Originally Posted by gatherer47

to the two people who basically said "no big deal" that's NOT the point

I took he OP as just venting a little, so made my own obsevstions from my experience. Did not mean to “no big deal” his concerns. I think we get the point. But it is moot. It is impossible to be sure you will never get a ding. That “should” be possible and people “should” be honest and fess up and pay for their mistakes, but it just doesn’t always happen.

[howiethehook]

My mustang received a very visible ding that upset me terribly. After reading this blog, I contacted Brice Kelly. He repaired the car today. He is amazing, almost a magician. He restored the door, luster and the result is perfect! Highly recommend. He is reliable, reasonable and cheaper than a psychiatrist!

[Number 10 GI]

If you have a small ding with no paint damage the repair will be cheap but if there is paint damage $800 - $1,000 sounds typical to me. We had a jerk ding our door, dented and paint damage, and I was quoted $800 for repair. Our other car suffered a small dent over the rear wheel and it cost $850 for the repair. You can't just paint the ding spot and get it to match the rest of the paint, the body man will have to blend the paint over the entire door so you don't see the difference between the new paint and old.

[mtdjed]

While I sympathize with you and agree, I have learned from experience that my new car is my total responsibility.

In this demolition derby world, when you buy a new car, you have to assume the risk. There are parents with kids, contractors, bad drivers, stones and litter on the road etc. All will be available to make your new car have patina just like all of the others. You cannot control the actions of others.

So it is up to you to protect the new car. That is called risk mitigation. You wouldn't drive it deliberately into an Ocala national forest trail, unless you were an avid Geocacher. I was and while doing that chose not to buy a new car.

Parking in a public lot is kind of like a forest. You have no control over what happens after you park. And I would not expect some harried mother in a ten year old van, whose kid just dinged the next door car, to go into the stores seeking the owner of the new car that was just dinged. At best , I would hope that she would say "you should be more careful".

So, be as defensive as you can. Did you add sidestrips on the car to protect the finish from inadvertent door openings? How about door edge guards on your doors. Park in areas away from other cars. Look for spaces near curbs where you can protect one side and minimize damage to other side by staying as far from parking line as possible. You are the one with the gold chariot. Don't expect others to worry about your chariot. They may have more pressing thoughts on their mind. Also, if you squeeze your car into a tight space and the owner of the neighboring car comes out to find that he has to be a contortionist to get into his car, you might expect to see some marring to your finish. Finally, be smart enough to not have political stickers on your car.

Good luck

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by theruizs

What is a clunker? Anything under $100,000? There are very few actual clunkers in the villages. The OP’s ding was likely not caused by one. And if it was just a ding, he way overpaid to fix it.

A clunker? Anything except MB and BMW according to MB and BMW owners