I'm not sure if I have an anomaly here but I noticed the factory paint job is mostly garbage. All of the Jeeps I have owned have been mostly darker colors and held up well in regular wheeling and commuting with a buff and polish once or twice a year. I've had the flame red for almost a year and have found scratches seem to be easier to obtain and more frequent and the leading edges of everything seem to rock chip at the drop of a hat (especially the door hinges) Anyone else notice this with theirs? (Yes I know it's a Jeep designed for off road capability and not councours elegance but it should be holding up better)

 

The hinges are famous for chipping. Coat them with bed-liner of carry a bottle of touch up paint, because they will chip.

 

That was the first thing I bought after the mirror mod, never had a problem with the TJ I traded off

 

I think the body paint quality is not bad.

In contrast, an FJ I owned in between Jeeps had very brittle paint that chipped very easily.

You also mentioned scratches.

Are they in the clear coat or can you actually see the primer?

 

Most are deep but not hitting primer with the exception of the rock hits

 

You could say the same thing about 08 and 07.

 

Don't recall anyone saying that the Jk's paint was "GREAT". The chips and scratches come along with the territory. If you want to be horrified look at the spray job under the padding of your roll cage.

 

I did that after driving off the lot when I bought it, with the primer I can say I have a "rescue green" rollbar

 

yea i have noticed the same thing, i have noticed a lot more tiny scratches and it seams to scratch easier but i dont know i the last car i had was black and i know it didnt scratch as much as my jeep, i have a flame red

 

08 Flame Red, paint chips off very easily. By far the worst paint of any Jeep I've ever owned.