Stone Chips and some Regrets

[Southwestdave]

One month into my first Aston ownership and I am always itching to take the car out on the road. It is an 07 in Onyx Black. So yesterday it was sunny and dry(ish) where I live. We set out heading towards North Devon. I was travelling along small A roads, which were getting progressively wetter and dirtier as we went north. It got so bad with stones and other rubbish we turned back.

When we got home after a 100 miles, the car was filthy. I cleaned it and to my horror saw countless small stone chips towards the bottom leading edge of the rear wheel arches, the part that starts to flare out just after the door finishes. Although I can’t believe they all came from this one drive, I have to say I have never noticed them before. The off side of the car being worse than the driver’s side.

I could cry and now regret taking the car out. I’m even thinking that I should never have bought it as it was a huge financial step for me. Perhaps I should have purchased something cheaper that I would not worry about in the same way I am with the Aston.

Are others seeing stone chips in the same place on your cars? Has anyone had to respray that area and what type of cost would I be looking at? Any thoughts or words of comfort?

[clorenzen]

My advice is not to worry. You pay attention to stone chips during the first weeks of ownership but after that it kind of moves to the background.

You can help the situation on the sills behind the frontwheel arches by fitting some mud gards but they don't look too smart.

These cars are made for driving so if you get chips its because you have used the car for its intended purpose. Yesterday was a glorious day for driving so to leave it in the garage would be a waste.

I had my front splitter and bumper resprayed on my DB9 after 5 years for 1500 pounds so it is not a major deal over that period of time. Enjoy.

[Shmee]

Mine has a protective film over that part of the car rear of the doors; I had assumed that was standard as it doesn't look great but wasn't listed on my options list.

I do however have a large chip on the bonnet that saddens me; absolutely nothing that can be done about that though.

[Southwestdave]

Thanks for the responses so far. Shmee, as you mention, my car also has that protective film, unfortunately a lot of the stone chips are above where that film finishes and I guess being black, the chips stand out more as the undercoat is a much lighter colour.

[Shmee]

Southwestdave said:

Thanks for the responses so far. Shmee, as you mention, my car also has that protective film, unfortunately a lot of the stone chips are above where that film finishes and I guess being black, the chips stand out more as the undercoat is a much lighter colour.

Oh dear, I know what's going to happen now though. Tonight I'll go and have a look and find a huge number of stone chips and start feeling very, very sad about it.

In the summer I'm planning a fair few drives across Europe so I think I'm going to have to put a wrap on the car to make sure the paintwork doesn't become too damaged. I do wonder how having a wrap works over the top of the protective film the Aston's have anyway.

[Southwestdave]

Shmee, my advice, don’t look, a case of ignorance is bliss.

Funny you should mention the European trips, that was one of the reasons I bought the car as I’ve booked to go on an organised driving holiday across Europe, taking in some of the great driving roads. At the current rate of paintwork degradation from just doing a few hundred miles since owning the car, the 2500 miles across Europe will mean the car needing a complete respray!! (a slight exaggeration, but I’m still upset )

[Good Soil (Pete)]

Hi,

I know the huge financial step etc etc but at the end of the day you bought the car to enjoy and it sounds like you are. It doesn't matter what car you have, the issue is just as annoying but it's the joy of motoring I'm afraid! Search the forums for touch up paint to make it not look so obvious and get out and enjoy driving it. No point having it and paying all that money for it unless you actually enjoy it and get out in it to drive it.....

Touch up the paint until it needs that section respraying. Do that in a few years when they are really bad....IMHO

[michael gould]

clorenzen said:

My advice is not to worry. You pay attention to stone chips during the first weeks of ownership but after that it kind of moves to the background.

You can help the situation on the sills behind the frontwheel arches by fitting some mud gards but they don't look too smart.

These cars are made for driving so if you get chips its because you have used the car for its intended purpose. Yesterday was a glorious day for driving so to leave it in the garage would be a waste.

I had my front splitter and bumper resprayed on my DB9 after 5 years for 1500 pounds so it is not a major deal over that period of time. Enjoy.

wise words......my DB9 is peppered with stone chips on the rear arches......its normal.......get on with enjoying your car

[MarsellusWallace]

Sounds like your car had a good polish with 'coloured wax'(ie colour magic)as part of its prep before you bought it.This hides a multitude of fine stone chips when applied a few times.

