2011 Daewoo Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 2011 Daewoo Vibe

2011 was a bit of a mid-life crisis for the brand. Half the world was busy rebadging these things as Chevrolets, but the DNA in the factory stayed the same. Whether you were rocking the city-sized Matiz, a Lacetti, or the beefier Winstorm, you were driving a masterclass in "sensible." In a year where most people were choosing "Rental Car Silver," we've focused on the real survivors-specifically the ones sporting Aqua Green Metallic. It was the one color that actually gave these cars a pulse, standing out in the supermarket parking lot like a neon sign in a fog bank.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to The Thin Paint Era. By 2011, the robots in the paint booth were so "efficient" they were practically counting the individual atoms of pigment to save a buck. This wasn't the thick, gooey lacquer of the good old days; this was high-tech, high-solids clear coat applied with the precision of a laser-meaning it's thin. Really thin. On these 2011 models, the clear coat is often the first thing to give up the ghost, especially on the roof and hood. If you've got stone chips, they aren't just "beauty marks"-they're invitations for the clear coat to start delaminating and peeling away like a bad sunburn.

Restoration Tip

When you're tackling a repair on that Aqua Green Metallic, remember: Build layers slowly; don't blob it. Because the factory finish is so thin, a giant "glob" of touch-up paint will stick out like a sore thumb. Treat the repair like a fine art project. Apply a thin coat, let it flash off, and repeat until you're level with the original surface. If you try to fill a crater in one shot, the solvent will trap itself, the paint will shrink, and you'll be back at square one with a messy lump. Take your time, or the robots win.