2010 Honda Touch Up Paint (46 OEM Colors)

The 2010 Honda Vibe

Welcome to 2010, the year Honda decided that if a car could be built, it could also be painted in 46 different ways. We're talking about an era when the Civic and Accord were the kings of the cul-de-sac, the Crosstour was making everyone do a double-take, and the Element was still proudly being a box. The color palette was a wild mix of "sensible suburban" and "weekend rebel." You had your Alabaster Silver Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl dominating the carpool lane, but then you'd see a Fit in Citrus Fire Metallic or an Element in Kiwi Green and remember that someone in design still had a sense of humor. It was a high-variety era, and our database has the scars-and the 46 codes-to prove it.

Paint Health Check

Here's the cold, hard truth from the spray booth: you're dealing with The Thin Paint Era. By 2010, the bean counters had perfected "Robot Efficiency." Those factory spray arms were calibrated to apply the absolute minimum amount of paint required to leave the lot looking shiny. The result? A finish that's thinner than a diner napkin. If you own a dark-colored 2010 Honda-especially in Nighthawk Black or Royal Blue Pearl-you've likely seen the "crow's feet" checking or the dreaded white chalky sunburn on the roof and hood. That's clear coat failure, kid. The factory clear was applied so lean that a few years of baking in the sun turns it into a peeling mess that looks like a bad sunburn after a trip to the shore.

Restoration Tip

When you're touching up these 2010 beauties, remember: build layers slowly; don't blob it. Because the factory finish is so thin, a single heavy "glob" of touch-up paint will sit on the surface like a mountain on a pancake. It'll never level out, and you'll be sanding until next Tuesday just to get it flush. Instead, use a fine-tip applicator to drop in paper-thin layers. Let it dry, then add another. You want to mimic that stingy factory thickness so your repair doesn't stand out more than the chip did in the first place. Patience is the only way to beat the robots at their own game.