What happens to the car if clear coat and paint continue to peel?

[prr]

My 98 Civic has 180K on it, but it just wont break down so I keep driving it. Could have a lot of mileage left in it.

The clear coat and the paint are peeling heavily. Problem is, I will end up having to pay at least $1500 for a new paint job (with base and clear coat done separately), and that is at the cheap discount places. Local shops want at least $2000.

The Kelly blue book for the car is only $1350.

What will happen to the car if I drive it for several more years without getting a paint job? I mean, obviously the paint will continue to peel. But what damage will happen to the steel underneath the paint? Will it still hold up, but I'll have a crappy looking car?

[Top Gear]

Re: What happens to the car if clear coat and paint continue to peel?

You can still keep the base coat looking passable at a glance, maybe with some primer or other home repairs, but the process of clear coat failure is unstoppable. If the base coat or primer stays stable, the metal underneath is likely just as well off, but if there's any bare metal, rust will become a bigger problem. Unless you just love the car for your own reasons, it's usually not worth it for a quality paint job or other major repairs. Maybe if it were a classic of some sort. It's hard to let go of an old trusty machine, but at some point, especially if you drive in heavier traffic regularly, you'll get to the point where the safety concerns about the rest of the car will take over and you'll want something else.