Non-OEM Paint Care

After some investigation I've found out my my Tacoma came magnetic gray from the factory, but the previous owner painted it white for some reason. They did a pretty good job painting it but it seems to be a single-stage or just base coat paint with no clear coat. I'm hoping to sand and repaint the truck one day or pay to have it done but I'm wondering what the best thing I can do to protect the paint now is. It scratches fairly easily and there are some chips around trim in places.

I've been keeping a good layer of wax on the truck but is there something else I can do to help?

 

How did that happen? Please tell us more. If it has been pained Super White then the clear and white were mixed together when applied.

 

This is just a guess.

I'll wager it is a single stage, Fact-o-bake or other budget shop soft enamel paint.

Clean, occasional clay and wax is about all you can do.

If I'm correct on the material and type of vendor, it's a 3-5 year paint job, tops.

 

It doesn't feel like OE paint.

This seems more like what it is. My plan is to make it last as long as I can then try and do a nice paint job myself or empty my wallet and get a good job from a paint shop.

 

Will you be able to tell very much? It just looks like any other white paint in a picture.

 

The aftermarket paint is worse than Toyota's factory paint? Seems like that would be tough to do.

 

Post up pics in the sun. That will tell a lot.

 

I'll post some pics tomorrow when the sun is back out.