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I call it motoring mildew.

This less-than-scientific term applies to the condition of many paint jobs on cars running around Merced. There are funny white-rimmed splotches seen all over the roofs, hoods and trunks of many cars--and it's not a flattering appearance. Cars with this "condition" generally are at least 10 years old, I'd guess.

Years ago, it seemed as though factory paint jobs only lasted a year or two at best, particularly if they weren't waxed regularly. In the mid-1960s the manufacturers boasted about "never-wax" paint finishes on some of their products. Contemporary paint jobs now include primer, a color coat and several coats of clear paint. When the sun burns off the clear coat, it eats into the color, and the mangy-appearing "crop circles" appear all over the vehicle. Getting stuck in traffic along G Street today, I couldn't help but spot a forlorn-looking Acura four-door sedan that could be a poster boy for splotchy paint. I would guess all this old paint would need to be stripped off before new colors are applied, and that's not cheap.