Which colors have clear coat? How important is it?

i painted cars for years, single stage polyurethane is clear and was put on older cars for years, 2 stage has clear coat, alot of solid colors are single stage, most metallics are 2 stage...base coat then clear coat for 2 stage.

 

I'm thinking so to, my tundra was a metallic silver that had a very thick paint coat. You could definitely tell it was cleared. This quicksand tacoma when looked at is very thin, plus the service manger for the dealers paint dept. really pushed me into a ceramic coating. So far after 10 months the paint is still looks the same...very shiny, and flawless... no chips. I've never even washed the truck yet let alone did anything else, but let the rain/snow clean it.

 

Single stage paint is pretty common in older cars. I believe all modern tacomas have a clear coat.

My 91 Miata was single stage paint and was shiny as hell.

 

That would make sense with everyone having trouble with white

 

Ultimately, if no one knew their paint were single stage vs multi-stage;

• Would you notice? No
• Would you care? No, because you didn't know
• Does it make a difference in the quality of the paint job? No

All vehicle manufacturers will have a subset of failed paint jobs, you can't just say it's due to being a single stage paint job. Look at Tesla, they're the paint failing kings and they are using a multi-stage paint. If having a single stage paint job really bothers anyone, they can always get a clear coat sprayed on.

 

True True my cement has metallic in it and has a clear coat.

 

I've seen enough black or white tacoma over the years. Nether to me look clear coated.

 

I will only speak of the 6 times I've painted anything myself. And let the flames begin... BUT...
Paint ... Nowdays ... Isn't anything close to what it was, or could have been .. 20 years ago. (Lacquer? Good luck on even finding that anymore..)
The last two rigs I painted, I used Eastwood paint. These are/where basically like an 'epoxy' type paint. Two parts. You had your 'color' (Primer, or actual 'color') and you mixed in the catalyst. You had to shoot the paint in about 20 minutes and then get yer gun cleaned, or you were screwed big time.
Anyway, you could do it one of two ways.. Just shoot the color (And if you were skillful) turned out awesome. Bright and shiny.
If you wanted to go the extra step and give it that deep-DEEP 'glass' look, you color-sanded and put on one, maybe two layers of clear coat. I would never ever vote against any kind of clear-coats if you want to go that extra mile. It's just a LOT more work and added cost.
So, what were 'clear-coats' ... 20 years ago that ended up peeling off and looking like shit ... ain't the same thing as what is offered up these days. (And who knows how much effort/quality is put into factory paint-jobs ... I have no idea. Everything is painted by robots now, and I would assume that ANY mfg is just trying to get by with the least amount of $$ being spent as possible)

 

tvr probably has the nicest paint jobs, sure a few painters have died but damn those paint jobs look good

 

I thought cement was a non metallic, is that lunar rock color they have now metallic at all?