Despite all the care I give to my car.. Still gets scratched/chipped!

[franster]

Hi guys I would just like to share my frustrations on my car's paint getting a few scratches and small chipped paint. It's been a year and a half already since I've acquired my car (Brandnew Nissan Navara) and I've taken a lot of precautionary measures on keeping it looking like new, heck I almost always park the car where no one can intentionally touch it but to my very best of keeping it like new, I still gets these paint imperfections. BTW I wash my car personally using the proper tools and techniques and still scratches and chipped paint pops out of no where! Though they are quite small and can be spotted if you look at it closely, it really bothers me to have those despite the efforts I have on taking care of my car.

As I observe these other cars (latest models, if you must know), it looks like they have a pretty much flawless paint by looking at it in a fair distance and I'm quite sure that 80-90% of these cars I see are in the min. to an average car paint care regimen.

Is it really inevitable keeping the car's paint flawless? What are your thoughts, experience, comments on this?

Your reply would be much appreciated.

[GTS925]

Aside from the usual washing, you should also wax your car to protect it from harsh elements.

Applying Microtex NanoSil, Microtex NanoGlos and NanoSliq would be a good start.

[indiej]

It Is an uphill battle having a detailer's eye for your car. The universe is against it. Paint will accumulate dirt. Prompt cleaning will prevent dirt from clinging hard on the paint. Scratches come from contact. Cleaning requires contact, the more frequently you clean, the more contact. Proper technique notwithstanding, scratches will happen and add up from time to time. The balance will tilt from care to convenience. Not to mention flying debris, pebbles, and sand while driving and careless and malicious people around.

Chill or suffer bodily damage from mental stress as well, if not from the physical exertion. Health first, your own body first, all other things next. Improving the performance of your car? Your body first. Giving the best fluids for your car at a strict schedule? Strict diet and nutrition for your body first.

You'd be amazed how car paint would appear flawless in certain angles and light. A sun shot dispels all these optical illusions. Leisurely compare cars at the same distance and angle and with a similar color. Detailed cars stand out. Details big and small make it so. Step back from your well maintained car paint and most certainly it has a warm glow and a deep shine to it compared to less cared for cars.

Keep at it.

[blacksun25]

Dear TS, don't be stressed out because of paint scratches and chips. It's not healthy. Its inevitable. You are using your car so it will get scratches, dents, chips etc..If you don't want your car to get scratched, do not use it.

I felt like that before until I made a realization. I have an 8 month-old car. It's my first brand new car so I treated it like a baby for the first couple of months. It's hard work to maintain it. I also wash it myself. problem is I don't have covered parking so car is exposed to elements. First few scratches courtesy of kids playing around the car. Just bought some touch up paint and applied to scratch using toothpick.

Then came small dents, had it repaired by a PDR expert..I waxed it weekly..engine detailed and under washed monthly. I realized that I'ved been spending too much time, money effort on my car that I overlooked other important things in my life. I began to accept that as long as I'm using the car, it will get scratched. Don't get me wrong, I still take care of my car but I don't stress myself out about it the way I used to.

Sabi nga ni misis, kaya mo nga binili yan eh para gamitin at ma-enjoy at hindi para iparada sa garahe sa takot na magasgasan. I admit it, may point siya. Hehehe.

Cheers!

[ILuvDetailing]

Driving in the Philippines is considered extreme, due to our weather and environment, so it is practically impossible to keep your car scratch free unless you leave it in your garage and use it only on weekends going to the grocery.

What you can do is keep your car clean, with a weekly wash, and wax it once a month or so.

[KrisKros]

I feel you bro.
My car is less than a year old and I've already got scratches from who knows where.
Then i've got 2 tiny dimples (but they seem like craters to me) an my passenger side. I blame the people who don't know how to open their doors properly at parking lots..the ones who for some reason have to extend the door as far open as it possibly can. I started parking next to nice looking cars (detailed cars, or luxury cars) or jeeps (because they have no doors hehe), or at the end where no cars can park at one side of my car.

And tama ung Misis ni BlackSun. Very good point

[oj88]

It's inevitable. The paint job is part of the wear and tear. You can only minimize the effect of aging and can only do so much in preventing it from getting scratched. But in the end, it will incur some damage, one way or the other.

I've also been through the Kübler-Ross model... The five stages of grief.

Acceptance stage na ako ngayon.. :D "I can't fight it, I may as well prepare for it."

