed with a clear coat to recover that area or you will quickly have a much larger paint problem.

 

Once the clear burns through like that, the underlying color coat is ruined and if you try to respray clear over top it's not going to look good at all.

That area will need to be stripped back, primed, and new base/clear will have to be reapplied. Since it's a non-metallic color it'll be very easy to blend and should only cost a few hundred to repair.

 

Welcome to Florida. My roof is trashed due to the clear coat burning away. There's a paint job in my future.

 

Got several chips in paint anyway.... Oh well - looks like new paint job is in my near future also...

Thanks all for your responses. There is a great group of folks on this forum!!!!