Time to first damage (The Golf Accident Thread)

[laggster]

Hey Guys,
I lasted 6 months exact from the day I picked up the car :/
So on the car's 6 month (anniversary if you could call it that?), thanks to the recent heavy rains in Sydney, a Toyota Prado driving in the opposite direction kicked up a piece of debris and it ricocheted off the driver's door, leaving this pretty mean paint chip.

What pains me about it, is that for the past 2 or so months, I've been on long drives for work purposes, to Bathurst, and the like. Lots of highway driving, gravel and trucks about. I miraculously got through it all unscaved.

Whereas last weekend, driving about 5 minutes from home, I get this paint chip.

I guess it doesn't matter where you are, you're never immune.



I think I can see four layers?
Clear coat - Base coat - Primer? - Metal?

I just got a quote for $660 from a local smash repairer.

Not worth going through insurance for such a small ding is it?

Touch-up paint wouldn't look too fab either would it? due to the difference in layers and my poor dexterity with paint and a brush.

Should I be more worried about getting something on the bare metal first, more than the overall fix itself?

[Corey_R]

I'd put something on the bare metal, even if it were just clear nail polish... lol... maybe ask one of the car detailers about that first. Actually, maybe it's worth asking them whether they feel that it could be done with touch up paint.

[darkfriend]

Hey Guys,
I lasted 6 months exact from the day I picked up the car :/
So on the car's 6 month (anniversary if you could call it that?), thanks to the recent heavy rains in Sydney, a Toyota Prado driving in the opposite direction kicked up a piece of debris and it ricocheted off the driver's door, leaving this pretty mean paint chip.

How big is it? It's hard to get any sense of scale from the photo.

[laggster]

Sorry about the delayed reply guys, I typed up a reply on my phone but it doesn't look like it got posted? :S
It's about 6mm in length and width? I called my local touchupguy and sent him photos of the chip - he quoted $150, but can't guarantee it won't be undetectable. When asked about what to do with the bare metal or if anything would be done to it prior to covering it with paint, he said "Nothing to be too worried about as rust takes years to develop".
Does that sound a bit suss?

[SMOK3Y]

well the rust bit i found is true i had a chip on the ute for 8 months still shiny new metal there when i traded it. i also had a VY years ago that got burnt out, man it had surface rust everywhere in about an hour lol

[Bel]

I just want to cry (and smash someones face into a wall)... car broken into, back passenger window smashed - door trim ruined and glass has frayed/damaged the cloth on the seats, externally paint work scratched and plastic between the front and back windows shattered..
I finally got the window tint fixed so that there were no bubbles (about two months ago) - under warranty and done in meville which is miles away from home.. no way that they are going to be able to just re-tint one window and have it match is there?
How can people to this! So violated feeling right now and also just want to cry cos my baby (the car) was damaged
$500 excess

[Corey_R]

no way that they are going to be able to just re-tint one window and have it match is there?

Sorry to hear about the break in Bel.
As for the window tint, it's just a roll of film. As long as the same product is still available, it should be fine.

[MkVIGTI]

I hit my front air splitter to a higher than normal kerb the other day, scratched the paint a bit. Luckily it's on the bottom of the splitter so you can't really see it.

[Bel]

Sorry to hear about the break in Bel.
As for the window tint, it's just a roll of film. As long as the same product is still available, it should be fine.

Thanks I was so out of it last night.. today the damage is still sucky but I know it can all be fixed.. just going to take some time!

[Ideo]

Meh, more stone chips for me.

No drama. Just one of those things that happens when you drive a car.

[dasrattles]

i feel for you Bel, theres a whole lot of people out there that deserves a stab for doing things like that
in the mean time, just take things slowly, it'll get fixed up nice and good. i'm getting my car fixed too, got rear ended at the lights last week

[Bel]

Thanks dasrattles, I think I would be more angry/sadder if I got rear ended.. more damage but accidents do happen I guess.
The idiots that broke in then tried to use my friends keycard - with a wrong pin number from her phone (was only her bag that was stolen) so there is a chance that the ATM CCTV will identify them - they'd be safer than if I found out who it was

[Frankenstrat]

Bel, where did it happen? I'm really sorry to hear about this, a handbag on the back seat is just too much temptation for those cretins. Next time I'm sure you'll lock everything in the boot.

[Bel]

Bel, where did it happen? I'm really sorry to hear about this, a handbag on the back seat is just too much temptation for those cretins. Next time I'm sure you'll lock everything in the boot.

It was at Trigg Island Cafe carpark..and no the bag was not on the back seat.. we had locked it in the boot when we met up, someone was watching and that someone smashed the back window to get into the boot (its a hatchback after all with seats that fold down).. really my lesson learnt is to never let anyone put anything in my car again!

I met the repairer today - never heard of them before but was sort of happy with how through he was with just a preliminary look see. Says that it will take 3 days - which seems a a hell of a long time to replace a door trim, back seat (its getting replaced because of the frayed cloth), door seals and external plastics.. also gets detailed twice.. once before the work so that there is no glass floating around to damage the new bits and then after everything is done.. window to be tinted afterwards and if they can't match it then will re-tint it all.
Down side is that I have to wait weeks and weeks because they have to order in the parts.

I'm focusing on the positive... the new car smell will be back in full force with new trims and seats
Next bit of 'fun' will be getting the clutch pack repalced.. whole other issue!!

[Corey_R]

If the repair shop is going to do the retint, find out what they're going to use etc.
If they're just going to put on "whatever", then it would be best to talk to your insurance comapny and ask that the one window be redone by the original tinter. It'll be cheaper for the insurance company, and it'll be better for you... unless you don't like your current tint and the stuff the repairer is offering is better...