Car Wash Paint damage?

[mikey mx5]

I have a red 91 MX5 and on the back rear panel the clear coating has progressively been eaten away ever since I started taking my baby to a local car wash.

I heard that "oxidisation" can occur and apparently it only happens with older 'red' cars, as there is a pigment in the red paint that reacts with the harsh chemicals in the pre-soak.

Does anyone have any info on this or had any similar experiences?

Thanks!

[Mr Morlock]

Red often had the reputation of fading and deteriorating and from my unscientific observation some earlier colours in MX5 have not stood up well- at 17 years you would expect to see it past its best. As a guess I doubt that the car wash pre soak is a player more likely infrequent polishing of the car earlier in its life and too much exposure to UV such as parking outside. If you had not taken your car to the car wash it still may have deteriorated- how do you prove otherwise?

[Spranga]

Reds, yellows and any Aussie made car from the 80s to the mid 1990s. It is just the UV in my opinion. You could try cutting it.