If you were buying a new car...would you let the door get painted to fix some chips?

N

Nicky Pass

New member
I went to the dealership today to go over some final details about the car...and I noticed 5 chips on the door. Right away, the sales manager and the owner of the dealership checked it out, and they said the would have it spot blended and I would never be able to tell it was ever touched. According to a friend of mine that works at a Lexus, Kia and Acura dealer....the fix new cars in the same manner all of the time. So technically...any new car could have been touched up and no one would ever know. My question is....should I still buy the car. I'm getting a new 03 Cobra convert for $3000 under invoice. And...if I get it....I planned on Zainoing it this weekend....if it gets fixed, could I still Zaino it....or do I have to wait?
 
I honestly don't know that I would take the car. I'd at least want the whole door repainted with the caveat that if the paint doesn't match perfectly, the deal is off.
 
I don't think I could take it. I'm extremely picky when it comes to a new vehicle. I'm really not sure if you would be able to Zaino the car, usually after a car is painted its 4-6 weeks before waxing, but zaino is a sealant so not sure. If I had to guess I would say wait before applying anything other than just a wash.
 
Leave yourself an out... and also see if you can get them to throw in some freebie (floor mats, car cover, service, something) for the "trauma" you'll have to endure of buying a damaged new car. Tell them the value just went down because it's had repair work on it now. Run the gammit and get what you can.
 
Yes BUT tell them you want to take it to YOUR choice of body shops and they are goign to pay for it or knock that much off the price. I would not let a dealer paint shop touch my car with a 10 foot microfiber let alone a d/a sander and a spray gun.
 
I have seen this type of repair work done on a BLACK car and it was not noticeable. I think that you should let them do the repair with the stipulation that is HAS to be to YOUR satisfaction. I think you will be pleased if it is done right and also unable to tell the difference.
 
I wouldn't take it. No, it's not *that* common for new cars to have redone panels.



Every time I took a car with that sort of repair I ended up regretting it. Now I just refuse such "story cars". I've refused delivery over smaller issues than that...just my $0.02.



If you *do* take it, as Scottwax said, have the whole door reshot..you might also need to blend into the surrounding panels. Definitely DO NOT take it if the repair is discernable!
 
Sorry, no excuse for any new car to have such defects as those, I know its unreasonable but I would demand even more off the MSRP just to emphasize the point :down
 
I don't know but I would consider buying it because of the $3k under invoice. Tell them you will take it with the condition that you have to approve the work after it is done or you will not take delivery. Good luck.
 
If they do it to new cars...which I'm sure they do...I can only imagine how many cars have been touched. Its in thier shop now...and I'll have to see what happens. Thier shop is great....they did work on my 93 Cobra and my 95 T-Bird. They also do alot of BMWs and Mercedes. The work they did on my Uncle's Explorer shocked my He hit a tree...I looked it over and I was amazed! So the shop it MORE than qualified to do the work.
 
From personal experience I'd say no thanks. Whats more once you know where the work was done it will always be in the back of your mind.
 
Nicky Pass said:
These aren't big chips....the are little rock chips...they offered to fix them.
Click to expand...



Negotiate down the price more rather than have the rock chips fixed. Before I joined this board, and became an Autpoian nut, I agreed to have the dealer remove some dings out of my new car. The dealer had a body shop remove the dings, and while I can't tell where the dings were, I regret having the dings fixed. Because the car is black, the body shop shot clear over the entire back quarter panel and the hood (don't know how the hood got dinged). The clear doesn't match the factory clear as it glistens in the sun from some sort of metalic flakes in the clear coat, and the passenger door jambs have a build-up of clear along the edges where the new and old clear coats meet. The car also came back with tons of buffer marks as the body shop tried to move the overspray with a rotary. No masking was done, so some of the weatherstripping got damaged.

Thinking back, I should have either not bought the car, I should have negotiated the price down further or I should have paid more and ordered the car instead of taking what was on the lot. Don't get me wrong, the repairs wouldn't bother most people, but if you are picky, you will always notice it.
 
I've bought 2 cars in the past that needed similar touch-ups before I took delivery. After 5 years I never could tell where the dealer fixed the dings on my Camaro. On my 4Runner they touch-uped areas of the fender flairs that are metallic silver and after a year it still looks perfect.



If it was me and I really wanted the 'Stang, I'd take it. If you're going to drive it much anyway, it's pretty hard to avoid rock chips.
 
yes if you take be careful. body shops are known to hide the buffer marks, so be very clear that will only take delivery if it is to ur satisfaction. take a spray bottle with 1 to 1 dilution to i think either rubbing alcohol or vinegar and wipe panel(s) with microfiber to make sure the idiots aren't just hiding the buffer marks:D
 
Nickey....here's a few thoughts.



First...I'd tell the dealer that I need those nicks fixed to my satisfaction...BEFORE delivery. I'd bet that is likely. My Cobra had a couple nicks too. Things happen in shipment, etc.



And...if my memory is correct on the rebates and such...there is a $3000 rebate only on 2003 Cobra 'verts. Not on coupes or '04s. Considering that '03s have been out of production since last August, you won't buy another at that price. If the chips in the paint are worth $3000 to you...get an '04 that is to your liking.

(Not sure if white is available on an '04 Cobra though.) Plus....'04 Cobra production ended a few weeks ago anyhow.



I work with the dealer my Cobra came from, and the day I test drove it, I noticed it had a white door handle...my car is silver. The dealer's body shop sprayed the handle and it looks perfect.



As far as "knowing"? I got a rock chip in the door of the Viper. I touched it up, wet sanded and polished. I can't find it anymore.



Just beware of wet sanding a modern Mustang...the paint is thin.
 
Under no circumstances. It will never be the same. It may look good in the beginning, but within two years you will notice a difference in the color.
 
Nicky Pass said:
If they do it to new cars...which I'm sure they do...I can only imagine how many cars have been touched.
Click to expand...

You guys have no idea how many cars are actually touched up somewhere between the paint booth and the dealer lot. ;) Big 3, and American manufactured imports, at least.
 
Nicky Pass said:
These aren't big chips....the are little rock chips...they offered to fix them.
Click to expand...



My brother had that done to an Accord he bought about 8 years ago. The dealer did a horrible job on the door. The repaired area and the terrible orange peel and improperly matched paint was more noticable than the original damage was.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top