When buying a new car, potential owners rarely think about the cost of body repairs if painting is necessary. This is especially true for cars in non-standard, rare colors, such as "powder gray" or "mint cloud." Yaroslav Kukarin, head of two body repair stations in the Fit Service auto service network, spoke about which colors are most cost-effective to restore after damage, and which can require significant costs.
It is generally believed that the cost of painting a car depends on the color itself, but in reality, it is more complicated. The difference in price is not related to the shade, but to the chemical composition of the paint, the presence of complex pigments, and additional effects.
The most economical choice is ordinary solid-color enamels without metallic or pearlescent effects. Such paints are produced in large quantities, are widely available in the assortment of most manufacturers, and do not require careful selection. For example, white acrylic enamel suitable for Toyota or Nissan models from the early 2000s costs approximately 2,000 rubles per liter.
You have to pay more for complex coatings. As an example, we can cite the sky-blue shade popular among Chinese brands with the addition of pearlescent particles (xiralic). The cost of such a coating starts from 10,000 rubles per liter, which is five times higher than that of ordinary white.
Xiralic is a pearlescent pigment that contains microparticles of artificially created aluminum oxide. Thanks to its special structure, it reflects light and creates a color depth effect. In addition, the radiance of xiralic is enhanced by metal oxides and natural minerals, which determines its high cost.
Coatings containing several layers of varnish, metallic or pearlescent additives are the most difficult to restore. For example, the "Black Pearl" from the popular Chinese brand line is not just black, but a complex multi-layer composition that requires high precision when applied. The main problem with repairing such cars is the lack of ready-made recipes for colorists.
For cars with non-standard colors, especially for new models, there are no universal methods for selecting paint. Because of this, even minor damage may require repainting the entire part with a smooth transition to adjacent elements.
If a car with a basic color, such as white or gray, can only have the damaged area painted, then a car with a more complex shade, such as "Moon Dust", will require additional painting of adjacent parts to avoid differences in color. This leads to an increase in both material costs and the cost of the master's work.
Of course, rich and unusual shades attract attention and make the car unique. But when choosing, it is worth remembering not only beauty, but also functionality.
If the car will be actively used in the city, and especially on the highway, where the risk of damage from stones and gravel is high, you should think in advance about the possible costs of painting. Owners of cars in complex shades should pay special attention to protective coatings - polyurethane film or ceramics - to minimize the likelihood of expensive repairs.
Earlier, www1.ru reported why the varnish peels off the car body and how to avoid the problem.
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