[CarNerd]

Do you remember the story of Kisa Gotami? If yes, it's the same with cars. If Buddha were alive today and you asked this question to him, he would have told you that he could make all the scratches disappear if you could find a car which had no scratches! Forget cars, did you grow up without any cuts or bruises? It's all part of the game. Think that all the scratches and cuts are special just like you. They are customized just for your car. No other car with the same model/color is the same as yours. I'm sure with time you will realise that there are far bigger things to worry about than scratches.

[jkrishnakj]

It hurts and it pains, but don’t worry too much. These can be repaired.

You’ll very get used to the slopy Bangalore road and its traffic notoriety.

There was a place where I’ve had my dents removed and some painting done at a place near Hosur Road. Forgot it’s name. Will pm you. They do a super job.

[500ContyCruiser]

Here is story of my ex and beloved Skoda Rapid.

My car was well taken care off. Washed only in trusted service centers, regularly waxed / detailed and all... Protected it as much I could from all two wheeler scratches.
In 2015, I was shifting to my native as I had then got complete WFH job. All happy, household things already sent through M&P and I was about to leave Bangalore in my shiny car. Some reason I had to go back in the house to talk to owner one last time.
There comes the morning paper guy and parks his cycle next to car. Cycle falls on the car and metal carrier leaves a good scratch on left rear fender.
He gifted me something I could remember of Bangalore more!

These things happen. If the scratches and dents aren't that major, suggest you to live with it for now. Drive a little more in Bangalore traffic (as it will only increase from now on). Once you are more confident of your driving skills, you can get your car repainted.

[TrackDay]

Nothing to be worried about ! This is all part and parcel of the game. Ownership and driving a motor vehicle covers a huge spectrum of emotions. Besides driving, taking decisions on which roads to ply, where to park, anticipate danger etc. are all factors.

Damages can occur due to our fault as well as others. The emotion of getting a new car dented is a heavy feeling, but not to worry this too will pass. The best thing would be to check with others for a good FNG or body workshop where they can do paintings/rectifications at a fraction of the price.

[landcruiser123]

Driving in a crowded city comes with it's share of accidents. Learn to make peace with it.

Originally Posted by sen2693

Should have started with a second hand car. Am really worried if I should carry on driving or not.

Don't live in regret since you have bought the car, try practicing defensive driving, using your handbrake up slopes, etc.

Here's what I'd do:
1. Touch up critical dents. You don't want the car to start rusting.
2. Some major dents which can't cause rust can be left alone for a little while. Save up a little $$$ each month and get all the major dents repaired in a year or two.
3. Try some DIY solutions like a dent puller, rubbing compound etc wherever possible.

[Amrik Singh]

It is said

गिरते हैं शहसवार ही मैदान-ए-जंग में ..
वो तिफ़्ल क्या गिरेगा जो घुटनों के बल चले !!

And

मंजिल मिल ही जायेगी भटकते ही सही,
गुमराह तो वो है जो घर से निकले ही नहीं.

If you want to keep your Car brand new, only way is to keep it parked indoors. When on road, scratches and dents are the honours it has deserved and received.

True, the first hit the Car gets, is actually on the owners Heart. All subsequent ones are not be counted, but termed as "another one"

Happy and cheerful driving.
Mods : I am not breaking any rules by including Hindi Print in the post

[Raghu M]

As much as you hate the dents on your car, you can't ignore the fact that it is inevitable. I would curse myself for a small scratch or dent on my old car. I had to replace both bumpers for no fault of mine. Don't be depressed, it's part of the job. If I were you, I would not have bought a brand new car within 6 months of my driving. I would have waited for at least 2 years. The highway drives always look easy (they are dangerous than city though). You listened to your heart and took the plunge, do not regret it. I would suggest you keep driving in the by lanes of Bengaluru traffic. The slower you drive, the better driver you will become. Good luck.

[tilt]

Originally Posted by RavSam

*SNIP*

3. I was zooming down a ghat at reasonable speed (not fast) and a freaking tree twig protruded out of nowhere giving a long minor but visible scratch from the orvm to the rear door handle. *SNIP*

Yeah, pretty damned incosiderate and discourteous - those stupid tree twigs - protruding out suddenly without turning on their indicator!

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

*SNIP*

There was a place where I’ve had my dents removed and some painting done at a place near Hosur Road. Forgot it’s name. Will pm you. They do a super job.

Trend Automobiles is the place you're thinking of. Dinesh is the owner, good fellow. No shenanigans, does a good job, honest, does not overcharge etc. Phone number is *+91 99005 61111‬.

Cheers

[PetrolRider]

Originally Posted by sen2693

All was going well until this month I had to move to Bangalore.
...
pressure to clear the traffic light junction to avoid blocking other cars was stressing me out).
...
Should have started with a second hand car.
...
My SA advised me against going to the insurance again for this new dent as am only 2 months into the insurance period and if anything happens again in future in same period then i will be able to claim only 50% insurance.

Bro, thou shalt not cringe about scratches and dent when in Bangalore .
If you have a color that can match with some commercially available permanent marker, nothing like it. All you need to do is to reapply all area after each detailing session.

You need to learn to act like Buddha, roll up window, put on A/C and with a soothing song to calm your mind and not at all bothering about what other people expect of you. It is at the end your car that would get damaged; hence drive safe, follow the rule and most importantly keep cool.

After all, keeping the car in top-notch condition is one' own choice, does it really matter whether it is new or pre-owned? You would have felt similar pain for each scratch even for a pre-owned car if you have loved that car.

There are insurance add-ons that would allow you to claim multiple time in a year. Check with your insurance company.

