2008 Hyundai Touch Up Paint (77 OEM Colors)

The 2008 Hyundai Vibe

Welcome to 2008, the year Hyundai decided they weren't just the "budget alternative" anymore. They were rolling out the Veracruz to pick a fight with Lexus and keeping the Tiburon alive for the kids who watched too much Fast & Furious. Our database shows a staggering 77 colors for this year alone-a far cry from the "any color as long as it's grey" days. While everyone was busy buying the Sonata or Santa Fe in Liquid Silver Metallic or Captiva White, a few brave souls actually opted for Sunset Orange Metallic or Kiwi Green Metallic. It was a time of massive variety and Hyundai's attempt to paint their way into the big leagues.

Paint Health Check

We are firmly in The Thin Paint Era. By 2008, the factory robots had become "efficient," which is just a fancy way of saying they got real stingy with the spray. You aren't dealing with the thick, bulletproof lacquer of the seventies here. These coats are thin, and that means they're brittle. If you've got an Elantra or an Accent from this vintage, you've likely noticed that a single pebble on the interstate can take a chunk out of your hood like a shark bite. The clear coat is technically modern, but because it's applied so sparingly, it doesn't take much for environmental fallout or UV rays to start winning the war.

Restoration Tip

Because this era of paint is so thin, you have to be smarter than the robot that sprayed it. When you're tackling those rock chips or scratches, build your layers slowly; don't blob it. If you try to fill a deep chip with one heavy coat, it'll shrink, crack, or look like a raised welt on the car's skin. Apply your color in thin, patient passes, letting it tack up in between. You're mimicking a factory finish that was designed for "efficiency," so your best bet is to provide the depth and durability the factory skipped out on.