Stone chips on bonnet on new 997

[baron bashoneov]

I have had the car four weeks, after my return
from Le Mans the bonnet is peppered with stone chips
I took it very easy in the camp sites and think
most of the damage was done on the trip to and from.
Any one else had the same issue? and is a respray the
only remmedy?

[delbox]

See my thread about 'Paintshield'.

Del

[Vesuvius 996]

Stable door, horse

[slippydiff]

What colour is the car ? If you're REALLY finnicky then yes a respray is the only answer.
Personally I'd say if you want your bonnet to look perfect all the time I'd leave the car in the garage and get a taxi, train, bus or an everyday car (delete as appropriate)
Otherwise just use the car as it was intended.
Having owned a "garage queen " 993 RS, I swore I'd never own a similar car again.
My GT3s paintwork was practically perfect when I purchased it 3 months ago, within two weeks of taking delivery I went out on a "spirited drive" with six or seven other like minded owners from the Rennlist Forum.
I followed a 965 3.6 Turbo around all afternoon (the one with the massive 18" Speedline split rims) it kicked up a veritable hail of stones (one of which put a small crack in the screen)
Suffice to say the front of my car has now "lost its virginity" and I now feel at liberty to use the car as it was intended
Stop being a wuss and enjoy your car !!!

[Geneve]

Paint chips on the leading edges are part of the traditional Porsche 'patina'.

[Vesuvius 996]

Since mine got a few chips I find I can enjoy it more.

You just KNOW that if you respray the nose then you'll get another bl00dy big chip on the way home.

[Vr6-er]

Front end Resprays are for the dealer to carry our before he resells it. Dont worry about it.

If there are any that particularly annoy you, get a Mr Dent type company to touch it up.

[w1how]

I have a 997 carrera s with around 5000 miles on it an have noticed that it seems to attract stone chips more than any other car I have owned.At first I thought it was the way the previous driver had driven it but it now seems that it is normal wear and tear

[baron bashoneov]

slippydiff said:

What colour is the car ? If you're REALLY finnicky then yes a respray is the only answer.
Personally I'd say if you want your bonnet to look perfect all the time I'd leave the car in the garage and get a taxi, train, bus or an everyday car (delete as appropriate)
Otherwise just use the car as it was intended.
Having owned a "garage queen " 993 RS, I swore I'd never own a similar car again.
My GT3s paintwork was practically perfect when I purchased it 3 months ago, within two weeks of taking delivery I went out on a "spirited drive" with six or seven other like minded owners from the Rennlist Forum.
I followed a 965 3.6 Turbo around all afternoon (the one with the massive 18" Speedline split rims) it kicked up a veritable hail of stones (one of which put a small crack in the screen)
Suffice to say the front of my car has now "lost its virginity" and I now feel at liberty to use the car as it was intended
Stop being a wuss and enjoy your car !!!

Point taken - having zymolled it before Le Mans I thought the paint might hold out for a little longer - how wrong I was

[Davey S2]

baron bashoneov said:

slippydiff said:

What colour is the car ? If you're REALLY finnicky then yes a respray is the only answer.
Personally I'd say if you want your bonnet to look perfect all the time I'd leave the car in the garage and get a taxi, train, bus or an everyday car (delete as appropriate)
Otherwise just use the car as it was intended.
Having owned a "garage queen " 993 RS, I swore I'd never own a similar car again.
My GT3s paintwork was practically perfect when I purchased it 3 months ago, within two weeks of taking delivery I went out on a "spirited drive" with six or seven other like minded owners from the Rennlist Forum.
I followed a 965 3.6 Turbo around all afternoon (the one with the massive 18" Speedline split rims) it kicked up a veritable hail of stones (one of which put a small crack in the screen)
Suffice to say the front of my car has now "lost its virginity" and I now feel at liberty to use the car as it was intended
Stop being a wuss and enjoy your car !!!

Point taken - having zymolled it before Le Mans I thought the paint might hold out for a little longer - how wrong I was

Zymol wont do a thing to stop stone chips.

You either have to put on paint protection film or learn to live with them.

[clorenzen]

I had the front bumper of my 996 resprayed once and it was around 250 pounds so I would not worry too much about stone chips.

[simonharrod911]

My three week old 997 got peppered while chasing my mate in his F355. I'll never forget the drive, soon forgot about the chips. What do you want, fun or perfect paint? No one else will see the chips unless they wash it anyway.

[Geneve]

My wife and her friends assure me that a 'cool' car, like a cool bloke, looks a bit rough around the edges.

And I can agree with that. If I see a perfectly polished, unmarked Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini etc, I automatically think the owner is probably a bit of a ponce. But when I see one with a few stone chips, dead flies, brake dust and a patina of use, I'm always a lot more impressed.

[baron bashoneov]

Geneve said:

My wife and her friends assure me that a 'cool' car, like a cool bloke, looks a bit rough around the edges.

And I can agree with that. If I see a perfectly polished, unmarked Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini etc, I automatically think the owner is probably a bit of a ponce. But when I see one with a few stone chips, dead flies, brake dust and a patina of use, I'm always a lot more impressed.

Well,I am certainly rough, mostly all over rather than just the edges and the
car is well on it's way.

Edited by baron bashoneov on Thursday 29th June 10:44

[gpm3d]

I know the feeling! Last year - 1st March 05, brand new 977S. Cobalt Blue. Picked up first stone chip approx 2/3 up the bonnet on day 1 Without filming the complete front end, you're bol..xed.
Graham

[delbox]

As I said, see my thread on 'Paintshield'!

[dealmaker]

In my humble opinion the switch to water based paints has had a massive effect on the durability of the paint finish on modern cars - I remember my ealry 911SC's and 964's never needing ANY touching up! But my 997's and my Lambo have had paint like bloody toffee in comparison!

Blame Brussels!!!

[delbox]

Absolutely; bring back spirit based paints!! I hear that the EU may also legislate about the composition of clearcoats too!

[aceparts_com]

Didn't Porsche himself say that stone chips were a badge of honour? My car looks like it's been blasted with a shotgun so i use that colour matching wax which effectively 'touches up' as you buff.

Seems pointless to have the car painted only to go out and do it all again.

[delbox]

I can understand the desire to preserve a used patina on a classic Porsche; perhaps one with a racing pedigree. However, telling a dealer or other prospective buyer that stone chips are to be accepted is less acceptable these days. Respraying is an answer - but not one that is cost-effective; whats happens when you get a chip on newly resprayed paintwork on the way home from the bodyshop? Film protection is the only answer - not least because it protects the original paint, but also because it is warranted and can be replaced without adversely affecting the paint.

Edited by delbox on Friday 30th June 15:53