Kids don't stop walking after they fall, so why afraid of driving after a mere scratch or dent.

[RavSam]

Originally Posted by tilt

Yeah, pretty damned incosiderate and discourteous - those stupid tree twigs - protruding out suddenly without turning on their indicator!
Cheers

Lol! yes. They were driving BMWs!
Most of the trees/bushes on the highways or roads (except for the narrow village roads of course, which were are usually aware of) are trimmed so that their branches or twigs don't protrude out. This was wayyy beyond the white lined edge of the road. Difficult to avoid when you have an incoming traffic and less room for correction. I must be between 50-55kmph.

I have also seen people dumping unused bricks and rocks used for construction beyond safe limit on the roads, also stacks of firewood sticks especially in rural areas.

I know my cousins don't give a damn about such things and don't care when their car merrily gets skin scrub from the shrub or dents here and there. They also usually buy white or silver cars.

I remember one incident where a speeding auto hit my cousin's silver celerio leaving a black and yellow residue on the fender. I was freaking out while my cousin got down, checked it and was like meh! and continued his journey. The auto driver was preparing for a defensive argument but looking at my cousin who did nothing, the auto driver left on his way.

Needless to say, they are not passionate about cars but love driving and travelling. I need to find their source of "inner peace"!

[fhdowntheline]

To the OP- if it is any consolation, on my first car in India, back in 2003, a gleaming white Santro, I had a nasty gash on the right side across both the doors on the second day. Not my fault, as I merged into the traffic getting out of my building gate, a reckless scooter's side guard scraped on the side in a bid to over take me. Got it inspected and painted. My previous driving experience was in the USA, so yeah it did dent my confidence a teeny bit , but you learn to gauge for yourself. Its best to keep an open mind about improving your driving abilities on an incremental basis. Go for 2-3 km trips to begin with, and increase the frequency at various times of the day.

[Prafful_Rathod]

In my 10 years of driving experience I have learnt one thing that learning to drive is a continuous process. Every time you take your car out on a ride you get to learn something or other about driving.

With time and no of kms under your belt you will become more relaxed and patient driver. In case of bumper to bumper traffic the trick is that the bumper of the car ahead of you should be fully visible to the driver, keep that much distance and never drive too fast when three or four vehicles are moving in a line.

In my first car (though it was a used one) within six months I had both sides of my front bumper scratched against wall while taking the car out of parking (once on the left and once on the right). After 5 years of driving experience once I had parked my car in tight parking slot in a new society and had a deep scratch / dent running across my right side doors while taking the car out.

So no matter what you do these things are bound to happen. The only thing which you should try and avoid is serious accidents on highways. Thumb rule is follow lane discipline in case of multi lane highways and develop habit of scanning through your left, right and inner mirror every now and then so that you are aware of your surroundings.

While its very tempting especially with newer and powerful cars to cruise above 100 kmph but I have always tried to maintain speed just a notch below 100 even on open stretches. This gives you just an extra second or two of reaction time in case of emergency. Also your fuel average will not take a hit and your car's mechanical parts will also last longer.

I have also learned to let the vehicle pass ahead which is driven very roughly. Keep your ego at home while driving and you will enjoy it much more.

[Amrik Singh]

The dents on the body of Car are like injury scars on the body and Medals on the chest of War Veterans, that they have received in the loyal service of their masters.
I love them. At least prople do not envy the new and shiny car you drive.
The other road users generally tend to stay away from your Car knowing that you would not mind another scratch while it may be their first.
Yes, others do try to scare you and submit to their way of driving when you are steering a spotless set of wheels.

[Suryendu87]

Originally Posted by sen2693

Should have started with a second hand car. Am really worried if I should carry on driving or not. It is the traffic, the slope-y roads and the tight spaces that is a nightmare for me. My 200km drive from my village to Bangalore consisting of both state and national highways was smooth. I even drove in a much smaller city in Tamil Nadu called Salem and came out damage free. But past week has dented all that confidence. Can't bear to look at my car like this.

As the saying goes, "Time heals everything". Live with it unless it's absolutely unavoidable. You will get used to it and pick up some extras along side it in due time. You can get rid of all of them together after certain time.

I can relate to your agony. When I bought my car, pampered it like a kid.

Took it through a 1500 kms road trip from Bengaluru to Bhubaneswar without a single scratch. However, the next day on the roads of BBSR with crawling traffic due to the puja rush, a scooty came from no where and left a deep scratch on my front bumper near to right wheel arch. Apparently, I was standstill due to the traffic and the lady in scooty with 2 kids at back and 1 more at front was zig zagging through the tight gap between two long lines of cars. I was furious, but had to come out, help them get up, got their scooty untangled from my front wheel arch and to top it off, they left with an ungrateful look in their eyes, as if I had made them fall.

With time, I have learnt such experiences are to be gulped down without much thought and we need to move on.

So dear friend, keep driving, try anticipating things and with time you will enjoy the beauty of it and as you keep adding new memories, these experiences will slowly vanish.

[lamborghini]

Unfortunately this is part and parcel of driving in cities.

Each and every vehicle I've owned has ended up with a love mark within the first year.
One like yours was made when exiting a narrow lane in heavy traffic with a truck trying to enter the barely two car wide road.
Another was a bamboo scaffolding falling on my car when parked, denting the door.
Or when it was parked on the side and someone hit it. Or even at home, where it's been scratched by others while parked on the side.

The only thing is to not give up confidence. As a new driver, these incidents are going to happen and you shouldn't loose hope. The more you drive, the more comfortable you will get and then you can send it to the workshop for a proper overcoat.