Best way to fix scratches??

The only correct way to eliminate deep scratches is to sand and respray the area. $$$ and not DIY for sure.

Now, being a cheap person, sometimes I try to fill the grove/spot with touch up paint, but results are less than pleasing as one invariably puts too much paint and it's very hard to remove the excess. I'm still working on the technique and will let you know when I perfect it.

 

If you go a DIY route take a look at paintscratch.com - they will custom mix the color based on your VIN and you can get base coat, clear coat and primer. Given the size of your scratches you might want to spring for the spray can. That allows you to feather in the new paint. It is not as good as a body shop, but is still darned good and way less. The trick to using spray paint is to apply a few thin coats- too much paint will make a huge mess. If you have not used spray paint before get a can or two of regular spray paint at Home Depot and practice on cardboard boxes to get the feel.

 

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Auto Detailing 101 - Auto Geek Online Auto Detailing Forum

 

ScratchWizard vs. Dr Colorchip (Big Red Versin) | ScratchWizard: Fix Deep Car Scratches

 

It also depends on your color.
As an example A red could be A a flat red coat then clear. Or it could be a coat of that same flat red then a mix a pearlescent and red then clear. You would be hard pressed to match the latter.
Go to where the auto body guys shop. They can mix a jar or make an aerosol can. They also have mini q tips. Don't use a regular q tip or the brush in the touch up jar. You can also use a sharp toothpick. Fine layers. Build it up. You can try to clear coat it with an aerosol can. BUT ask what type to use so you don't set off a chemical reaction or it doesn't stick. Paint doesn't stick to wax! Good luck. Take your time. Read!

 

Have you used this product? It looks pretty good, I just might put in an order!

 

No I haven't but have recommended it to a friend who has a Barcelona Red Prius that someone deliberately scratched with a shopping cart. I have agreed to assist him with the repairs to the scratches, should he get the kit. If it works or not, I will report back here. The kit runs about $42 less shipping and includes special matching paint that has been slightly thinned so it doesn't go on "lumpy". You might have to have a bit of an "artist's" hand to do a good job of it, but it sure beats taking the car to a body shop for a complete fender repainting.

Again, this depends on you...could you live with a repair you did yourself? Is the scratch in an area that is very visible especially if you were to sell your car?

 

Wow, that's a bad one! I was hoping to see just a straight line scratch but it looks like someone did a zig-zag on it. My friend's car has a horizontal scratch from a shopping cart.
The kit says it has a special filler that you apply to the deepened area and then later you wipe off the excess with a solution they supply so there should be no need for sanding. Once the scratched area is leveled, you apply the special thinned paint "artistically" and the scratch should be greatly diminished. I don't know about yours though - it's pretty bad.

 

A good body shop can repair and feather that out into the existing paint. The price you were quoted is about right. I'm really sorry to see that. It looks like some kid scribbled on your car... It's hard to contemplate how that even happened.

 

Now that I think about it, someone must have been leaning on your car with something in their pocket and just scratched the heck out of it! But, how could they not feel what they were doing?!?

 

Before you spend all that $300 for the paint repair, buy the specific toyota color touch-up paint ($5 walmart, slightly higher at car part places) and use the paint pan side to fill the defect. If it looks better, great. If it looks worse, you can still have it repainted or you can buy $7 acrylic lacquer thinner on Amazon, remove the touch-up paint and start from scratch (pardon the pun).