Paint problem?

[AW <weststar@ziplink.net>]

Hi,

I have a 1990 80 Quattro with gold ("bamboo tan") paint.  It has many
scratches all over--I assumed that the previous owner had overdone it
with commericial carwashes.  However, when I asked a local auto body
owner about it, he stated that it looked like the paint was actually
cracking.  He said that it looked like a laquer paint and that he hadn't
used laquer paint in years (in fact, Massachusetts recently outlawed its
use).  He specializes in upper end cars (Porsche, Mercedes,etc.) and
seems to have a good reputation, so he started me wondering.

Since I spoke with him, I have noticed two other Audi cars in parking
lots with exactly the same type of problem.  One was an 80 (not sure of
the year) and the other was a 1993 90Q; both were silver.  The
"scratches" on my car and the two others I saw are quite extensive.

Does anyone know if this is related to the paint used?   I have no
reason to believe that my car has ever been repainted, anywhere on it. 
Also, the two others seemed to have original paint as well.

Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,
Andy