Stone chipping
Discussion
More or less.
Cars with front mudguards have less chipping. 100 quid or so option and you don't really notice they're there.
Chipping on modern sports cars is a fact of life. Low ride heights, eco friendly paints, more crap on the roads. One alternative is to get the car covered in protecting film, but you can't get single pieces big enough for a V8's bonnet yet, and I hate the joins you get with film.
Cars with front mudguards have less chipping. 100 quid or so option and you don't really notice they're there.
Chipping on modern sports cars is a fact of life. Low ride heights, eco friendly paints, more crap on the roads. One alternative is to get the car covered in protecting film, but you can't get single pieces big enough for a V8's bonnet yet, and I hate the joins you get with film.
Murph7355 said:
More or less.
Chipping on modern sports cars is a fact of life. Low ride heights, eco friendly paints, more crap on the roads. One alternative is to get the car covered in protecting film, but you can't get single pieces big enough for a V8's bonnet yet, and I hate the joins you get with film.
Yep, the joins attract polish etc and look grot, the overall finish is never quite as good as shiney 'bare' paintwork and of course, the film itself still suffers from stone damage etc over time and eventually, IMO, ends up looking as bad as chipped paint anyway. Sure you know that your paint underneath is still perfect but what's the good of that if you can't see it - the only person who gains is the next owner. Personally I put up with a few chips. You can always have the nose resprayed - probably to a better standard than the original - every so often if you really feel the need. Nearly every secondhand Ferrari, Porsche etc that you see in main dealers will have this done anyway - it's pretty much standard procedure. I was quoted £600 for the nose of my F430 and would rather spend that once a year than stick clingfilm all over it! It's like those silly nose muff things on the front of old Beetles - great, so your paintwork is perfect but you can't SEE it! Chipping on modern sports cars is a fact of life. Low ride heights, eco friendly paints, more crap on the roads. One alternative is to get the car covered in protecting film, but you can't get single pieces big enough for a V8's bonnet yet, and I hate the joins you get with film.
I bought my V8 18 months ago, and at 6K miles the rear arches were already peppered, above the film, so I had the mudflaps fitted to help with that.
Ive noticed on newer cars, maybe 07s or later, that the film goes higher up on the arches to the swage line, so catching all the chips...not sure whether this is factory std or if my dealer were doing this to all their cars after complaints etc.
As for the front - I went with what Pugsey says above, some paint every couple of years will do just fine, and most dealers expect it anyway if you trade in. But to be honest, my 30K mile car isnt looking any worse than the day I bought it
I have had film on my other cars, my Elise in particular was black too, with white undercoat, and after 3 months and trackdays looked white instead of black, so film was a necessity, given the useage and softness of the paint, and it worked great - car always looked like new for 6 years, until you got close and saw the film
On the Vantage I reckon its worthwhile having the rear arches done, but only after a re-spray, as that seems like the most vulnerable area, even more so than the front, or of course, the mud flaps fitting .
Ive noticed on newer cars, maybe 07s or later, that the film goes higher up on the arches to the swage line, so catching all the chips...not sure whether this is factory std or if my dealer were doing this to all their cars after complaints etc.
As for the front - I went with what Pugsey says above, some paint every couple of years will do just fine, and most dealers expect it anyway if you trade in. But to be honest, my 30K mile car isnt looking any worse than the day I bought it
I have had film on my other cars, my Elise in particular was black too, with white undercoat, and after 3 months and trackdays looked white instead of black, so film was a necessity, given the useage and softness of the paint, and it worked great - car always looked like new for 6 years, until you got close and saw the filmOn the Vantage I reckon its worthwhile having the rear arches done, but only after a re-spray, as that seems like the most vulnerable area, even more so than the front, or of course, the mud flaps fitting .
Not sure whether I would have laughed or cried!Luckyluciano said:
I got a quote to have the rear arches sprayed, £3500!!
I take it thats from a dealer at their £150 ph labour rates? I know a guy back where I used to live who is a RR trained sprayer who would do mine for less than half that...and who I will entrust with it, should I need itLuckyluciano said:
What I was told is that to blend it in properly they would have to spray most of the rear quarter including blending it half way round the pillar and blend into the front doors. Not only that but the chrome pieces around the windows are nearly a grand for both sides.
what and youd need new chrome pieces too? ! LOLYou can get a real nice full respray, done to factory levels of perfection, by ex-factory dudes for about £3.5-4K up North ..they really were taking the piss, or had labour rates 3x everywhere else...mmm...in fact yes, £50 ph at a Northern specialist, £150 at a London AM dealer....
yeah, i spoke to 2 stratstone dealers up north (derby, cheshire) and they gave a (very) rough quote for £1500 max for all retouches to rear arches, front bumper. obviously this was my description of the damage but they said going on their experience, that's what they'd expect to charge.
lafcadio said:
yeah, i spoke to 2 stratstone dealers up north (derby, cheshire) and they gave a (very) rough quote for £1500 max for all retouches to rear arches, front bumper. obviously this was my description of the damage but they said going on their experience, that's what they'd expect to charge.
thats more like it, and what Id expect for the arches and front end, blended in, to Aston standards ...not that bad when you consider a full armourfend kit fitted could be £700-800
Talking of stone chips, Summer dressing!
Can someone tell me what the point is. Half the roads round my way have had tons of gravel dumped on them in the last 4 weeks. Some sections of gravel are just 200 metres long then they stop, what's the point. There's me trying to keep to the recommended 5mph and you get looneys coming the other way at 60 not to mention the idiots who think 5mph is far too slow and over-take showering me in gravel on the way past. Ah! Better out than in...
Steve, Onyx V8
Can someone tell me what the point is. Half the roads round my way have had tons of gravel dumped on them in the last 4 weeks. Some sections of gravel are just 200 metres long then they stop, what's the point. There's me trying to keep to the recommended 5mph and you get looneys coming the other way at 60 not to mention the idiots who think 5mph is far too slow and over-take showering me in gravel on the way past. Ah! Better out than in...
Steve, Onyx V8
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