2005 Subaru Touch Up Paint (39 OEM Colors)

The 2005 Subaru Vibe

Welcome to 2005, the year Subaru decided to be everything to everyone. You had the WRX screaming around rally stages in W R Blue Pearl, the Baja trying to figure out if it was a car or a truck, and the Forester and Outback hauling enough camping gear to sustain a small village. With 34 colors in our database for this year alone-including a dizzying array of two-tone combos like Willow Green Opal Mica over Moss Green-Subaru wasn't just selling cars; they were selling a lifestyle. It was a golden age of variety before the industry decided every car needed to be one of four shades of "Sadness Silver."

Paint Health Check

We are smack-dab in the middle of The Peeling Era. Back in '05, Subaru was using a basecoat/clearcoat system that, frankly, was applied thinner than the excuses for why the Baja didn't sell better. If your Legacy or Impreza has spent its life under the sun, you're likely seeing the dreaded "Delamination." This is where the clear coat starts to lift and flake away from the base color, especially on the roof and hood. It starts as a small white bubble and ends with your car looking like it's recovering from a bad sunburn. Once that clear lifts, the pigment underneath is defenseless against the elements.

Restoration Tip

On a 2005 Subaru, the best offense is a fast defense: seal your chips immediately. Because the factory clear coat is so thin, a single rock chip is an open invitation for moisture and air to get under the clear and start the peeling process. Don't wait until the "silver dollar" flake starts. If you've got a chip on that San Remo Red hood, dab it with a matched touch-up and a fresh dab of clear coat to lock the edges down. If you're respraying a panel, remember that this era's paint is soft; build your layers slowly and give them plenty of time to flash off before you even think about sand and buff.