I was the victim of someone scratching the rear door on the left side. I can feel with it with my fingernail. Is it best to have a pro fix it come Spring time? WI is very cold at this time of the year. I have a '15 Pearl White Persona. iPhone ?
Since I can feel it with my fingernail what would be a do it yourself technique that may conceal the scratch without going to a professional? iPhone ?
That sucks man. Was it intentional? I.e. Vandalism? A shop might be able to wetsand and clear coat it? Worth stopping by a couple places and ask thier opinion.
Thanks buddy. I have read about a few things on the market that can conceal scratches. I'm just not sure how good they are. iPhone ?
The scratches might be too deep but you could try a high quality rubbing compound followed by a polishing compound...
Don't take it personally. Vandals damage targets of opportunity. A DIY job can fill in the scratch but I'd be very surprised if you'll be able to match the paint. In some or most light the scratch is going to be visible. I'd get a professional opinion from the body shop? Did the scratch go down to the metal just past the junction of the Y or is that where it didn't do down to the primer? If the car was 10 years old I'd vote for touching it up yourself at minimal expense but the car is too new so I'm voting to do it right so you won't be reminded of it every time you see that panel.
^ Plus 1. Bite the bullet and get a body shop to look at it. Up here that'd be called a "comprehensive" claim, a catch-all for vandalism, hit-and-run. Your picture's so close it's hard to tell the scope, how close it it to adjacent panel/seams. Depending on how far it is from a border, they may be able to blend it within that panel, but more likely they'll need to extend to adjacent panel. And yeah, it's a royal pain when it happens.
There are "scratch removal" products down any major stores automotive care aisle. Meguiars is good. Don't know if they would work to your satisfaction. However, if you plan to have it professionally fixed this spring, I suppose trying one wouldn't really hurt. If you're happy with the results? Then issue solved. If you're unhappy? Well they'll be repainting the whole area anyway.
Polish or scratch remover products will aid in reducing the appearance of those scratches but sorry to say you will not buy anything that will make them unnoticeable without repainting the area. Whoever did it went deep enough that it isn't easily polished away... Because a bottle/tube of scratch remover is cheap and it is good to have on hand anyway, I say buy it and try it. If you're ok with the scratches being visually reduced but not gone, you're done. If not, you are only out a few bucks.
I look at this way. I am coming from an suv where in 5 years I would have spent $10k of gas. Nobody can really get us Prius owners that good. iPhone ?
If you truly feel this was done out of hate, I strongly suggest you don't do the professional/permanent repair now. The person might do it again if he sees your Prius is nice and pretty again. I would diy with some touch-up now to prevent salt/moister, then do a better repair later.
I would take it to a body shop and have them fix it. I don't think the vandalism occurred just because it is a Prius. There are just a lot of evil people now that does evil things. I have a 2014 Avalon and some jerk just twisted the back-up camera and broke it off. Fortunately it was a clean break and I was able to position it perfectly and set it in place with BONDO. I think some people are just jealous when they see a nice car and they just have to do something bad to it.
I can relate and feel for you. One day on my 05 Prius I came out from shopping and someone had broken my side mirror clean off with it hanging from the power wires. The next day at Toyota and $400. later it was professionally repaired. I wish I had caught whomever did this. Definitely get a number of estimates. Do not stop at just one. Good luck
