paint protectant maybe?

[charliedigital]

This may be a stupid question...

I have a coworker with an '05 Sunlit Copper SE. When we went to lunch yesterday, I noticed her paint feels rough, even a little "sandpaper-y." The car looks great and shines great when its washed(machine-washed). But the finish just feels so different than my '03, and frankly any other car.

She bought it used and doesnt know what it was purchased with. It is completely loaded, Nav, DVD, Intellikey, etc. I was wondering if it had some kind of paint protection or something. I was reading past threads about AutoMate/Touch of Class, I wonder if that would make the finish like this.

My first thought was that she and previous owner never washed it or waxed it, but it feels like such an even coat, top to bottom, front to back.

Have you guys ever heard of a finish like this or does she just need a good wax/polish job?

[BikerJohn]

Charlie;
Try to do a search in the threads for CLAY BAR-ING.... It's a detailing method using a Clay Bar removing contaminants that adhere to the finish.
That may do the job....

[mrriceguyrj]

It sounds like a gravel guard, which is usually used to protect the paint from rock chips and such, but that's generally found on the lower sections of the car, not throughout the entire paint. I personally think it just sounds the paints taken a good sand blast and it needs a good polish job or something.

The fact that it is even throughout the entire paint job kind of has me stumped. I'll ask around and see if I can find some details in regards to this.

[njjoe]

mrriceguyrj-

That is not that uncommon. It is surface contamination, sometimes called industrial fallout or rail dust. It can be safely removed by a process called clay-barring. I requires wetting the paint surface and running a clay-bar over it. Any auto parts store will have clay bars in the detailing section.

-njjoe