Dealership scratched my new car...need advice

[Digit]

I hate to bother everyone with something so trivial, but damnit, it is my first new car in 25 years.
I had only had it for 2 weeks. It is not buffing out and they say they will have to touch up the paint, but I won't be able to tell.
They say they do it right in the parking lot...

I don't make alot of money and this IS a big deal to me.
Can someone give me some advice here?

[JanMichael]

1. The dealership is going to fix it

I think it will probably be OK.

However, that said....I know how you feel. I have owned ONE new car in my entire life (I am 41). It makes you feel kind of sick when something that you worked for, and take pride in is messed up by someone else.

[NMDemDist2]

2. let them fix it and if you can still see it then worry

i worked for a dealer for a couple years and the guys they use are usually very good!

[virginia mountainman]

3. easy fix

New car, good, that means the paint is new, I.E. not faded

Depending on how bad the scratch it, odds are it can be easily touched up with a tube “of touch up” paint, and yes they should do it

They have that paint in the parts department.

[TrueAmerican]

4. Let them fix it for you

If it doesn't look right than worry about it. Chances are they do it right.

[nashville_brook]

5. same thing happened to me

and i let them paint it -- couldn't even tell.

if it comes back and you can still see it -- then raise hell!

[puddycat]

6. Relax. At least this scratch will get fixed. You will soon get more

If you park in any shopping mall parking lot, or park on the street in the city. And soon you will look at your scratches and just shrug.

[sendero]

7. Worst case..

... is that the have to repaint the panel(s). Yeah it sucks, but fact is a good paint and body man can fix it so only an expert can tell it's been painted.

I know how you feel, but I'm gonna say this anyway. Don't sweat the small stuff :) I've owned only one new vehicle in my long life, and yes, every little ding and thing that happens is annoying. But in the scheme of things you have to let go of that stuff - it's bad for you.

Whether the dealer scratched it or some bozo in a parking lot puts a nice ding on the door, new cars slowly get old, just like people :)

[nashbridges]

8. Not that dealerships should be trusted, but

I scratched the holy hell out of my wife's car while she was watching me park it, and even though it cost me almost $800 to have the dealer fix it, it's been two years and you still can't tell I messed it up.

It wasn't a little scratch, either. I creased the metal scraping against another car, dented a fender, and stripped the paint down to the metal. They made it look like new. Not sure what they did, but if anyone is going to make it "like new", they're probably a pretty good bet.

Plus, the wife forgave me. If that spot ever re-appears, I'm in big trouble!

[Must_B_Free]

9. they will fix it to your satisfaction

I had to go back three times before they got my paint right.

[democracyindanger]

10. Take pictures before

so if you're not happy with it, you have something to compare it to.

Frankly, I can't see how touch up paint is going to make it good as new. On close inspection (like, say, what the dealer would do if they were taking it as a trade-in) you can tell where touch up paint was used. It's not like they're respraying it, and they're certainly not redoing the clearcoat.

I'd demand they do better than touch up paint, but that's just me.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

11. We ordered a new car online, went to pick it up

It had a big dimple on the door. The dealership called someone in to fix it, while my husband & I cruised the outlet stores next door. They did a beautiful job, you couldn't tell the dimple was ever there.

[Obamarama]

12. An idea......

I just bought a new car, and had the option of purchasing a special coating system where you pay X number of dollars now (I think it was $300 or thereabouts) and you get a book of five coupons. Each year, for the next five years you go in and get a new coating on the car to keep the paint job protected and looking good.

If you approach them the right way (nicely), for the inconvenience to you of having your brand new car scratched, maybe you could convince them to throw a similar package in (if they offer it) for you at no charge.

You could say you're concerned that the scratch breached the paint job and you're worried that there will always be a weak spot there in the polymers and you'd be able to put your mind to rest if they could throw one of those coating packages in. Its worth a try.

[Digit]

18. When doing the Simoniz exterior...that is when they scratched it

Go figure
I get this nasty tree sap at certain times of the year, and I knew what that had done to my old car.
Do I need to have them redo the scratched area?

[donco6]

13. This should be an easy fix.

I've had much worse fixed and I couldn't tell at all.

[alarimer]

14. I bought a Nissan truck years ago new

that had a dent in it behind the bumper. I had to pay extra for the bumper; apparently it was optional. There was no earthly way that I had caused the dent. It was impossible. So they did it at the dealership or somewhere along the way. At first they didn't want to fix it but I got after them. And eventually they did. But it took some doing- and threats of legal action (not sure I had a case but at least it made them do what they should have done in the beginning.)

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[nini]

16. bye

:eyes:

[Digit]

17. I am partially disabled, so get decent parking spaces as a byproduct

I need a total knee replacement, so walking is an issue.

I appreciate all the quick replies, you have all put my mind somewhat at ease.