[navin]

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

It's probably going to be "mis-matched" only when you examine it up close.

Nikhil, since you know all the locations of the damage you (or some extremely observant people) may be able to spot the difference better than "ordinary" people. My guess is 95% of your friends and relatives wont be.

Yeah I know you will know in your heart, but once it's done, let it go and enjoy the car.

[Sawyer]

Originally Posted by navin

once it's done, let it go and enjoy the car.

Absolutely; and it isn't as if when someone does it in your parking, when you know that someone aimed that act at you by proxy; this was completely random by someone that has no idea if you even exist.

[androdev]

Nikhil, try not to opt for repaint. It is not to save money. It is worth checking out other options before going for a repaint. Skoda sells touch up "paint pencils":
http://eshop.skoda-auto.com/cz/en/b2...ncil-hfbxxxxxx

If you can get the above and just fill the scratch lines, then polish, etc. it may just come out really well. Worth checking.

The problem with repaint is the shade mismatch under different light conditions and angles. It's not about money you are willing to spend. If you do go with repaint, I suggest the following tips:

1. Make sure paint job is not outsourced and the dealer has a decent setup
2. Find your Skoda paint code and understand what brand of paint is used at TAFE and their source of paint mix formula.
3. Skoda OEM uses Dupont Standox brand of paints. Visit the Standox website and find the paint formula for your paint code. They have a nice website for this.
4. Using that formula ask them to paint any scrapped car metal panel. Stick that panel on your car and compare the shade difference under different lighting conditions and angles.
5. You can also get in touch with some senior person at Standox India and ask them to suggest a good paint shop, etc.

All the best. My suggestion is to lower your bar and enjoy

[jalajprakash]

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

I doubt anyone else in the outside market can do a better job in terms of this. Do keep in mind that the paint in any bodyshop will be sprayed by hand compared to a factory where it's done robotically. Also, the paint used will be different. Maybe a different brand or whatever.

https://youtu.be/2BV0PMYfc3o

Do take a look at the video above. I can recommend you a few aftermarket places in Delhi that do the painting in a manner very similar to the video above but I'm not aware of such places for other cities. Even though using OEM paint codes, exact original paint can be sourced. If you're going to get a whole car repainted at the best quality possible, might I suggest you to try a slightly different color or slightly different shade of blue, maybe even a Porsche or Lamborghini color since the paint costs all the same and your vRS will become even more special!

[Nikhilb2008]

Originally Posted by androdev

Nikhil, try not to opt for repaint. It is not to save money. It is worth checking out other options before going for a repaint. Skoda sells touch up "paint pencils":
http://eshop.skoda-auto.com/cz/en/b2...ncil-hfbxxxxxx

If you can get the above and just fill the scratch lines, then polish, etc. it

All the best. My suggestion is to lower your bar and enjoy

Thanks a lot. Instead of lowering my bar, I would like to lift the service centre to my level!

1. Touch up paint sounds like a good idea but the scratch is very deep and I doubt it can be filled by this. A proper repaint is the best idea in my opinion and now that I've decided on it, I dont want to try anything else.

2. They use Axalta paints and they will mix the paint mixtures as per the norms specified by Skoda. The paint job is not oursourced and it's done in house. I had a look at their equipment and while I'm not impressed, it should be fine. I will try to get them to paint a sample panel and compare it to the car. That's a good idea.

3. They said they will get the person from Axalta to be present and help with the painting.

I have spoken to the VP, Mr Jose Thomas also and he has promised me the best possible job.

Originally Posted by jalajprakash

Do take a look at the video above. I can recommend you a few aftermarket places in Delhi that do the painting in a manner very similar to the video above but I'm not aware of such places for other cities. Even though using OEM paint codes, exact original paint can be sourced. If you're going to get a whole car repainted at the best quality possible, might I suggest you to try a slightly different color or slightly different shade of blue, maybe even a Porsche or Lamborghini color since the paint costs all the same and your vRS will become even more special!

Thanks. That's interesting, but I will not be repainting the entire car for now.

[Pacifier]

I hope you are now also considering installing a front/rear Dash cam with parking monitor enabled. It seems like it is a must now a days just so that we are prepared as much as we can for such henious acts.

[androdev]

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

Thanks a lot. Instead of lowering my bar, I would like to lift the service centre to my level!

Ha ha. Been there myself some 10 years ago. It was just too taxing even when I was young

They use Axalta paints...

Dupont paints division that owns Standox brand became Axalta company. The actual paint used is likely to be Standox itself (common among euro car brands).

[sudeepg]

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

3. They said they will get the person from Axalta to be present and help with the painting.

Glad to see you are going all out on fixing the paint job. It really shows how thorough you are and how much you care. The vRS is a lucky one to have found your home.

BTW, I didn't see any info around how they plan to "fill in" the deep scratches. Did you ask them about that?
My suspicions were confirmed once you said a 3-4mm depth of scratches! that's a lot!!!!!! surely a lot of pressure applied when scratching

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

So, as of now, we have accepted this arrangement.

