murf
Lifer
I like to wheel my 80. I don't baby it through the brush and have broken several antennas off my bumper from branches to give you an idea. Don't get me wrong, I don't go out of my way to find brush but won't let it stop me either. No, I don't carry loppers in my truck...ha
Because of 2 factors: one being the pride I have in my LC and every vehicle I've ever owned, and my job at Toyota, I want and like my 80 looking good. I have had my 80 for almost ten years and have always detailed it where the scratches are buffed out. It doesn't help that I have the maroon color where the scratches in the clear show up white and are very visible against the dark color. ( I tease my friends in their many white 80's but at least the white hides the scratches much, much better.) I've had this truck buffed professionally with orbitals so many times I can't count. The factory clear is so deep, its lasted much longer than I ever anticipated. Someone I wheel with frequently, Landcruiserphil, warned me years ago that he did the same to his previous tricked out black 80 and buffed through. ( probably why he owns a white one now!?)
Now in a handful of spots the clearcoat is gone and the buffing is now starting to get into the first layers of the paint itself. In certain light if you know where to look, in spots the maroon looks more goldish. Its not like you can see the metal or undercoat. Just the paint is changing color slightly where no clear is left to protect it.
I still plan on keeping my 80 for many more years to come. I've slowly dialed it in to just what I personally want in an 80 and love the old gal.
Do I just let it get scratched up and don't look back or invest in a repaint and have the body shop triple clear it? I would get a very good price so that would help if I go that way...
Because of 2 factors: one being the pride I have in my LC and every vehicle I've ever owned, and my job at Toyota, I want and like my 80 looking good. I have had my 80 for almost ten years and have always detailed it where the scratches are buffed out. It doesn't help that I have the maroon color where the scratches in the clear show up white and are very visible against the dark color. ( I tease my friends in their many white 80's but at least the white hides the scratches much, much better.) I've had this truck buffed professionally with orbitals so many times I can't count. The factory clear is so deep, its lasted much longer than I ever anticipated. Someone I wheel with frequently, Landcruiserphil, warned me years ago that he did the same to his previous tricked out black 80 and buffed through. ( probably why he owns a white one now!?)
Now in a handful of spots the clearcoat is gone and the buffing is now starting to get into the first layers of the paint itself. In certain light if you know where to look, in spots the maroon looks more goldish. Its not like you can see the metal or undercoat. Just the paint is changing color slightly where no clear is left to protect it.
I still plan on keeping my 80 for many more years to come. I've slowly dialed it in to just what I personally want in an 80 and love the old gal.
Do I just let it get scratched up and don't look back or invest in a repaint and have the body shop triple clear it? I would get a very good price so that would help if I go that way...