How much is too much to pay...

[Tillmanator]

Hi folks,

I was wondering something the other day when my car got its latest rock chip/ding.

How much do you guys think is too much to pay for a daily driver that you know, no matter how careful and obsessive you are, it's going to get dinged and chipped and other small damage done to it?

I've had my mustang now for a little over two years and while it still looks great (I detailed the heck out of it today!) it has MANY dings and parking lot injuries and rock chips and all that stuff a daily driver has to endure. And I'm glad that I paid less than $25,000 for it. I would be killed if I was driving some really expensive car and this was happening.

So how much is too much to pay for a car that gets this kind of abuse? My limit is $25,000. Any thing more and I couldn't use it as a daily driver. Too heartbreaking and annoying...

[Nick Chapman]

Re: How much is too much to pay...

Get what you want and get a 3m clear bra installed as soon as you buy it. Protects the front of the car

[guitarman502]

Re: How much is too much to pay...

i paid 23,700 for my truck used and it kills me to get rock chips and everything in it.

[03mach1]

Re: How much is too much to pay...

Yeah 3M makes a clear bra that goes over the front Fascia and all the Exotic car manufactures put them on. They are noticable but not bad. They do a great job. I am thinking of getting one put on if I repaint my Mustang.

[roushstage2]

Re: How much is too much to pay...

My car lives in nature, so to speak. I have painstakingly learned to deal with it. Makes me super sad though when I see these pictures on here

[sdprius858]

Re: How much is too much to pay...

My Prius has about 5600 miles on it, and already have 3 chips in front bumper, 1 on hood and 1 on passenger side fender. Might have them painted and then put on a Clear Bra on 1/4 of the hood, bumper, fenders, and mirrors

[BlueZero]

Re: How much is too much to pay...

My Silverado SS had a $45k sticker but I bought it a year old so didn't pay that much. I was always worried about it. A lot factors into what your income is too I wouldn't think. I had the truck but couldn't afford a house or much else. Now that I bought a house and sold the truck I have my Jeep. I don't worry much about it and it's sort of nice that way. Look at it this way, your car still looks better than 99% of the cars on the road.

[Superior_Details]

Re: How much is too much to pay...

get what you want and buy the optional force field...LOL

[Mort Corey]

Re: How much is too much to pay...

My daily driver has only gotten one small chip in its beak (which I touched up painstakenly over a four week period...OCD) and a small door ding from some moron in a parking lot. The door ding, I called one of the paintless dent removal guys and was amazed at the results......zero trace of the ding and only $75 and they come to you. The car is 2 1/2 years old and had a sticker price of near $50K when I bought it new. It looks better today than when I drove it off the lot.

Mort

[new2detailing]

Re: How much is too much to pay...

I have a dedicated commuter car that I bought at a firesale price. I bought it with 20k on the odometer and it currently has 150k on it. Despite my detailing efforts, the hood is the victim of dozens of chips. It is noticeable to me but my coworkers cannot believe that my car is now 7 years old as the paint is clean, glossy and swirl free. I personally buy used for a commuter car and will not pay more than $15k for any car.

[TRWRacing]

Re: How much is too much to pay...

Thankfully no dents on my daily driver: 2006 Monte Carlo but it does not get driven far as it has 11,700 miles.

It did receive 1 ding at work that was caught on video. Security provided the footage and I made the visitor/offender pay the $175.00 paintless dent removal charge. I park real far away now and don't mind the walk in the parking lot. It actually bothers my co-workers that I park so far away but my car looks and smells like new and I strive to keep it that way.

[VonLego]

Re: How much is too much to pay...

I purchased my car 7 years old... I have to live with scratches....

But it sure will be shiney and swirl free!! I vouch for the long walk method!