Minor collision with my Yaris

[Hershey]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Good to know about what rubbing alcohol can do . I have a scuff (about the size of 4 small postage stamps) near the left front wheel well on my Yaris, and another smaller scuff about 2 or so feet away on the rear view mirror casing (the one on the wheel well has been there for 2+ years ). I'll try rubbing alcohol on both scuffs.

Let me now how that works for you . Clean the area with water before the rubbing alcohol . Then rinse with water again after using the alcohol . Use a rag that won't scratch the clearcoat . Use rubbing alcohol to remove tar as well .

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Hershey

Let me now how that works for you . Clean the area with water before the rubbing alcohol . Then rinse with water again after using the alcohol . Use a rag that won't scratch the clearcoat . Use rubbing alcohol to remove tar as well .

Would a fairly plush bath towel that has been laundered a few times be okay? Or should I go to a store and buy something else? If so, is there any special type of towel that would work best?

[Hershey]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Would a fairly plush bath towel that has been laundered a few times be okay? Or should I go to a store and buy something else? If so, is there any special type of towel that would work best?

No paint or clearcoat will come off . Use this paint / tar removal for years with no problem .

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Hershey

No paint or clearcoat will come off . Use this paint / tar removal for years with no problem .

Thanks. Today (finally!) I happened to see an automated drive through car wash that was not of the tire grab/pull/assembly line style. The last time I got my car washed I went through a wash like that and it cracked and scratched my wheel covers. The wash I went through today was also touchless. It didn't do a complete job. I had to wipe a bit to finish up (I had a clean towel for such purposes in the car in case I needed to utilize it). I noticed that there are quite a few more scratches and nicks than were noticeable after my last car wash.

I still have quite a few things in storage in California and am planning to head to California in January to take care of that. When I get back, I will pay close attention to the exterior of my car and follow what you suggested. I'll also go to the Toyota dealership and buy some Bayou Blue touch up paint to address some, for lack of a better word, 'pits' (likely from rocks falling off of flatbed trucks on the freeway). My rear bumper has some interesting 'character' marks . The electronic eye for my garage door is below the top of my rear bumper. Last year (If I remember correctly) I pulled into my garage, but didn't pull in far enough. I pushed the button to close the door and the garage door hit the top of my bumper (a single load door). A few weeks later I was rearranging some things in my garage and had to take the parking brake off on my Yaris and move it back a bit. I forgot to move it back, and the next time I left the house my garage door hit the same bumper in nearly the same place but with the door on the way up this time. I don't want to clear it up with a repair because then the entire bumper cover might likely be a slightly different color than the rest of the car. At this point in the 'lifecycle' of my Yaris, I think it is best to leave those 'character marks' as is. If I happen to see a really cool sticker I might buy one and a spare to put on that part of the bumper.

[edmscan]

Found out today that the autobody shop had the wrong model for my car on the estimate. They had my car as a 4 Dr Sedan, which I definitely don't have. I have an RS 2 Dr HB.

Well it is interesting in that the bumper cover for the sedan is more money than the RS model. So .. I got them to correct it, but I still haven't heard from the insurance company so I don't know if I will be fixing my car.

I refuse to pay 500$ (my deductable) out of my pocket for an accident that wasn't my fault. I don't think that I am being overly cheap, just being realistic as it just isn't worth it to me. Sure my Yaris is slightly banged up .. but I am not going to be the one to pay for it.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by edmscan

Found out today that the autobody shop had the wrong model for my car on the estimate. They had my car as a 4 Dr Sedan, which I definitely don't have. I have an RS 2 Dr HB.

Well it is interesting in that the bumper cover for the sedan is more money than the RS model. So .. I got them to correct it, but I still haven't heard from the insurance company so I don't know if I will be fixing my car.

I refuse to pay 500$ (my deductable) out of my pocket for an accident that wasn't my fault. I don't think that I am being overly cheap, just being realistic as it just isn't worth it to me. Sure my Yaris is slightly banged up .. but I am not going to be the one to pay for it.

I'd say next step = wait to hear back from the insurance company.