[Southwestdave]

I think you might be on to something there, I just can’t believe that I have done that much damage on one drive, even though the roads were in a bad way. Any idea what product they use (I will never be able to prove they have done it, so I guess I could at least try to tone the chips down, before resorting to a respray)

[michael gould]

Southwestdave said:

I think you might be on to something there, I just can’t believe that I have done that much damage on one drive, even though the roads were in a bad way. Any idea what product they use (I will never be able to prove they have done it, so I guess I could at least try to tone the chips down, before resorting to a respray)

its normal.....it will happen again and again.......enjoy the car, you wont feel half as bad when you really get a nasty knock or scatch

[V8V CG]

... and if you do have a re-spray, suggest you get the protective film fitted. It really works.

[Luckyluciano]

There are a couple of products you can use to help hide the road rash.
Poorboys Blackhole then use a dark colour charged wax over the top and that will hide most of it.
If you feel that isn't enough then I suggest you go to http://www.drcolorchip.com/ it is an excellent product
which is very good for road rash and small chips.

[355f]

Southwestdave said:

One month into my first Aston ownership and I am always itching to take the car out on the road. It is an 07 in Onyx Black. So yesterday it was sunny and dry(ish) where I live. We set out heading towards North Devon. I was travelling along small A roads, which were getting progressively wetter and dirtier as we went north. It got so bad with stones and other rubbish we turned back.

When we got home after a 100 miles, the car was filthy. I cleaned it and to my horror saw countless small stone chips towards the bottom leading edge of the rear wheel arches, the part that starts to flare out just after the door finishes. Although I can’t believe they all came from this one drive, I have to say I have never noticed them before. The off side of the car being worse than the driver’s side.

I could cry and now regret taking the car out. I’m even thinking that I should never have bought it as it was a huge financial step for me. Perhaps I should have purchased something cheaper that I would not worry about in the same way I am with the Aston.

Are others seeing stone chips in the same place on your cars? Has anyone had to respray that area and what type of cost would I be looking at? Any thoughts or words of comfort?

I had the factory stuff removed and Armourfend up to the swage line, that way you have full protection- no damage to my paint after 7 K miles

[Southwestdave]

Road rash is a much better way of putting it, it is more than a couple of stone chips, which I could live with. The only good thing right now is the car has to be tight up against the off side in the garage, which means I can't see the worst side

Have other people had road rash on their cars, is it the darker colour cars (Onyx Black) where is stands out?

Will start looking into some of the products being put forward (and thank you for the suggestions)

[bogie]

ie got a black car thats been on track and generally used

its peppered around the arches, front lower bumper etc

maybe I will treat it to some paint sometime and film ...should have had that from the start

these new water based paints are soft it seems...my old Lotus was the same

just enjoy it, use it, you can always tart it up before selling it on , so the next lucky buyer can have a mint garage queen

isnt it always the case, where we want to buy a mint car thats never been used properly...so we can use it...then worry about resale LOL

[Southwestdave]

You have hit the nail on the head, I was looking for a car in great condition, have paid through the nose for the right spec/condition/mileage. Have used it and now struggling to cope with seeing the wear and keep thinking about the money I have lost already in one month.

I think there is a life leason in here somewhere, but fear I would do the same thing all over again. DOH!!!

[bogie]

dont ever think too much about the depreciation...youd never buy a luxury car again, and certainly never a new car of any type

[DSLiverpool]

MarsellusWallace said:

Sounds like your car had a good polish with 'coloured wax'(ie colour magic)as part of its prep before you bought it.This hides a multitude of fine stone chips when applied a few times.

This is 100%, happened on a few of my cars bought used and its a shocker as you think "where did they come from" get the car detailed and waxed when the roads improve and it will look superb

[David W.]

Southwestdave said:

..............my car also has that protective film, unfortunately a lot of the stone chips are above where that film finishes

surely an indication of driving much to quickly

Edited by David W. on Monday 10th January 19:28