How soft is this paint?<p>Does it chip easily, and does it accentuate every minor scratch in the clear coat, even with careful washing and polishing?<p>I would want to keep the car for at least five years, so what are other's long-term impresssions of santorin blue mica on an A4 1.8T (QMS / opal grey leatherette interior)?<p>Thanks.

My impression is that this paint is SOFT. Paint chips easily and bird poop burns through the clear coat before it can be cleaned off. I bought a bra to protect the front. <p>98 tqm<p>I also have a 97 with cactus green paint which in comparison is a much harder paint. These are my opinions and experiences.

<br>yeah

I have exactly the combination you are talking about. I have had the car for six months, and I work at a chemical plant. I use a bra, and a car cover at work (no covered parking, and potential chemical fallout, not to mention that Hot Texas Sun). <p>First off, I get comments on the car, even still, that the blue is beautiful. Sometimes when I take the cover off the car, and people see t for the first time, they say, wow, so that's what it looks like, or something like that. More importantly I also have had two people ask me who does my detailing - that would be me - and they were impressed. I do wash the car once every week or two, and have put three coats of wax (& one polish) since July. I wax under the bra area about every three weeks. <p>Having said all that, I find that it is worth the effort. I have only one chip - about 2 mm square, if that, on the drivers side on the front of the hood near the center. You can guess when I got it - the one day I decided to drive to work without it - and I noticed it right away. Idiot me.<p>As far as scratches. I have several _very_ light on the trunk on top. I don't think they are noticable except when I am drying the car after a wash. There are also several under each door handle (which I wax about every three weeks too), and these are again noticable only if you look. <p>I really don't believe that this color is so awfully easy to see scratches in - its not black. Also, I use a cover, and this will tend to scratch the car if both aren't kept clean (but it really cuts down on parking lot scratches. Besides, If you keep it waxed and use soft towels - wait till the nice white $13.00 hand towels go on sale for $4 - they are _wonderful_ - and screw the zymol, detailer's choic, etc. towels. JC Penney's beat em all. Anyway, a nice soft towel & lots of em is indispensible for drying, polishing, and waxing.<p>Yes youll have some light scratching, but if you love your car like I do, and take care of it properly, you will be the only one to notice them. My care still looks lot-new.<p>Finally, anyone who lets bird **** sit on their car for any lenght of time has no @#$@#ing reason to complain about the look of their car. Carry some @#$ing Final Inspection & clean towels and clean it up, you lazy butt.<p>Best of luck with your car, and be sure to get that lovely Santorin blue with opal grey interior - it's pure class, and real purty in the sun.<p>Darryl<br>98.5 1.8T qms, SB

As you are an owner of the exact car that I am considering purchasing (though I am debating between a 98.5 and a 99.5), can you comment on the following:<p>1) Have you noticed any significant driver or passenger window "wind noise" during normal highway driving?<p>2) Have you noticed any significant "road noise" in the cabin, especially in the vicinity of the sides of the rear seats? <p>3) How is the FM reception of the Concert head unit? <p>Thanks!<br>

I've had mine about six months, so I can't really comment on long term. That said, I've got no chips and it doesn't seem terribly vulnerable to scratches.<p>On the plus side, the color is gorgeous. What you won't notice on the lot is that it looks very different depending on the light - it ranges from near black to brilliant blue with a nifty purplish bit in the middle. I _love_ it.<br>

I've had the car since April and I feel it is soft.<br>I can barely brush passed the car - and Im always careful - and there will be a hairline scratch.<p>It doesnt take a lot to scratch the car and it does show quite a bit even if its small.<p>Also as everoyne else has said, bird crap is the worst on this car. Instantly blemishes the car. <p>I love the color but its painful to see it hurt. Its a real trade off. Chances are I will take the easy way out and buy silver next time.

You should pose these questions to everyone, and check the archives. There is much discussion on the 1st and 3rd questions. As to the second, since I am always driving, I dont know what it sounds like in the rear, but conversation at 80 mph with the passengers in the rear is no problem.<p>I have the Bose system, and the more I listen to it, the more I like it. It really is good, if overpriced, however I 1) dont have to deal with the hassle of replacing it with a non-stock unit and 2) it'll pay for itself at resale (IMHO). FM reception is excellent, in my experience, and I live 2 hours from Dallas in a relatively small city. <p>I do experience some wind noise from the drivers side window, but I think I have identified where it is coming from & will check it out at my next service.<p>Best of luck,<p>Darryl W<br>98.5 1.8T qms

Had my 98.5 1.8Tqms for 9 months. Santorin Blue, opal grey cloth. No chips, only light swirl marks. Polished and wax twice with Mecquiars. I wash with a thick mit, dry with a good chamois, and wax and polish only with nice soft real baby diapers. The kind you get from the home delivery services, not the ones from the dept. stores. I get alot of comments on the color. In certain light, it kind of looks purpleish and others a beautiful deep blue. And the color stands out in a parking lot, unlike Silver, Black, Red, etc.<br>No wind noise and I also have the Bose stereo which I think is worth every penny in terms of sound quality, resale value, and not having to hassle with aftermarket equipment.<br>Your going to love the Satorin Blue!<br>Ian<br>98.5 1.8Tqms

The color is beautiful when clean, but to keep it that way I should be washing the car twice a week. And then, you will have to dry it with chamois, because of the water marks. Also, the rain marks as well as the dust are driving me crazy because they are very visible. The car was waxed 6 months after I bought it, and I do not see any need to wax it again, regardless of the 6-month period expiring. <p>I did not notice any harm from bird droppings, but that may also be because it has not happened that any piece of crap be on the car longer than a half-day. <p>Just to summarize, let me say that next time I will certainly not buy a dark colored car, except if I become indipendently rich, so I would be able to afford someone to wash and deatil it daily. <p>*Like that will happen*

I was going to get Santorin Blue, even down to the last day. Given the same choice again, I may have purchased the blue car w/ sport seats over my silver with trip computer, but that's another story...<p>In any case, Aluminum Silver has held up extremely well, hiding both light scratches and even small dents very well. Other than the fact that the silver is VERY difficult to match within body parts (my front passenger door looks a slightly different shade), it's a good color. Casablanca White is also good because it starts off as an off white. My only problem with the lighter colors is that they really don't show off the A4 as well as black.<p>Volcano Black is probably the best compromise, being a dark color but hiding dirt better.<p><br>-josh

Just use a good wax and you will be fine. The paint is initially soft but it will harden. Do not wax for the first two months or longer, if it is cold and wet. Be very careful on cleaning as this is where the scratches happen. After wetting the car with a fog of recommended detergent, use the high pressure wand held at a grazing angle to remove the large dirt. Dirt large enough to harm the finish will shear off when wet with detergent. Don't let bad dirt, like bird poop, dry on the finish. A cover only helps if you put it on a clean car. It does more harm if it blows over a dirty car. Wash, dry then cover.<br>