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New car already key scratched
Old 12-20-2014, 04:26 PM   #1
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New car already key scratched

I bought a new car and after ~3 weeks it already has a deep key scratch on a door

As I remember it was the case about 4 years ago when I bought a previous car.

Two issues that actually bother me:

- if I saw that happening, even tho it's not a big deal, I am not sure I'd be able not to react to it and that most likely would not be too moment

- I was told by my friend that in our area (San Francisco) there are *special* people who enjoy doing this.

Wondering what's other people experience on this issue and how actually you can try to prevent/report it if possible at all?
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Old 12-20-2014, 04:33 PM   #2
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Was this at your house..maybe it's a neighbor. Is it a fancy car.....people are starting to get testy (not an excuse, just needs to be planned for).

I had an employee key my vehicle once (and give it a flat tire also). I couldn't prove anything. The stupid thing is it was in the year 2000 and was a 1979 Ford F150, full of rusty scratches. It took a while to realize it had been keyed. What kind of nut keys a vehicle that it won't even be noticed on?

I wouldn't get it repaired.
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Old 12-20-2014, 04:35 PM   #3
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IMHO:

(1) If you stumble across a stranger vandalizing your car, stay away, out of sight if possible. Try to note anything that would help you identify him/her later. Important: don't get knifed or shot grabbing someone you don't know. It isn't worth it.

(2) I hear ya and I sympathize. I actually dread buying a new car here in Chicago for just these kind of reasons.

(3) It's a shame, but it is what it is these days.

My last big scratch was from a grandma with a shopping cart. A wheel got stuck in a depression in the asphalt, she shoved and OUCH!, right into my passenger side, rear, quarter panel. She looked frightened and didn't know what to say. I just smiled, offered to help, took the cart, asked her to lead me to her nearby car, unloaded the groceries into her trunk (obviously Thanksgiving) and reminded her that since the grocery has let the lot get so torn up, they will send someone to your car with you to handle the cart pushing and unloading. She thanked me profusely. I'd guess she was 75 and of very slight build.

Later, on my way home, I cussed. That made it a little better. It's hard to hold in a cuss.
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Old 12-20-2014, 04:42 PM   #4
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Sorry to hear about that. I've had good luck with this product for scratches on my car. You can buy it on Amazon. NOVUS Plastic Polish
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Old 12-20-2014, 04:50 PM   #5
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Sorry to hear about that. I've had good luck with this product for scratches on my car. You can buy it on Amazon. NOVUS Plastic Polish
I use that on the poly bubble windows on my camper and like it.

There are also some waxes that contain a color pigment and enough "body" to somewhat fill a scratch. It isn't permanent, of course, but you're just trying to make yourself happy until the car gets enough other door dings, scratches, bumps and grinds that this first scratch hardly crossses your mind anymore.
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Old 12-20-2014, 05:45 PM   #6
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That sucks, seems there are many jealous people that can't stand someone else having something nice. I'd give Scratch X a try.
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Old 12-20-2014, 06:45 PM   #7
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Somehow, someway, the offenders life will suck or continue to suck really bad.

I'm a big believer in karma.
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Old 12-20-2014, 07:04 PM   #8
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Most vehicles today use a base coat/clear coat paint system. Depending on the spite level of the offender, they may have just scratched into the clear coat. If so, rubbing/polishing compound can do an amazing job of eliminating the damage.
My recently acquired Honda CR-V was heavily scratched around all the door locks from the previous owners weaponized key chain. About 30min with the compound cleared it right up.
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Old 12-20-2014, 07:21 PM   #9
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I have had a few deep scratches on my car, mostly in parking garages. I went to Toyota and got a vial of matching paint (using the VIN number they were able to get the exact match). Applied thinly, it looks fine if you don't pay too close attention.
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Old 12-20-2014, 07:39 PM   #10
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I don't care any more. My current car is my first new car and I saw we had a scratch and told the wife, hey our first door check. People are too cool to buy minivans with sliding doors and allow their asshole kids to kick SUV doors open into your car. We bought my wife a new car and she ran it into so many things you just have to get over it. As long as there are other people in this world they are going to rain on you parade. Choose to spend you OCD elsewhere.
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Old 12-20-2014, 08:06 PM   #11
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That is terrible there are people who do that without actually hating you for some reason. I can understand if they were trying to get revenge, but to just do it to a stranger is a step away from killing puppies and kittens. Next step is serial killer.

