Cladding:
I was at the grocery store today, I know soccer mom! Anyway, I had a shizitt load of groceries taking them to my truck. I was on my cell phone talking and I let go of the cart. It ran into the side of my truck at a prettty good clip. It hit the cladding and bounced off, no marks, no scratches...or anything. Funny enough, just after I was at the tire shop getting my new shoes and some schmuck happened to roll a shop cart into the side of my truck. Again it hit the cladding and left no damage. I'm kinda starting to like this stuff as it turns out.
Later, Doug!

 

I can answer this having experience with the Nissan Xterra. To get scratches/scuffs out of the plastic you simply rub some Rubbing Compound on the blemish (normal rubbing compound for paint) with a cotton cloth. gritty peanut butter works well too. Wipe off excess and spray some 2001 or ArmorAll on it. That's it!

I had a piece fade badly- it was the rear bumper piece facing upward. Sliding things in and out of the cargo area and alot of direct sunlight. I NEVER washed it either. I just liberally sprayed 2001 on it and it looks new. That's it! You most likely will not exprience fading for 10 years or more.

As for replacement parts- they are left unpainted and it is usually up to the dealer/repair shop to paint the bumpers/plastic parts. It is easier for Toyota to stock bare plastic panels instead of worrying about cataloging, shipping and storing more delecate painted pieces.

Also, I carefully looked at the grey cladding on the Sport model-- it is in fact painted with that slight metallic finish.