Hi

Im looking at purchasing a 55plate hawkeye 2.5 STi

anyhow ive noticed that the lower 3 or 4 inches of the doors, on what seems all sides, is not as smooth and nice as the top half and rest of the body panels
its kinda like its had a respray but only on the bottom 4inches of each door?
all seems abit wierd as its on all the doors

anyone with a 2006 Impreza see if theirs is the same?

its gotta either be a paint job or extra paint to protect from chips?
or am i completey wrong and someone knows the answer

 

I had the same on my 2005 Blobeye STI. Looked a bit like orange peel.

 

What you are referring to is called 'orange peel' as Nic has pointed out. Some cars have this from the factory. Not sure why though, probably got to do with the way the cars are sprayed in the factory.

My company has a 06 Impreza, and i remember seeing it as well, let me confirm it on Monday. I own a hawkeye as well, but mines covered up with paint guard film, so it's quite hard to tell.

 

What type of paint I couldn't tell you but yes it's added protection. Some people flat polish it but doesn't bother me tbh.

 

Got the same on my 06 Hawk...on my Mazda too....

 

Its not orange peel, its probably stone guard under the paint, the lowers are more susceptible to stone chips so they put a flexible paint on the panel first to help deflect stones- that's what I was told by a bodyshop anyway!

 

Mines the same (MY03 WRX) must be a factory thing..

 

same on my '07, also on my previous lexus is200.

 

+1 It's stone guard...

 

My 53 plate STi has the same, tbh I thought it was something nasty too so I'm glad to hear it's normal

 

...and my 2007 Spec D
I turned down 2 when i was looking until I realised they are all like this as i thought they had been sprayed

 

+2 100% dont give it a 2nd thought, it is put on under the paint coat to protect vulnerable areas and is nothing to do with repairs, or a poor finish.

 

Totally agree. Its stone guard layer applied under the paint from factory. Totally normal.

 

I noticed on my 03wrx but my 05jdm sti appears smoother so not sure if it just a uk thing due to our roads being bad

 

good to know