Really bugs me extra amount, because I'm thinking of buying a new car myself.
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Old 12-20-2014, 08:24 PM   #12
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This is the reason I park so far out (of course, wouldn't stop puerile from keying the car). My almost 5 year old car has very few scratches on it since I stay away from the ruthless kid carriers!

Sent from my mobile device so please excuse grammatical errors.
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Old 12-20-2014, 08:54 PM   #13
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I usually just scratch my new car myself, to get it out of the way...


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Old 12-21-2014, 05:18 AM   #14
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Youbet said: "I'd guess she was 75 and of very slight build. Later, on my way home, I cussed. That made it a little better. It's hard to hold in a cuss."

Many years ago, when I lived in the States, on the East Coast, I bought my first ever brand new car. Went to a shopping mall with my friends and came back to the car after 30 minutes to find a deep key scratch on the hood! Nice, so I had to look at it all the time while driving. In the car I screamed "damnit, I work for a living". My friends won't ever let me forget it. So, long after selling the car, and the physical scratch is out of my life, the virtual scratch remains in get togethers with my friends, after a beer or two. Alas...

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Old 12-21-2014, 05:53 AM   #15
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I had a new car a few years back and was trying to protect it from damage as long as possible before the first damage. my wife took the grandaughters to a shopping mall and bang the neighbor car slammed it's door into the door of my car. I think door ding not so bad, the next week went to the baseball tournament at the local community center where the grandaughters were playing. bang a foul ball went over the fence and landed dead on the roof of my car, leaving a big hale type dent. from now on no worries for me whatever happens will happen and you can't stop. it.
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Old 12-21-2014, 07:20 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bjorn2bwild View Post
Most vehicles today use a base coat/clear coat paint system. Depending on the spite level of the offender, they may have just scratched into the clear coat. If so, rubbing/polishing compound can do an amazing job of eliminating the damage.
My recently acquired Honda CR-V was heavily scratched around all the door locks from the previous owners weaponized key chain. About 30min with the compound cleared it right up.
I've used rubbing compound, worked well. Careful you don't go into the paint.

Mine was done by the neighbor. He didn't like me parking my beat up truck legally on the street in front of his house. So he sprayed painted our almost new car. All came off with rubbing compound. Good thing, I had no legal proof he did it other than him yelling at me, "hey kid, get off my street".

It really is sad folks do that.

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Old 12-21-2014, 08:06 AM   #17
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Intentional acts of vandalism should be met with a good public flogging to restore civility... And no I do not live in Saudi Arabia. These kind of things bother me and it is one of the reasons I can not bring myself to ever buying a brand new vehicle.


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Old 12-21-2014, 10:05 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wanaberetiree View Post
I bought a new car and after ~3 weeks it already has a deep key scratch on a door

As I remember it was the case about 4 years ago when I bought a previous car.

Two issues that actually bother me:

- if I saw that happening, even tho it's not a big deal, I am not sure I'd be able not to react to it and that most likely would not be too moment

- I was told by my friend that in our area (San Francisco) there are *special* people who enjoy doing this.

Wondering what's other people experience on this issue and how actually you can try to prevent/report it if possible at all?
If you ask the dealer nicely where you purchased the car they might be able to buff it out for you. Some dealers will do it for free if its still real new.

I bought a new Honda civic EX years ago and some drunk neighbor lady key scratched it because I parked the car in the spot she always parked in(I had just moved into a new APT.).

It wasn't assigned parking. I was mad but I couldn't prove to the police that she actually did it(Neighbors told me she did it). Fortunately it didn't cost me anything and the dealer completely fixed the scratch.
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Old 12-21-2014, 10:09 AM   #19
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I usually just scratch my new car myself, to get it out of the way...
I usually buy a car that is LBYM so that I don't have to pay attention to dents, and scratches. It also helps to park inside my garage.
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Old 12-21-2014, 10:35 AM   #20
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Originally Posted by heeyy_joe View Post
Somehow, someway, the offenders life will suck or continue to suck really bad.

I'm a big believer in karma.
My position as well !
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