Scratches and Chips - Errr! Don't care anymore!
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 337
From: Denton, Texas
It could be a lot worse!
All cars get chipped, scratched, dinged.
However, I've been really lucky. I had 2 door dings that got on my nerves. I just had them removed (for free I might add) and you can't tell they were even there.
I had X-pel installed on my Fit (hood, bumper, lip, headlights, foglights, mirrors, etc.) They all still look pristine. But if I had it to do over, I would have put X-pel over the entire hood. It is a rock magnet and the Honda paint chips too easily.
I have cleaned and done touch-up on the chips, but they look crappy to me. Even X-pel can get gouged by the bigger, sharper rocks that hit at the right angle.
And then there's nothing you can do about the windshield. It gets pitted and chipped after thousands of miles and the only thing you can do is replace it.
Just enjoy your Fits while they're new. When they get old and beaten up, you'll baby your new Honda (CR-Z, S2000, Fit or whatever).
All cars get chipped, scratched, dinged.
However, I've been really lucky. I had 2 door dings that got on my nerves. I just had them removed (for free I might add) and you can't tell they were even there.
I had X-pel installed on my Fit (hood, bumper, lip, headlights, foglights, mirrors, etc.) They all still look pristine. But if I had it to do over, I would have put X-pel over the entire hood. It is a rock magnet and the Honda paint chips too easily.
I have cleaned and done touch-up on the chips, but they look crappy to me. Even X-pel can get gouged by the bigger, sharper rocks that hit at the right angle. And then there's nothing you can do about the windshield. It gets pitted and chipped after thousands of miles and the only thing you can do is replace it.
Just enjoy your Fits while they're new. When they get old and beaten up, you'll baby your new Honda (CR-Z, S2000, Fit or whatever).
Not to get off topic, but how well do these protectant sheets work? How do they look? Are they noticeable? I was pretty lucky in that I really only had the pits and scratches on the hood and bumper after 35,000 miles.
X-Pel, ClearBra & other films
I assume they all do what they're advertised to. I have X-Pel and my neighbor has ClearBra on his $70,000 Porsche. They are essentially transparent. You can't even see them unless you get up really close to the car to see the line.
As far as care goes, my X-Pel installer told me to wash and wax it just like the car's factory finish. You can pretty much treat it as if it weren't there.
One thing I do notice when washing the car: bugs, bird crap and road tar come off the X-Pel much easier than the paint. Those things can actually damage your paint if they're on it too long.
Nothing is perfect though. There are a few surfaces on the X-Pel that is "nicked" by a rock that hit and skidded on the surface. Still, it doesn't damage nearly as easily as the paint does If I were to remove the protectant film now, the paint would look as good as when new (except for some minor fading from UV light).
Someone that spends HER life on FitFreak.net
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,963
From: Houston TX
This thread was freaking me out a little bit...well, a lot...I want to have a new car that still looks new and doesn't chip and scratch after just a few months of ownership...but the last post about this x-pel has reassured me a little...god bless people who think of these things...
I was really leaning toward the stinking Rav4 until I checked its mileage again...the stupid thing gets only 19 mpg in the city! That's ridiculous, my 13-year-old Camry gets about 23-24!
Now, I've swung back the other way toward the Fit again. I feel like I'm bipolar.
I was really leaning toward the stinking Rav4 until I checked its mileage again...the stupid thing gets only 19 mpg in the city! That's ridiculous, my 13-year-old Camry gets about 23-24!
Now, I've swung back the other way toward the Fit again. I feel like I'm bipolar.
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