[Woods]

Hi there,

I have a new creta and would like to know accessories that can be used to protect your new car from.

1. Accidental rear bumping from other motorists mainly bikers.

2. Scratches using the key

3. Underbelly scratching and rust protection.

[Artyom]

Originally Posted by Woods

Hi there,

I have a new creta and would like to know accessories that can be used to protect your new car from.

1. Accidental rear bumping from other motorists mainly bikers.

2. Scratches using the key

3. Underbelly scratching and rust protection.

1&2) PPF will save you from scratches where ever you apply it.Saving from dents is impossible and would require a repair.Installing guard rails is illegal now.

3)Underbody rubber coating will prevent rust and scratches.

[GTO]

- Invest in a good car cover for protection while parked. You'll be surprised at how many scratches happen in the parking spot.

- Park in a safe(r) spot.

- Drive safe . In India, you have to be a defensive driver.

- End of the day, don't sweat too much over scratches. Enjoy the pleasure of driving + the joy of car ownership instead .

[RedTerrano]

From my personal experience over the years I have realized

1. Dents and scratches are a given in India
2. Protective coatings/treatments will protect only till a certain extent
3. You feel anxious and apprehensive only till the first scratch
4. After the first scratch, you are like Meh.

Treat the scratches as battle scars. Build stories around them, just for fun and mental peace.
e.g. My first ever car was scratched by a bicycle rider on the very first day. I gave him a long chase, through notorious Pune traffic, over bridges, through narrow lanes, zig zagging between slow moving traffic, laying down rubber all over the turns (think Bullit). I finally managed to nab him (after managing to avoid a banana seller squatting on the foot path by a mere whisker).
Then I proceeded to deflate both his tyres and confiscated the values.
The lovely lass who had watched me screech to a halt, get out of the car, and pounce on the culprit ogled at me wide eyed. Eventually, she asked me, what's your name?
I replied, Terrano. Red Terrano.
Then I drove away triumphantly.

Moral of the story, be realistic in your understandable protective attitude.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by Woods

Hi there, I have a new creta and would like to know accessories that can be used to protect your new car from.

Hi, please go through these threads too, they might have some useful info for you:

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modif...h-remover.html (Car Scratch Remover)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modif...ur-car-15.html (Small, yet value-adding Accessories for your car)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techn...guide-734.html (A superb Car cleaning, polishing & detailing guide)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modif...ver-india.html (The Importance of a Car Cover in India)

[Mortis]

For underbody coating I would suggest a wax based coating like Dinitrol or similar with a cavity wax for internal panels.
Tests have shown that they protect the car from rust better than the rubberized coatings whiy could actually speed up rusting if water gets under it.
Wax coatings need reapplication every 2-3 years or so but are worth it even though they don't offer the bonus sound reduction of rubber coatings. Ideally opt for this if you live in a coastal area especially.

[Pferdestarke]

Originally Posted by Woods

I have a new creta and would like to know accessories that can be used to protect your new car from.

Your best bet is paint protection film (PPF) but be advised most films develop a yellowish hue over time which becomes glaringly visible over white paint.

Also, considering the cost of PPF, it is not prudent to get it all over the car. I recommend it for areas prone to scratches like bumper corners, door edges, handle cups, etc.

Also, as GTO suggested invest in a good body cover like TPH which comes with a paint friendly microfiber lining.

[sumeethaldankar]

Car cover is good protection against natural debris like falling leaves, dust and bird droppings but the downside is the swirls while you will get on the paint after repeated use. A paint protection application first and then usage cover might be able to solve the swirl issue.

Edit: I have the TPH cover on my car and post a year the swirls have come. I have Aqua guard for my Swift.

[Aravind_M92]

I would say to get a good covered parking for your car. Away from harsh sun. Avoid washing your car often. Get the underbody rubber coating done. Get your car belly cleaned every 6 months to lookout for any rust or damage.
I don’t believe in those PPFs or ceramic coatings! They’re simply too overpriced and don’t last long. Rather I would say drive for 5 years. Let her take all the abuse and get her repainted! I drive a City, the quoted price for PPF was 85k and whole body repaint from the Honda service centre was 96k. I would rather prefer the later. A good Local Garage will get the same paint job done for 40-45k! And you can monitor the process too!
So here’s my opinion
Don’t worry about small dings and scratches.
Replace bumpers under insurance if you need to
Avoid using hard water and coarse clothes to clean your car
Don’t get the PPF or ceramic coats or the vinyl wraps
Wax your car every fortnight
Park your car under shade (Away from too much sun and too much moisture)
Use shades while being parked to avoid you interiors becoming dull. Keep them polished

Good luck!

