Is this degree of orange peel typical for a new car?

[movingforward]

My girlfriend just bought a new car, a white 2014 Honda Accord. I am learning how to detail for the first time and would like to help her protect the finish with a paint sealant, topped with a wax. But I notice that the clear coat does not quite have a mirror-like finish. Instead, it is rather bumpy as you can see in the photos I posted in the link. I am wondering if this is a standard finish on most new cars these days and if there is anything I can do to minimize the orange peel look with low risk of damaging the clear coat.

imgur: the simple image sharer (http://imgur.com/a/AP7uM)

[scienceguy]

I don't have any close up pictures on hand but my black 2013 Accord has some pretty bad orange peel, especially on the door panels. I just learned to live with it - it's a bit too much work and too much CC to remove for me to try and get rid of the orange peel.
:dunno:

And yes, if you look around, you'll notice most cars these days come with a healthy dose of orange peel.

[bsmith0404]

From the images, it appears the orange peel is a bit more than I'm used to seeing on a new car. That doesn't mean it is excessive. The only way to level orange peel is to abrade the surface. You could do it with an aggressive compound and pad, but it will take a lot to see a significant change. The normal way to level orange peel is to wet sand it. Either way you are removing layers of clear that are better left on the car for a daily driver. Unless your girlfriend plans to enter her new Honda Accord into a car show for some reason, leave it alone.

[movingforward]

Unless your girlfriend plans to enter her new Honda Accord into a car show for some reason, leave it alone.

LOL, I doubt she has even noticed it. I am certainly not going to bring it up to her! But yeah, I just wanted to help her car look its best. I haven't done anything with it...yet. ;) I'm a newbie, but I'm guessing sealants and coatings don't mask orange peel.

[FUNX650]

How's it look from about an arm's length?

Those (anybody) looking at my vehicles closer than that,
are asked (politely?) to go on about their own €@&$%@¥* business!!

:)

Bob

[swanicyouth]

Normal.

But you can find out if any monkey business has been done with a paint thickness gauge.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/08/y9a6uzy3.jpg

They may have started working in clear coat.

[movingforward]

How's it look from about an arm's length?

Those (anybody) looking at my vehicles closer than that,
are asked (politely?) to go on about their own €@&$%@¥* business!!

:)

Bob

Haha Bob. It is readily visible standing next to the car, but it's not a deal breaker as the white paint doesn't show reflections very well anyway.

[Evan.J]

To make it easier

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/k1FVBui.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/gIPDM8k.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/EuxfWKo.jpg

[movingforward]

Thanks Evan! :xyxthumbs:

[Quiksilver5882]

I wonder if the carpro denim and velvet pads would level it safely. I have orange peel on the doors of my 2014 Kia Forte.

[Romans5.8]

My focus has a good chunk of orange peel. Combine that with thin modern paint and it's a recipe for having to just live with it!

[JKL1031]

From someone who looks at new cars everyday, yes this is normal..

[SYMAWD]

It's normal.

[TundraPower]

I think it is excessive. The only way to fix that is wet sanding or Carpro denim/velvet skins. Don't even think about either one unless you really know what you're doing and have a LOT of time to do it. If it were me I would let a body shop remove it and finish it out myself.

[JKL1031]

^^^^Nnahhh, at least not on the roof. It's not a highly visible area and u need maximum protection up there, as well as the hood. Being female owned u have alot more to worry about than the slight orange peel.