The paint is Honda trying to continue their leadership in being conscious of the environment. The same way they got dinged for the materials in the 2012 civic interior is them getting dinged for the paint. It's a much less hazardous paint that they use but it's just not holding up well enough. The interior materials had a lot less carcinogens used in making them but people hated them. At least they updated the interiors. I think the paint is going to be a larger issue and with regulations getting tighter all the time I don't think they will be switching back.
I agree that they need to do something to fix it since the chipping is a widespread issue.
hotdogjohnny - I think I saw surfboards in one of your pics in another post. Remember Clark Foam? They made like 99% of the foam blanks used in surfboards. A couple years ago they just straight closed up shop and said tough shiz. Regulations changed and they couldn't make the foam without a huge cost/investment in new facilities. Unwilling to move forward they simply stopped making that particular foam. Certainly the void has been filled by other companies but the nice thing is that surf technology was forced to progress, change, and ultimately there are better boards out now. I think the same thing will happen with the paint. It just sucks for right now.
I agree that they need to do something to fix it since the chipping is a widespread issue.
hotdogjohnny - I think I saw surfboards in one of your pics in another post. Remember Clark Foam? They made like 99% of the foam blanks used in surfboards. A couple years ago they just straight closed up shop and said tough shiz. Regulations changed and they couldn't make the foam without a huge cost/investment in new facilities. Unwilling to move forward they simply stopped making that particular foam. Certainly the void has been filled by other companies but the nice thing is that surf technology was forced to progress, change, and ultimately there are better boards out now. I think the same thing will happen with the paint. It just sucks for right now.