Is anyone's car in pristine condition?

[bob m]

Like most here, I'm a hobbyist detailer. I keep my car as clean as reasonably possible and even carrY a portable car vac in my trunk when I go away on trips with friends. Coatings done for paint protection. PPF on entire front on vehicle.
When I take my car to work in NYC, I almost never park on the street and schmooze the guys in the parking garage to give my car some extra care. Park way to the back of the parking lots when shopping.

So when giving my (only 4 month old) car a wipe down after a wash yesterday, I noticed two small pings (one pic shown) in the rear bumper!!! I know, I know it's inevitable, but sometimes make me question, why I'm spending all this time (well I do enjoy it) trying to keep the car in as pristine condition as possible when if my car is out of the driveway, its condition is up for grabs. I mean, I ain't losing sleep over it, but annoying nonetheless. I guess I may just add a small trailer hitch to protect the back bumper, but sometimes I'm reminded of what my friend's mother mentioned to him many years ago - "the car belongs to the street."


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[PaulMys]

Yeah, if it is your daily driver, you are gonna get some "pings". As careful as I am, I have found 2 "door dings" since I have owned my truck from careless morons that don't have any respect. (Thank God for PDR guys!)

Unless you have a garage queen that only goes on short trips on the best of days, in is inevitable.

 

[bob m]

Yeah, if it is your daily driver, you are gonna get some "pings". As careful as I am, I have found 2 "door dings" since I have owned my truck from careless morons that don't have any respect. (Thank God for PDR guys!)

Unless you have a garage queen that only goes on short trips on the best of days, in is inevitable.

Yes and no on the daily driver. I usually take mass transit to work, so it really isn't a daily driver. But it sure isn't a garage queen either. I would almost consider one of the rear bumper protectors like this one:
Parking Armor - Rear Bumper Guards, Car Bumper Guards but it's probably inconvenient to use and probably gonna end up scratching the bumper or at least inducing tons of swirls.

Actually on second thought, it just may be inevitable. I spent over 2k to have PPF applied to the whole front end of my car, only to have a stone hit the door with the ensuing dent.
But I may consider that bumper hitch.

 

[PaulMys]

Yes and no on the daily driver. I usually take mass transit to work, so it really isn't a daily driver. But it sure isn't a garage queen either. I would almost consider one of the rear bumper protectors like this one:
Parking Armor - Rear Bumper Guards, Car Bumper Guards but it's probably inconvenient to use and probably gonna end up scratching the bumper or at least inducing tons of swirls.

Actually on second thought, it just may be inevitable. I spent over 2k to have PPF applied to the whole front end of my car, only to have a stone hit the door with the ensuing dent.
But I may consider that bumper hitch.

If you drive into the City, and use the parking garages, every day you drive it counts as 6. Lol

 

[MisterSnoop]

Park way to the back of the parking lots when shopping.

I did that weekend before last. Went into a store and a thunderstorm started when I was inside. I came out to a cart next to my car and this. Estimate was $900. If I had parked in between other cars, it probably would have been fine.

 

[John U]

MisterSnoop..... That's a shame!

I had the same thing happen to a rental car. I took a piece of baseboard off the hotel floor to use as a prybar. I pulled the door panel loose and massaged it to where I passed "check-in".

 

[John U]

bob m,

I still remember my first new car. I was a territory salesman driving in a multistate territory. I still remember the chips and how they hurt as much as they do today 35 yrs later.

I "try" to cover up my road "rash" with the shinniest paint and cleanest wheel/tires on the block. My daily driver has 250,000 miles on it and is cleaner then the new cars on the lot (the service techs tell me).
I get the most satisfaction when friends are visiting and comment when riding how clean my minivan is and did I get a new one? "Nope, same old junker, has 250K on it now" is my reply

 

[FUNX650]

•I realize there may be different interpretations
for the definitive definition of ”pristine”;

-But, IMO:
If a person would actually take the time to look
close enough, they’d discover that not even brand
new vehicles, straight from the factory, are ever in
what I consider to be “pristine” condition.

At least I’ve never come across any.



Bob

 

[hoyt66]

I do my best to keep my vehicles pretty squared away. I also try to strategically park and take the "best" roads when possible. Cars are always vulnerable but to me it's worth keeping them tidy because I am rewarded everyday I get in and drive. And if I can't rub out a scratch or pdr a ding well then they will be waxed the same as the rest of the car. The old adage applies here "don't worry about what you can't control"

 

[LEDetailing]

•I realize there may be different interpretations
for the definitive definition of ”pristine”;

-But, IMO:
If a person would actually take the time to look
close enough, they’d discover that not even brand
new vehicles, straight from the factory, are ever in
what I consider to be “pristine” condition.

At least I’ve never come across any.



Bob

100% agreed!

Too many human hands touching it, a lot of time spent in open air. I would bet some hyper expensive luxury/exotics leave the factory pristine. Even those eventually make into the hands of at least one person who is flippant about paint/vehicle car.

 

[bob m]

I did that weekend before last. Went into a store and a thunderstorm started when I was inside. I came out to a cart next to my car and this. Estimate was $900. If I had parked in between other cars, it probably would have been fine.

