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Cripes, I got attacked by the paint scratcher gnomes

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by DavidA, Nov 28, 2011.

  1. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Arggghhhh! Paint gnomes hate Prii! Mine just got hit along the right side door panels, front fender, and in general, all over the right side. Looks less "keyed" (not ruling it out) and more like someone drove my car through a forest of steel wool. Examples below. I am the only one who drives this car, so I am clueless how it happened. Getting paint estimates this week for my insurance company.

    What does it look like happened here? :confused:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  2. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Sorry! You got keyed! Although the pattern above the door handle is interesting!
    I had some dumbfrak decide he or she could fit into a parking spot, they ran their car in and out of the spot leaving really nice scrape lines front to back on the my drivers side.
    That cost me $500 out of pocket, the Insurance Co picked up the remaining $2100.00 bucks!

    I am glad AAA covered me. I even had a rental for 5 days. I got a 2010 Prius....HATED IT!
    I really have come to enjoy the Gen II cockpit!

    We will see what the auto industry has to offer 4 years from now, when the warranty runs out!
     
  3. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Yup, you were keyed. People suck.
     
  4. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    I want an active force field around the thing 24/7.
     
  5. NineScorpions

    NineScorpions Economy, Meet Style!!

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    diesel driver?
     
  6. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    In a thread about Hummers, just a few weeks ago, where a troll came in and bashed everything Prii, and touted how good Hummers are/were for the world (he got banned, btw), I told a funny story about a Hummer driver at a gas station. I think he found my car. That, or I might be paranoid.
     
  7. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Probably Paranoia.


    Or is it? :D
     
  8. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Update:
    Car got its entire right side repainted last week. I waited until the gnomes got tired of my car and moved their operation elsewhere. $1,585. Insurance picked up all but $100. And - get this - the place detailed the car completely after finishing it! But I work at a food store, so those pesky shopping carts are sure to find their way into my car like a magnet eventually, no matter how hard I try to park it in a safe place.
     
  9. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    How good was the color matching on the repainting?
     
  10. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Seems to match up just fine. Hasn't been very sunny here, so its a bad time to really view it properly. Time will tell with the 2.5 years difference if one side fades more than the other. I probably won't notice though - by the time I'd walk around to the other side and look for any differences, my eyes old won't be able to tell.

    I'm just thankful it is just paint, and not a repair from a crash, or from running into an iPod'er walking across the bow from not hearing the car coming being that is a 2010 and doesn't have the noisemaker the '12's must include. (long run-on sentence there, sorry)
     
  11. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    Good to know it all came out OK - let's hope the vandals don't strike again.

    BTW, I had an idiot pedestrian nearly walk into my car too. I had the right-of-way (my green) and he was in another world. I just missed him and did not even have time to honk. As odd as it may seem, in this state if you kill or injure a jay-walker...as long as you stop and call the police, you are not liable. I've seen this on the news here several times now.
     
  12. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Damn grocery cart hit the left front wheel well area this week and did a number. On the plus side, the repainted entire right side of the car is holding up just fine - no unusual fading and still can't detect any differences.
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    We came out of a restaurant a few months back to an "oh yeah": bit of a dimple and a paint chip. When I discussed it with our favourite body shop he said the only way to do it seamlessly would involve repaint of pretty much the entire side. Frustrating.

    His final suggestion, touch up the chip multiple times, keep building it up, and try not to spread out, keep it within the chip. Then bring it in and he'll cut-polish, buff, or whatever it is they do, smooth it out some.

    I've done all the touch up, should really give him a call, set up an appointment.