[iamitp]

Originally Posted by GTO

- Invest in a good car cover for protection while parked

Originally Posted by Pferdestarke

Also, as GTO suggested invest in a good body cover like TPH which comes with a paint friendly microfiber lining.

Originally Posted by sumeethaldankar

Edit: I have the TPH cover on my car and post a year the swirls have come. I have Aqua guard for my Swift.

What's the consensus on car covers (ones with microfibre lining)? Will they end up causing scratches/swirls during the process of covering/removal?

[mooza]

Worry not.

I simply used Team BHP stickers, as and when the scratches occured.

So just save up the fixing of all stickers and corner protectors till the scratches occur

Attachment 1542666[/quote]

Attachment 2010211[/quote]

TBHP sticker above the front wheel in my Xylo, and bumper corner protector in my Kwid were installed over freshly received scratches, as seen in the above attachments !

[Pferdestarke]

Originally Posted by sumeethaldankar

I have the TPH cover on my car and post a year the swirls have come. I have Aqua guard for my Swift.

Swirls are inevitable. Every time you touch your paint with a dry surface, you're introducing a scratch, atleast a microscopic one.

Covers offer protection from environmental elements. But if not used properly they can leave lots of swirls.

Originally Posted by Aravind_M92

A good Local Garage will get the same paint job done for 40-45k! And you can monitor the process too!

Yes, of course but does it even come closer to a factory baked paint?

Originally Posted by iamitp

What's the consensus on car covers (ones with microfibre lining)? Will they end up causing scratches/swirls during the process of covering/removal?

Premium covers with microfiber lining prevent deep scratches but if applied on a dusty car you'd end up having swirls.

Always use a duster like Jopasu/California or do quick wipe with waterless wash before covering the car

[Stribog]

Get your doors and the bonnet PPF'd, I have it on all my cars and honestly it is worth it.

Scratches by bikes and auto rickshaw drivers which would have necessitated full panel repainting simply come off thanks to its self healing properties. Just yesterday in my office park someone had tried to key my car, and only a tiny strip of ppf had been torn, I will get it patched up (in this case for free but would cost not even a 1000 bucks)

For underbody, I strongly recommend the 3m underbody rubber treatment. It cuts down noise, helps protect against sharp rocks etc and also against rust.

[McLaren Rulez]

While this doesn't hold for all "protective" items, many of these damage the car in the first place in order to protect it.

For example, door edge guards or rubber strips along the car must be glued on. If you ever take it off, the paint under it certainly will not be as good as new. I'm not sure about PPF but I am curious if someone has experience on how the paint looks after a few years under a PPF layer.

For the underbody, simply let it be. Bangalore is dry enough that cars won't rust as much and the odd scrape over a speed breaker is only cosmetic damage (which is also invisible!) and not worth "protecting" against.

Bumpers do take a lot of abuse but it's probably cheaper to simply repaint the bumper every few years than bother with protecting it.

[Sahil]

Originally Posted by McLaren Rulez

I'm not sure about PPF but I am curious if someone has experience on how the paint looks after a few years under a PPF layer.

PPFs are great and only got better with time. The self healing ones from Llumar and Xpel leave you tension free for years against swirl marks, minor scratches and shine. Its almost a no maintenance method to keep your looking paint looking brand new for a decade or so. They have a long warranty period.

However, this was not the case a few years ago. I had 3m PPF on my S-class and after 4 years i removed it as there was discolouration and since there was no self healing properties in that old film, the swirls etc were prominent.

Going forward any luxury car I get, especially if in a dark color will get a full car wrap on the day of delivery. I did it for my F-pace which is now approx 10 months old and there isnt a single swirls mark or shine reduced on that car yet.