Brand new Yeti, tiny scratches...WWYD?

[Fougasse]

Just looking for some thoughts here, as we're genuinely flummoxed. Took delivery of our new car very recently, and noticed a few tiny scratches on the bonnet. They're very small but visible in certain lights. The dealer tried polishing them out with no success and one is detectable if you run a nail over it, so I guess is superficial but - well, definitely still there.

Should we be fussing over this? It is a brand new car but......would the promise of 'sorting it' (which was readily made) just mean we end up with a bonnet that's been tampered with in the body shop, rather than the factory finish we expected?

We didn't reject the car outright as it is such a tiny flaw, but there's still the niggling feeling that a pristine new car ought to be just that - pristine.

Or ought we to stop worrying about it on the grounds that it'll pick up a few chips and scratches before long anyway?

We're going round in circles trying to decide whether we're over- or under-reacting! Any advice?

[blueR36]

You will soon get scratches or chips on it, how about they give you an oil change service free or accessory vouchers, or a full tank of diesel in recompense

[JCP]

If you can see them -not as different colour but as the light strikes, and feel them with a nail it soundsas though they are within the clear top coat.

Let them sort it, if you can see them they will annoy you. A good body shop will use a little cutting compound-possibly with a "mop" and, if need be, blow a little lacquer over the area.

[Merlinman]

You'd be amazed how many bodyshops wet and dry paintwork, machine polish and re-lacquer to get an acceptable finish - if done properly it should be undetectable after repair.

Really depends how much it bugs you - otherwise take a free servce as compensation?

[Fougasse]

Thanks for the replies - I'm tempted to ask them to take it back and sort it out, if they can assure me that it won't compromise the lacquer and they can match everything colour-wise. Love the car as a whole, though!

[Chasmill]

I think it needs to be sorted, one day when you come to sell the car all you will see is those little scratches and if you've looked after everything else in the meantime it may lead to regrets. I speak from experience.

[4matt]

Had this with a new Citroen once, After having the car a few days a large scratch appeared on the bonnet even though the car had been in the garage since the drive home from the dealer. The car had been damaged in transport and the dealer used a sub contractor to fix it. They did not seal the repaint and the damage reapeared. I had not been told about the Damage and to cut a long story short I had the whole top layer removed and re laquered amazing result and never saw the scratch again.

[countryboy]

It is surprising how much can be taken out with just some wet flatting and machine polishing. We had some resin dropped on our cars in the work car park whilst some building work was done. They got an auto-detailer to come out and clay bar the resin off. I also got hime to come out to my place and do a proper job on the car and it looked 100% better for it. I used a company down here called "adautoshine". If you go on their website and check out the pictures of the Land Rover in the damage section you will see what can be taken out.

www.adautoshine.co.uk

[K6chris]

I went through this with a previous new car. Go out, take the car for a nice drive in the country and remind your self just how lucky you are if the biggest problem you have is a tiny scratch on a brand new car.

Chris

[HeffS]

You have bought a new car so I would be expect it to be as new, thats why you bought a new car! Second hand then fair enough, so get he dealer to sort pronto, chop,chop!

[Nightowl]

Depending how you intend to "treat" your car in normal use, try and get some compo from the dealer and then get a specialist like "gtech" to sort the scratches. believe me, when it comes to resale time you will be wishing they had been dealt with..Better still get the dealer to pay gtech's bill.....

[Fougasse]

OK, I think the general consensus is that the dealer *should* sort it out. Thanks all for helping me come to the decision I was probably leaning towards. Back it goes....!

[BillN_33]

I had a couple of marks on my boot on delivery - I was annoyed - the dealer had removed a sticker and gone thru the clear coat - very noticeable

I complained and they repainted the boot - can back as good as new!!!!

This was in France were (sometimes) they are not too worried about the odd dint/scratch or two

[aerostar24]

I have just posted a request for help in getting rid of scratches on wings of my 5 month old muscavado Yeti. I assumed the neighbours cats were to blame but not so sure now!, They seem almost to be spaced apart in regular intervals ! Will go and see dealer in Epsom.