I have got a letter from the hotel acknowledging that they have passed on a discount of Rs xxxxxxxxx in lieu of the damage caused to two vehicles and that they are accepting the balance payment after taking the discount into consideration..

While I am pleased to hear about the settlement, I am not happy to know that he psycho will get away. I am truly hoping that guy will get such scratches on his own body someday.
End of the day, we all have better lives, commitments and responsibilities. We have to be a little practical too! In good hands, the paint should be back to 90% or more of what it was before this incident.

Good luck Nikhil. Keep us posted on the outcome so that we all can have a closure to this incident.

[Ragavsr]

Really to sad to see the car being vandalised this bad but I am surprised the hotel compensated you for this considering most hotels mention its the liability of the guests.

Let me tell you a strange story of what happened to my car once.

A retard was constructing a house in a plot right opposite to my house. We had already had a few nasty arguments over him blocking the road by dumping construction materials.

I had parked my car only for a few minutes in front of my house 's boundary wall and this idiot had a tipper truck dump sand between my car and his boundary wall.

Considering the fact the street is quite narrow, the sand slid and covered the car upto 1 feet above the running boards. All I was offered was the idiot wiping the car after I moved the car by entering from the other door.

Was too tired of the retard to take it up with the police and the retard was a miser of epic proportions. Was lucky though that river sand being too soft didn't make more than a couple of really faint scratches.

[charan23]

Hi.These are the Registration detail of the Nissan Micra fellow.

[coriollis]

Originally Posted by charan23

Hi.These are the Registration detail of the Nissan Micra fellow.

Charan23 ! How did you get this information?


Nikhil, I am deeply saddened to know about your ordeal.

Please have a look at the chassis no and see for yourself how apt it is..

Cheers,

AB

PS: Mods, I couldn't stop myself from posting this. Please delete this if it is inappropriate.

[Nikhilb2008]

Thanks guys. We've had the details from day one. It wont help us.

I am posting this from TAFE's customer lounge.... my car is under the knife for now.

[charan23]

Originally Posted by coriollis

Charan23 ! How did you get this information?

hi. Its available on the AP vehicle Registration site.You can find out any AP registered car on the site.

[Nikhilb2008]

Spent the whole of today at the TAFE bodyshop.

Pictures are in order but I dont think I can explain every single image.

What is important to note is that most of the scratches are very deep. The scratches have gone through the paint completely and even scratched the bare metal. So, for any of you who thought some polishing and sanding could fix this, there's your answer.

Some observations:

1. The mechanics were in awe of the hood and the fantastic finish on the hood thanks to the detailing done by Sunny. The mechanics were feeling very bad that some psycho had scratched up such a beautiful car. They also saw my interest in getting it fixed to perfection and promised me that they would do their best on it.

They also explained a few things when I asked them. Soma, Mahendra and Anthony were the three guys who were mainly working on my car. They were quite helpful and happy to explain what they were doing.

2. The correct procedure was followed. They thoroughly wrapped the interior of my car in plastic to ensure no fine dust would spoil the seats. They also masked the undamaged areas of the car pretty well.

3. They did a test paint on a metal piece and held it up next to the hood to compare the shade. I feel it is almost perfect. I've attached a couple of images but dont go only by the images. In real life, they looked the same.

The top half of the below image is of the original paint on the hood and the bottom half is of a metal panel which was spray painted about 7 minutes before this image was taken. You can see, it's almost perfect.





4. A paint specialist from Standox (Axalta Coatings) was present and mixed the paint to ensure the shade is exactly the same.

5. The primer was applied today and that was it for today. The primer has to dry and then tomorrow they will sand the primer and the rest of the panel so that the entire panel has a similar dull flat finish.

6. They will then paint it and then apply clear coat. We have requested them to apply an extra layer of clear coat so that Sunny can have some extra margin when he sands, polishes and finishes the panel.

7. As of now, we have told them to just spray the paint, clear coat and let it dry. Not to wet sand it. We want the paint to dry for a few days before wet sanding. Sunny also feels he will have better control on the overall process if he were to sand it himself.

8. The two scratches above the passenger side front door have also been sanded down and primer applied. This is a bit of a risk..... What we plan to do is to apply paint only to that portion but then spray a layer of clear coat for the entire panel right across to the rear quarter panel. This way, the finish will be as good as possible.


This is how I left my car today when I left the workshop around 4:30 pm.


Other images attached below.

[mac187]

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

I will be getting it repainted for sure. Will discuss with TAFE and decide how to go about it.

Hi Nikhil,

It is clear you a very detail oriented when it comes to your VRS. Knowing this, I would caution you on blindly believing in TAFE doing a re-paint job up to your expectation. There are many factors you need to check

1. Dedicated paint booth
2. Dedicated painter, not some grease monkey pretending to be one.
3. Quality of their previous jobs.

I would suggest you look around for specialist painter who will match your expectations.

Edit: Looks great. Hope you get the best results.