Low cars + big kerbs = missing paint :(

[5speedTE]

Hi guys

The other week I was in a hi-rise car park in the city (Perth). Going in was fine as the entry was smooth but when leaving I was approaching the exit and could see a rather steep drop to the road. I have a full T3 TE50 look-alike it’s been lowered and has about 8-9cm of ground clearance from the lowest points of the front bumper, I couldn’t do a thing so I went very slow and scraped the bottom of my front bumper pretty bad.

I just got her back from the paint shop and I don’t ever want it to happen again.

I was just wondering if anyone else here has the same problem, I know most will but how can we prevent it from damaging our cars?


Any suggestions??

All I could think of is to make a guard out of sheet metal (very thin) cut it to shape and mount it to the edges of the bumper. This would be out of site of course hopefully just helping to stop nasty scraps.


Jason

[BTTB]

The only thing I can suggest is traverse the dip diagonally next time... sometimes it makes all the difference.

[jimt3te50]

mate- I've given up worrying about it any more to be honest- just resigned myself to getting it re-painted every 18 months or so......

You can get quite a thick vinyl (almost like a textured plastic) which is exactly for this kind of thing and that's what I'm going to do (one day!)

I'm not reckless with it, of course, but it's the price you pay for having a great looking/handling car- there are compromises unfortunately and the sooner you come to terms with it the happier you are going to be! lol Sorry mate- the only comfort I can give you is I understand.........

Good luck with it and if you find a way to stop it, make sure I'm the first you tell! hahaha

[HOTC2R]

Pretty much said it all in a nutshell there Jim

[5speedTE]

Yeah, reversing is an option but when your in a tight little car park there is no room to turn around. I asked the attendent if i could go out the entry....his reply "NO!! i wont lift the boomgate...use the exit...your car, your problem" It was so dead quiet that day it would have taken 5 seconds but he couldnt be bothered.

grrrrr

[HOTC2R]

Look around for another car park if you use this one regularly. it is something that you will get used to over time. As previous mention, go diagonally the same as you would do over speed humps etc.

[blackers10]

hehe you have problems..
look for hte video "topgear garage getaway" or somthin
they try to drive a zhona .. a ford gt40(new version) and a ferrari out of a french carpark.. they have to lay out pieces of wood and remove part of hte zhondas front bumper to get out of the carpark..

[AWD Chaser]

You could make a moulded lip for the bottom of your car out of fibre glass... but then you would still have to get that painted, but you could remove it for the shows... and you wouldn't have to paint it with any thing special - Australian Export $2.50 spray stuff.... plus your cars grey.. easy to find a matching grey undercoat... easy touchup etc...

[Pedro]

I've got a 6 week old F6 and despite trying to be carefull I've scraped it 3 times already. I've decided to accept that it's inevitable and not loose any sleep over it.
I know the scrape marks are under there, but no one else does.

[notty1978]

oh well its only paint

[clontarf_x]

It's a pain in the ***. Even my AU3 XR6 VCT ST scrapes, and it has bloody 18's!. s me right off every time I hear it. From the front it doesn't look too bad, just some sandblasting and a bit of paint from the pods, but once you look underneath it would make a car painter cry :/

Looking at getting whole body resprayed in Sparkling Gold

[MNM96]

Tell me about it! :

[BJMXR]

Blackers 10... your right, that topgear video is great... i just thought id put up a link. Dont even consider bothering if you have dail up connection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeX4o...search=topgear

[AWD Chaser]

Originally Posted by MNM96

Tell me about it! :

Nice, just not my taste....