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I'm looking at some newly imported 2005-06 Toyota Runx/Allex options and wondered about the differences in paint colours and the longevity of them. They come mostly in white and silver, and various other colours in smaller numbers.

Is there any downside nowdays to buying silver cars re: the clear-coat? Toyota as far as I can tell have clear coated all colours since the early 2000s but I wonder what each will look like after 3 or 4 years under NZ sun conditions.

Is the old "don't buy iridescent/metallic colours because they clear coat them in Japan before sending them to NZ and will start to show it in sort order" a myth nowdays or is there some truth to it?

Thanks for any tips/thoughts.

Hi there,
I've not heard specifically of import paint problems, I don't think they would go into the trouble of clear coating before import to NZ.
I have seen a lot of clear coat peeling off vehicles, and I think this is due to having a hard life out in the elements without proper paint care/ treatment.
Red fades, other than that I've no information to suggest any other effected colours.