Ouch, sorry to hear; that really stinks. I guess that's too deep for one of those "Dent Doctors." But this brings up another pet peeve I have and that is that most people are too damn lazy, oblivious and inconsiderate to bring the shopping carts back to where they belong, leaving them strewn around the lot. So someone's laziness just cost you $900.00, plus the time and aggravation to get it repaired.

 

[Bill D]

I park so far away that I have to leave the cart out but I always leave it on a parking lot island so it doesn’t roll into traffic or a car.

 

[PA DETAILER]

I do my best to keep it pristine. After my detail this weekend, a neighbor came by to check out the underwasher. He made the comment the truck looks better than new. In reality they don't stay new long. If it's a DD it's going to be exposed to every element and hazard know to man. The best you can do is keep it the best you can. It's going to pick up goobers, nicks, flaws etc. Your fighting a losing battle. I was pleased not to find more damage after that PA winter. They are meant to be driven and enjoyed.

The only way i know to keep it pristine is buy it new, park it in a garage, and NEVER drive it.

 

[Bill D]

Or put very little mileage on it. I won’t comment about the mileage on mine

 

[MisterSnoop]

Ouch, sorry to hear; that really stinks. I guess that's too deep for one of those "Dent Doctors." But this brings up another pet peeve I have and that is that most people are too damn lazy, oblivious and inconsiderate to bring the shopping carts back to where they belong, leaving them strewn around the lot. So someone's laziness just cost you $900.00, plus the time and aggravation to get it repaired.

Yeah, huge pet peeve of mine as well. Strangely enough, the cart was from a grocery store 1/4 mi away from where I was parked. The lower dent definitely needs to be repainted so I went thru insurance. I'm out the $500 deductible, which still sucks.

 

[Desertnate]

The only way i know to keep it pristine is buy it new, park it in a garage, and NEVER drive it.

Agree, but then is it really a car or just a piece or art. If I have a fun car, I'm going to drive it because it's fun. That's the whole reason it was built. If I have a more utilitarian car, like the family hauler, I'm going to drive the wheels off it in order to meet my needs. I'm a firm believer in having a vehicle and actually using it/driving it.

I believe the simple act of driving and enjoying a vehicle means you'll subject it to the environment and damage might occur. That's OK. Fix the best you can, and keep driving.

Like most here, I'll keep mine in the best shape I can. However, I'll fully admit there are times it isn't perfect...like right now. Between spring rains, pollen, a brutal work load, and family responsibilities, my car is pretty dirty inside and out. I think I have some snow removal swirls I'll need to polish out too. It happens and that's life. In a week or two I'll give it a little TLC and everything will be fine again.

 

[Bill D]

I saw a nice "Vette and Mustang parked real far away on Sunday. I gave them the thumbs up but I don't think they were Autogeeks.

 

[bob m]

•I realize there may be different interpretations
for the definitive definition of ”pristine”;

-But, IMO:
If a person would actually take the time to look
close enough, they’d discover that not even brand
new vehicles, straight from the factory, are ever in
what I consider to be “pristine” condition.

At least I’ve never come across any.



Bob

Bob,

I wasn't referring to pristine in the true, literal meaning of the word, but the term was used to denote that the paint was free of scratches not easily removed and pings and dings. It is simply an inevitable fact of owning a car that these will appear in time. I guess I was a might miffed as the car is only 4 months old with only 1700 miles driven.

 

[Bill D]

It's true that ( sad to some) my cars seem to get waxed a lot more than they're driven but that's just how I am. I work from home and only drive to run errands so very little mileage. I'm even delaying new tires til next year during the dry season of course.

I do religiously maintain my parents' cars which get driven normally. They are in rather nice condition.

 

[bob m]

I do my best to keep it pristine. After my detail this weekend, a neighbor came by to check out the underwasher. He made the comment the truck looks better than new. In reality they don't stay new long. If it's a DD it's going to be exposed to every element and hazard know to man. The best you can do is keep it the best you can. It's going to pick up goobers, nicks, flaws etc. Your fighting a losing battle. I was pleased not to find more damage after that PA winter. They are meant to be driven and enjoyed.

The only way i know to keep it pristine is buy it new, park it in a garage, and NEVER drive it.

I hear you on all that and I am in agreement. If you drive your car, you should expect it. But I wanna be the one doing the "damage" as I did a few years back on my new 2017 Allroad when I dragged my plastic garbage can a little too closely and put a noticeable scratch on the door.

It the ones due to other drivers' fault that is more aggravating. Like the time when my dopey "landscaper" was doing fall cleanup with a gas powered leaf blower when I wasn't home and between the loose sand, twigs and pebbles did enough damage that the whole side of the car had to be repainted and when I went to trade in that car I lost about 2K of value due to the "repair." Or about 5 years ago, awaiting an entrance onto the parkway was rear ended by a young lady obviously not paying attention. And last but not least in my 1 month old 2017 A4, on a beautiful Sunday morning, sitting at a light, not another car in sight and I get rear ended once again but a very totally distracted woman.
Damn, all these happened on my Audis - 2 Q5's and an Allroad!

Again, no sleep lost but as I told that lady who banged my Allroad, "I guess you can't have anything nice anymore."