On 2/9/04 20:41, "Eric M. Ginney" <ginho@EARTHLINK.NET> wrote:

> So, enough rambling: what is the question here?  Well, who out there has
> this clear coat on their van?  I have been looking at every Westy I can, and
> it is not consistent.

I think it depends on the color.  Certain colors were clear-coated, others
not.  For example, tornado red was not.  I think metallic paints usually
were.

> Have you had a loss of clear coat in this area?  Any disasters?  Beyond
> cosmetics, should I care?

I haven't had good luck w/ clear-coated vw's.  My 87 GTI was clear-coated,
and it started to flake within 5 years.  My GF's 94 Golf had clear-coat and
it started to flake even sooner.  My 90 tornado red Vanagon was not
clear-coated from the factory, but several of the panels that were repainted
were... And they're beginning to flake, while the non-clear-coated areas are
fine.

The good new is, it shouldn't cause any problems other than looking bad...
I don't think I washed my 87 GTI once in the last 3 years I owned it, and
even though half the clear-coat was gone and it was as dull as primer, there
was still plenty of paint there to protecting the metal.

James
90 Carat