General Scratch woe

[Samseal]

Hello

I have had my 15 plate 500 for four months, and yesterday found its first scratch!! (Not done by me!) Am a bit annoyed! How long did everyone else keep there pride and joy looking new?

Has anybody used the company ChipsAway or similar, or have you used a touch up pen?
Thanks

 

[DBunX]

I think it depends on the colour, but my Black 500S's paint seems to almost fall off of its own accord if something touches it. Within a month I had several chips all showing the white undercoat.

At first I used ChipEx, which was good (but slightly fiddly and a bit matt looking and not always level) but I then used the default touch up pen from FIAT themselves and it was surprisingly perfect and was less than half the cost of the ChipEx kit. It blobs on but seems to sink in to the mark very well, and you have the top coat to go over it as well if need be.

Someone scrapped my rear right in a Tesco carpark earlier in the year, and its lots of long scratches and a high scrape that even a light polish couldn't improve, so I've not bothered with my 2 solutions. I'll have ChipsAway sort it before I have to hand it back for another 500.

 

[Samseal]

I think it depends on the colour, but my Black 500S's paint seems to almost fall off of its own accord if something touches it. Within a month I had several chips all showing the white undercoat.

At first I used ChipEx, which was good (but slightly fiddly and a bit matt looking and not always level) but I then used the default touch up pen from FIAT themselves and it was surprisingly perfect and was less than half the cost of the ChipEx kit. It blobs on but seems to sink in to the mark very well, and you have the top coat to go over it as well if need be.

Someone scrapped my rear right in a Tesco carpark earlier in the year, and its lots of long scratches and a high scrape that even a light polish couldn't improve, so I've not bothered with my 2 solutions. I'll have ChipsAway sort it before I have to hand it back for another 500.

Thanks, mine is red. Might give the touch up pen a go then.

Bloody supermarket car parks, why can't people be more careful? I always try and park miles away from anyone else, but someone always comes and parks right next to me! haha

 

[DBunX]

Bloody supermarket car parks, why can't people be more careful? I always try and park miles away from anyone else, but someone always comes and parks right next to me! haha

I do this, and I did it the time it occurred too. Walked out of the shop towards the car and even in the dark I could see a mark I knew wasn't there before. At first I thought someone's trolley had done it but on closer inspection it was obvious it was another car.

After a while you realise you simply can't keep it clean and shiny the entire time and to not get to worked up when it does get bird pooped on (which happens a LOT!) or scratched. I've also had bits of tree branch fall out of trees straight down and make little dents on the roof.

I paid for the GuardX cover as well, so I would normally be out there every 2-3 weeks rinsing/washing/rinsing/conditioning/rinsing/buffing but the weathers so awful (and it became a running joke to my neighbours as it always started to rain as I was finishing off) that I don't bother so much now, just every month - month-half or so. I do clean the glass religiously though.

I just realised I've had a proper rant here, sorry! As you can see, it's something that really grinds my gears as its such a pretty car but so hard to keep nice depending on where you may keep it.

 

[Samseal]

I do this, and I did it the time it occurred too. Walked out of the shop towards the car and even in the dark I could see a mark I knew wasn't there before. At first I thought someone's trolley had done it but on closer inspection it was obvious it was another car.

After a while you realise you simply can't keep it clean and shiny the entire time and to not get to worked up when it does get bird pooped on (which happens a LOT!) or scratched. I've also had bits of tree branch fall out of trees straight down and make little dents on the roof.

I paid for the GuardX cover as well, so I would normally be out there every 2-3 weeks rinsing/washing/rinsing/conditioning/rinsing/buffing but the weathers so awful (and it became a running joke to my neighbours as it always started to rain as I was finishing off) that I don't bother so much now, just every month - month-half or so. I do clean the glass religiously though.

I just realised I've had a proper rant here, sorry! As you can see, it's something that really grinds my gears as its such a pretty car but so hard to keep nice depending on where you may keep it.

It is a shame there are so many people about who don't respect other people or their property, the same in all walks of life I suppose.

it doesn't help that it is the first brand new car I have owned, I am sure my fussiness will eventually wear off a bit :-/

 

[frupi]

I passed a 15 plate white Dacia Sandero today on the M1. I had to quite literally do a double take. The car, clearly only a few months old from registration, looked like it had been involved in a stock car race, panels dented all over the place. Bizarre!

 

[JulesRules]

I passed a 15 plate white Dacia Sandero today on the M1. I had to quite literally do a double take. The car, clearly only a few months old from registration, looked like it had been involved in a stock car race, panels dented all over the place. Bizarre!

Perhaps it was James May, and Clarkson and Hammond have been crashing into him on purpose?

OP - I hate to break this to you but the Red paint is notorious for chipping. It was one reason I didn't go for Red even though they look really nice in that colour.

 

[Joe Dolce]

Has it gone through to the primer ? If not try polishing it out before you start using a touch up stick. You might not remove it all but could make it look a whole lot better than it does now.

 

[DBunX]

Has it gone through to the primer ? If not try polishing it out before you start using a touch up stick. You might not remove it all but could make it look a whole lot better than it does now.

Virtually every chip I have (and there are a lot) have gone down to the primer And that's a shame about the red paint being known to be extra chippy... I was thinking about red rather than the black for my next one.