[franster]

Thanks guys. After reading your posts, I felt good na. It's nice to know that all of you share the same grief with me (Parang broken hearted. Haha)

[ACidGaMbiT]

nakakakguilty din sa una kapag nagasgasan or may bunggo. pero it is inevitable. your skill is a factor, plus skill and attitude of other car owners / drivers. pero kung masyado iisipin yang mga scratches and chips na yan eh magiging stress lang sa ating mga owners / drivers yan. basta mag ingat na lang tayo at kung may mangyari man hindi maganda ipaayos na lang sa tamang oras.

[umi001]

It's going to happen on any daily driver. I keep my car well maintained, use proper washing techniques, apply brand-name sealants and waxes, and clean and clay the paint. I've also got a bunch of rock chips (I know where each one is), a long scratch along the driver side front and rear doors (deliberately keyed by an asshole at MOA), a dent on the passenger side fender (got hit by an idiot in a WRX), and a small ding on the driver side rear door (useless kids who banged the door of their car open against mine). I know each flaw with the car, but I've learned to just live with it - I'll try and get most of it fixed end of the year, but stressing about it all the time just won't do any good.

[Wh1stl3r]

Ganun talaga pag ginagamit sa Pilipinas. If all people were as mindful of other people's property as you, these accidental scratches wouldn't happen. I consider myself on the careful side as well. Still doesn't prevent motorcycle brake levers, umbrella tips, watches, bracelets, handbags, etc from scratching it. Natalsikan pa nga yun ng ready mix cement from 20+ stories up when I was passing by while this Putzmeister was pumping it up. It sure seems like the scratches came out of nowhere but it probably happened while you weren't looking or while you were away from the car. Wala kasing concept ng personal space at respect for the other guy's property ang karamihan ng mga Pinoy. Pindutin mo yung panic button pag may sumandal hehe.

[franster]

Pindutin mo yung panic button pag may sumandal hehe.

Ginagawa ko rin yan if I see somebody leaning against my car. I feel sorry lalo na dun sa sasandal sa hood, sasakit lang tenga nila.

[_Qwerty_]

di kasi maiiwasan yan.. kahit anong ingat mo.. mag pa park at mag pa park ka pa din na may katabi.. at merong mga tao talagang walang paki alam.. kung magbukas nang pinto eh todo todo.. lalo na pag mga kids ang sakay.. kamot ulo ka na lang..

[ACidGaMbiT]

Pumunta kami ng market market last October 31. After I parked, chineck ko pa yung clearance ng doors kung okay lang at baka mahirapan magaccess ang katabi namin or magkagasgasan kami. Pagbalik namin after maggala, may gasgas na ung unahan passenger door. Hindi naman malalim, kapag malapit ka lang makikita mo talaga. Pero dalawa sya and at least 5 inches long. Before pa ako magngitngit inunahan na ako ng misis ko, "hayaan mo na, ganyan talaga pag sa parking". So ayun dinedma ko na lang si gasgas. Hindi naman makapamili ng parking at punuan ang parking during that time. Just shows ikaw na nga ang conscious na hindi ka makasagabal sa katabi mo at hindi makadamage ng sasakyan ng iba, ikaw pa rin ang madadale sa huli. Ngak ngak. Hehehe.

[mommabear08]

hmmm siguro nga sa parking nakuha ng jazz namin yung gasgas niya sa may right door.

[rj_tim]

We share the same frustrations, TS. Lalo na't black yung tsikot ko. But I guess we just gotta learn to take things in stride.

[scharnhorst]

I like two things... detailing and driving. They don't exactly go hand in hand. hehe.

our mazda2's hood is a testament to that - hindi ko na mabilang ang stone chips dahil sa kakafunrun at kakaharurot.

kaya tamang OC lang... kasi kung masyado ka OC masisiraan ka ng bait with every ding, scratch, and chip sa kotse mo...

[franster]

I like two things... detailing and driving. They don't exactly go hand in hand. hehe.

our mazda2's hood is a testament to that - hindi ko na mabilang ang stone chips dahil sa kakafunrun at kakaharurot.

kaya tamang OC lang... kasi kung masyado ka OC masisiraan ka ng bait with every ding, scratch, and chip sa kotse mo...

Oo nga noh? Tamang OC lang, like the title of your detailing tips.

[scharnhorst]

^^ yup!

kelangan ng pasensya... while it's tempting to correct every single scratch or ding from the onset, you'd be killing your clearcoat (and wallet) if you do that..

kaya iniipon muna para isang detailing or PDR session nalang

medyo mahirap lang talaga yung first few days kasi kating kati ka talagang ayusin yung defect

[franster]

Kamusta na mga fellow OC people? Merry Christmas sa inyong lahat! Sana next year minimal o zero damage na ang paint ng sasakyan ko, unlike this year.