Factory scratches... (pics)

[Y2K5SRT]

As I finally got settled down to really detail the SRT this past weekend, I have found that the new Viper has a LOT of factory swirl marks and even two sets of IDENTICAL scratches on the front fenders (opposite sides). I am guessing that either they have some sort of hoist that positions the fenders in place for assembly or that there is something else which slides over the fenders during the assembly process. Notice that besides the two obvious side-to-side "claw marks" (about three inches long), there is also a faint scratch leading away from the inside towards the front edge of the fender - on both sides:

<font color="red"> Driver Side </font>

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<font color="red"> Passenger Side </font>

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I have tried a couple coats of Z-5 but you can still see everything, including the buff marks. I am very far from being even a semiprofessional when it comes to polishing, so I am going to try and locate a topnotch shop here in KC to get the factory finish looking like my GTS did when I took delivery. Oh, and remember the problem with closing the door when the windows are down? No place to really push it shut, unlike the outside door "handle" on Gen II's. Result after letting various people sit in your car for a little while?

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Ugh. I would be interested to know if anybody else has these scratches. I think they can be polished out, but they sure do show on black cars. They are located on the top of the fenders parallel to the back of the hood vents on either side. Sigh...

Chris

 

[Frank 03SRT]

Chris, I have successfully used Mequiar's No. 2 polish many times. If you can't hear or feel a click when you run your fingernail across the scratch, Mequiar's will take it out without going through the clear. I've even taken out "clicking" scratches which didn't go through the clear.

Take a clean cotton cloth, use No. 2, and rub away a bit, buff it off, look for progress, rub again, and so on. It really works.

I looked on my car and can't see any damage like yours.

 

[ElDiablo Viper]

Chris, I have successfully used Mequiar's No. 2 polish many times. If you can't hear or feel a click when you run your fingernail across the scratch, Mequiar's will take it out without going through the clear. I've even taken out "clicking" scratches which didn't go through the clear.

Take a clean cotton cloth, use No. 2, and rub away a bit, buff it off, look for progress, rub again, and so on. It really works.

I looked on my car and can't see any damage like yours.

I also bought Mequiars eletric buffer, it works very wel on my black truck.

 

[VNMOUS]

Chris,

Any luck getting those scratches out? I have a few scratches on mine, not in the same place though. I used Meguires Scratch X with only marginal results.

Austin

 

[Y2K10 SRT#39]

I have had good luck on my Mustang Cobra (also Black) with www.groitsgarage.com products.
Power buffer on a black car, and no swirl marks at all.
Might be worth a look.

 

[BACKNBLACK]

Chris,

I have a blk GTS and I'm a detail freak. It's never ending with blk. You can be the best at it and the car can be pampered but when that car leaves the garrage, thats it..You get dust attraction and you can see basically everything..Don't ever put it under a flct.light, you will flip out!!! In MHO, Zaino is good, but not to good for a black car. I would go with either Mquires or Mothers. I would have those scratches prof sanded out and then glazed and waxed. Try first a nice 3M product. They make a great glaze...If you do buff car with machine, tell them to use sponge on buffer so it wont remove alot of clear coat from car.

 

[wiseasp]

I am glad I am not the only one. Back on Jan 6th I picked up my car and my friend, brother and I put it in an enclosed trailer and off we went . We drove 5 hours home and put her in the garage. A few days went by admiring the car and THEN I saw it . A 10 inch long scratch on the drivers side hood above the hood vent. I FLIPPED. I could not believe none of us saw this scratch. I tried a few products, but you can still see it. You can feel it with your finger nail, but when you look down at it all you see is red, no base coat coming through. I am waiting to for the weather to break and I will take it to a pro to see what can be done. I could not believe it. It might be my fault because I did not have the dealer wash or detail the car because I was afraid they would scratch it. So it was not perfectly clean and I am sure the dealer did not see it.

ROB