Help! Too much sealant on side skirts?

[Chung]

Went to pick up my new car today, all was going well until my mum spotted some roughness with the paintwork on the side skirts of the car. The salesman said the skirts are supposed to be a bit bumpy and after comparing the paint on my car to the others that was indeed the case. However on my car there appears to be too much paint on the edge of the skirt so that it looks like there's a bit hanging off.

I don't think I'm describing it very well so I've attached some photos, below.

The service manager claimed that it's just too much sealant, tried to convince me that this was actually a good thing. I've refused to take delivery of the car until they fix it. They said they'll just strip back the excess sealant and reapply it.

My mum was demanding another vehicle, the salesman said they they couldn't do that because it's not damaged. As far as I'm concerned, if it is just too much sealant and they clean it up to my satisfaction I'm happy to take delivery, unless anyone here thinks that would be a bad idea.

I'd be grateful for any comments that people might have.

[Tim]

looks pretty poorly done. Hows about u make a deal with them. You will let it slide if they cover it with some nice colour coded GTI skirts or something

[Mischa]

thats a bit off... but dont get all huffy puffy and demand a new car as you'll just be shooting yourself in the foot. as tim said ask for some side skirts (if you like them, i'm not a fan of the gti skirts) or possibly just ask for the front and rear bumpers to be colour coded.

[Chung]

That did cross my mind. But at the moment I haven't forced the issue.

I'm not even sure that part of the car is called a side skirt... bit of a newb when it comes to these things which is why this forum is my first port of call.

[Chung]

Personally I'd rather not get a new car, as I'd have to wait a longer! But the folks are worried that it's not as small a problem as they're making it out to be.

How much are skirts normally? Would they cover the problems with the paint there?

[anarchycamp]

I dont want to be a prick but im amazed how many people even consider asking for a new car over such issues...get them to fix the issue but as Mischa said...asking for a new car would be a big mistake, would only wind up the person you are dealing with.

Make sure they fix it properly though! Best of luck!

[rym]

Chung, I don't understand the claim for a new car... this is really not a problem. You will find similar finishes on joins and welds that are out of line of sight. Now, I don't mean to down play anyone's sensitivities and especially yours but... to put some perspective into this, no one looks at their car at 10 cm off the ground.

You will be well and truely shocked if the car was on a hoist and you were to check on the finishing there.

If you want a vehicle with immaculate "out of sightline" finishes such as on weld points... etc. Get a HONDA motorbike, where everytime you wash it, you could just stand back and admire the attention to detail that has gone into what is a mass produced vehicle.

In the mean time, you will have forgotten about this "ordeal" once you have driven this in the rain and their enough mud caking over this "blemish".

Asking for another car is probably over the top, what the dealer will do for you is all just purely down to good will and how much he/she wants to win you over in the PR department.

We all love our cars but we can probably be less precious about it because there will be more heartaches... dings in the door at the supermarket, a stray stone flicked by an old lady in an old datsun 120y, a scratch on the door sill from a stone stuck in your shoe... etc.

Enjoy the car by driving it. This is not a problem!

[Chung]

Thanks for all the advice so far.

Just to clear things up, I'm quite happy to take the car once they've fixed it up. Believe me, I'd rather not wait for a new car. My parents however have encountered their fair share of dodgy salespeople (we were outright lied to by a BMW service manager claiming that there was a global shortage of X5 tail lights) and are full of conspiracy theories and a general distrust of any sales people so when things like this come up they can overreact a bit. 'Demand' was probably a bit strong of a word to use, I asked nicely about the possibility, the salesman asked his manger who said no, I said 'ok, just fix it up before I take delivery' with the intention of checking the facts on here and with some other people.

So, given my own inexperience with these things, the purpose of this thread was mainly to verify that this sort of thing is a) not out of the ordinary b) that it is just excess sealant and not some other problem c) that stripping it down and redoing the skirt will be perfectly fine.

[rym]

Chill dude, this is indeed sealant. It's there to protect the bottom sill/side skirt (actually no skirt unless the coating is the skirt). You will find that stuff may break off at the first service when they have the car on a hoist and the protruding sealant is rested on the hoist arm.

I don't know about getting them to "fix" it. Personally, I would be more worry about them stuffing other things when they apply touch up paint... etc.

Look, picking up a new car is a wonderful experience, don't let this mar your experience. Or worst, have the family in constant watch and alarm for something wrong... be alert not alarmed. Unless there's cause to be, st this stage, I don't see a cause at all...

Good luck and enjoy your car.

[Chung]

Cheers rym. I'm looking forward to picking it up as soon as I can. Walked out pretty dissapointed that I wasn't driving away in my new car.

[SoVeReIgN]

No big deal - That stuff is a thick paste to stop rocks damaging the sideskirt - Should just break off.. thats also one of the jacking points, the first time you jack it up that will bend/break off anyway.

[Spoddy]

To me it looks like it has been damaged at some stage and repaired...
Have a real close look under and around and see if there is also overspray....

[rym]

Chung, don't let the last post spook you. This is really NOT a problem at all.

You are NOT buying a 2nd hand car, the dealer would be risking his/her VW franchise if this was truely a damage and repair job. Which is pretty rediculous. Sure there are dodgy operators out there but this is not one of them, it's sealant to protect from stone damage, if you were to press this stuff, you will find that it's pliable and slightly soft.

As SoVeReIgN and myself have said, it's at the jack point and you will find the protruding sealant will be pushed flat once the car is on the hoist for some time at your first service.

Go and pick up your car! Enjoy your new car and tell us all about how much you and your family enjoy it.

Cheers.

[Spoddy]

Chung, don't let the last post spook you. This is really NOT a problem at all.

You are NOT buying a 2nd hand car, the dealer would be risking his/her VW franchise if this was truely a damage and repair job. Which is pretty rediculous. Sure there are dodgy operators out there but this is not one of them, it's sealant to protect from stone damage, if you were to press this stuff, you will find that it's pliable and slightly soft.

As SoVeReIgN and myself have said, it's at the jack point and you will find the protruding sealant will be pushed flat once the car is on the hoist for some time at your first service.

Go and pick up your car! Enjoy your new car and tell us all about how much you and your family enjoy it.

Cheers.

To clarify.... I know it is soft spungy stuff to combat stone chips - it has been around for years....
2ndly it is not unusual for repairs in that area due to the way cars are moved around on transporters - I should know as I have been associated with the industry.

It IS worth a look to make sure.

[rym]

I've said be alert and not alarmed. There is no evidence to suggest that it's been damaged. From what I can see in those photos, that looks rather normal. Typically, it's painted black and blends into the background with the road, it's standing out because of the lighter colour.