Hatchback VS. Garage Door (Garage Door Wins) - Advice needed

[cairo94507]

That really sucks. I owuld take it to a reputable body shop, (clean shop, high end cars being repaired, and an estimater that is honest with you) and have the entire spoiler removed, painted and reinstalled. You iwll never know the difference when it is done correctly.

[Doc Willie]

Take some gaffer's tape of a contrasting color, black will do, cut a strip the length of the spoiler and apply to the edge. Trim with Exacto knife. Replace tape every 6 months or so.

Total cost, less than a buck. Plus if you have never used gaffer's tape, your life will immediately improve in countless ways.

[efusco]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doc Willie @ Oct 4 2007, 09:04 PM) [snapback]521509[/snapback]</div>

Plus if you have never used gaffer's tape, your life will immediately improve in countless ways. [/b]

So true.

[matt@domenici.com]

If it makes you feel better, I did the same thing, except I have a scratch running from the license plate region, to the lock button on the hatch, and then a bit of the spoiler.

Did you get this repaired? How much did it cost you?

[patsparks]

For tips on gaffa tape check this out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh5XVPSx9Dk
I bet PriusLimo wished he watched this first!

[clifford]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patsparks @ Oct 28 2007, 02:59 AM) [snapback]531510[/snapback]</div>

For tips on gaffa tape check this out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh5XVPSx9Dk
I bet PriusLimo wished he watched this first!
[/b]

Yes I have this problem also and have to hold the hatchback with one hand and unload with the other. Seems to me it is not a problem of where to get the car painted but a problem with the hatchback going too high?
Is there something wrong with my thinking here?
Does it need to go so high?

[rrussel2000]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clifford @ Oct 30 2007, 07:28 PM) [snapback]532713[/snapback]</div>

Yes I have this problem also and have to hold the hatchback with one hand and unload with the other. Seems to me it is not a problem of where to get the car painted but a problem with the hatchback going too high?
Is there something wrong with my thinking here?
Does it need to go so high?
[/b]

I learned the hard way with my Highlander the 1st day I brought it home. On the Prius, it is actually advantageous to have such a high reaching tailgate as for us, we open it with the garage door closed and we are fine! Much better than the hold the liftgate/grab a bag of groceries juggling act.

[Winston]

Go to your local used car dealer and ask them who does their paint touch-ups. There are guys that do it out of their truck. They come to your house. Hence, very low overhead. They are very skilled at matching colors. I would at least get a price from them before purchasing a new spoiler. I'm betting somthing like that would cost about $100.

[1PriusFan]

I made the exact same mistake. I got two quotes for an unpainted Touring edition rear spoiler: $318 from Thousand Oaks Toyota, and $332 from Keyes Toyota in Van Nuys. The paint job will be extra. This should teach me to *really* close the hatch before I back out of my garage...

[Going_Green]

I was reading this thread thinking, wow that sucks and feeling glad that we can open the hatch in the garage. Then I realized that when we did it the garage door was closed, not open. So thanks for the warning and I'm sorry you had to find out that way. We'll be on the alert here!