I just noticed today, that the front hood of my brand new cayman has several scratches! On my way to work Friday I heard something like pebble hit the car. . .didn’t think much of it at time since it was raining. Today I walk up to it notice something like a dead mosquito and try to scratch it and notice its actually a few deep scratches. It looks like rock hit it on highway. It’s all the way down to the metal. It seems like its starting to rust. I assume the only fix would be to go into dealer and see if they have those little bottles of touch up- sucks. I am upset considering it only has 1000 miles so far, but I guess it could be a lot worse. . .like what happened to KmanS last week. It’s about 4 inches above Porsche emblem (Meteor Grey). .urh! Any other suggestions

Sorry to hear, that stinks. You're right, though; an elk would be a lot worse!!

Given how new your car is, I'd have it fixed the right way, then have the clear bra installed!

Agree... clear bra is a great protector. But I think your hood is aluminum so it isn't rust you're seeing.... maybe mosquito guts....or perhaps the paints undercoat??

__________________
Cold Croc
38 years of continuous Porsche ownership

Ride History
1966-1969 ---- 1961 Rambler Classic (Sorry)
1969-1970 ---- 1969 Mustang Mach I (Engine lasted 49K mi... swore I'd never buy another American car)
1970-1972 ---- 1964 356C - Rust Bucket
1972-1976 ---- 1972 914 - Ball Buster
1976-1977 ---- 1973 911T - Was I crazy?
1977-2007 ---- 1963 356SC 306K mi
2001-2003 ---- 1984 911 SC Targa - For my son
2000-2005 ---- 1997 Ferrari 355-F Brain Fart
2007- ???? ---- 2007 Cayman S
2008 ---------- 2008 Audi R8 - Delivery late spring '08

What’s the right way to fix it: full hood paint? I guess I will take it in tomorrow morning before work and see what they suggest. Images here

Attached Thumbnails

   

The exact same thing happened to my car! Within 1 week of owning it I had two scratches on the hood, down to the metal.

What did you do about it ISBM?

Just yesterday I was driving on Loop 101 in the west Phoenix Metro when a big Rock delivery truck came onto the highway. He hit one of the expansion joints and dumped a load of small rock chips all over the road several of which hit the front of my CS. While the clearbra saved me from most of them, three hit beyond the clearbra line and chipped paint down all the way to the metal. Nothing I could do. I tried to get away from him as I always do with these types of vehicles but was boxed in. This despite the requirement for these types of vehicles to be covered and he was but it doesn't matter, they are always streaming stuff behind them and they are on the freeways here by the dozen. You can not go 10 miles without being behind at least 5 or 6 of them due to the never ending large amounts of both road, business and even residential construction and landscaping. And then, our state, in their infinite wisdom, lines all of the highways with rocks for landscaping which often get kicked up onto the road. It's unbelievably frustrating. I guess I should paint it and clearbra the whole front half of the car.

BTW, its not unusual to replace one windshield per car here every year too.

__________________
___
EJP
E.J.'s Cayman S Gallery

I too received a 12" deep scratch in the rear fender with 1200 miles on it.
Some jerk must have hit it while it was parked on the street for 15 min.
No choice - getting it professionally painted for about $800 next week.
Maybe if it was a bit older I would try the touch up paint, but not at this young age!

Agreed, touch up paint looks like hell. I looked at a black Ferrari 355 not long ago, and the previous owner had used touch up on the front where there were some rock dings. It looked like gooey tar.

I think you can probably find a professional who can touch it up and make it look seamless. The touch up in a bottle...not a good idea!

I have not found a good solution yet. Touch-up paint is not an option because it looks horrible. Eventually I will have it professionally repaired.

I had the same experience lately, driving behind a rock truck and a paving truck........as soon as I saw them, I went into the far right lane, and waited until they were far out of sight. These trucks are everywhere, it seems!

There is a company called Chips Away that comes to you, computer matches the paint and does an airbrush job - after which you can go the clear bra route. Of corse, should you ever remove the bra, the repair may need to be redone.

The cost of Chips Away should be much less expensive than an entire refinish of the hood.

There may be a Chips Away in your area.

__________________
*******************************
The search tool is your friend. It is very
likely that your question has already been
answered countless times.Very,very likely.
*******************************
*******************************
Cayman S - a portable amusement park

- 2006 Cayman S
- 2003 Dakota SXT
- 1963 Studebaker Avanti, R2, 4-Speed
*******************************

LL

well, my car sustained several DEEP rock chip on my drive back to dealership for clear bra installation. OUCH!

My dealer was nice enough to have those rock chips repainted prior to clear bra installation (free!). They brought in a paint specialist to color match the factory paint. The repair is not perfect, but it's hardly noticeable.

I would recommend checking with your local dealer or body shops to fix your scratch.

__________________

Just buy some touch-up paint from the dealer and then touch it up using either a tooth pick or a very fine paint brush. Don't try to do it all in one sitting though. You need to build it up by using about three thin coats with a day in between each coat. It will look fine - seriously. Then after a month or two, buff it carefully with some rubbing or polishing compound. Or you could try using Langka, but I never had much success with it.

The only way to avoid these things is to not drive the car.

__________________

2007 Cayman - Guards Red - Eibach Springs
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++