GT-R from hell: etching, scrathes, defects, runs (before pictures only): Black

[Todd@RUPES]

“GT-R from Hell�

Before pictures



Like most of new GT-Rs, this one sat in port for several months while Nissan scrambled to train its technicians on how to repair and service the car. Apparently this vacation has taken a severe toll on the finish of these automobiles (this being the second I have seen in this condition).



This owner of this car lives in St. Croix and actually waited several months to purchase his car in North Carolina. It was driven here (to Orlando) and after I am down detailing it and getting sorted, it will be shipped to the Caribbean will it will do battle (hopefully looking stunning) against pirates.



From the factory these cars are covered in plastic over the hood, B-pillars, trunk, and roof. The paint that was not covered is severely etched and faded. Combine this damage with a host of paint runs, defects, and what areas to be deep scratches from them pulling the plastic, and this GT-R is going to need a lot of attention. I had originally inspected it in the sun two days ago, but it had gotten wet, so I assumed (NEVER assume) that the water spots where recent and shouldn’t pose a problem, how wrong I was….



Process to this point.



-Wash with ONR, drying with two towels

-Clay with Meguiars’ Blue (MILD) Clay using CG Speed Shine as lube

-Rewash with ONR to remove residue



On each door, near the door handle, the paint has a unique defect that is milky pearl in appearance and slightly textured. It almost “sinks� into the paint (in the sun it has a more translucent pearl appearance). I have no idea what this is at this point and if it is even repairable.







This picture, of the passenger side rear of the roof, shows the difference in paint color between the unprotected paint and the paint that was covered by plastic.







The roof also has some deeper scratches that will likely need to be sanded out (2000,2500,3000 Meguiars’ Unigrit is soaking as well as Micro Abrasives 4000, 6000, and 8000 grits).







Some of the water etching or spotting is visible in this rather poor picture. I believe most of this will come of with a (gasp) acid wash or vinegar wash, but some of it is clearly etching.







This picture from the passenger side of the roof shows not only the visible water etching and spotting on the unprotected area, but also the color difference, and several deep scratches in the protected area.







Another, perhaps better, picture of the same…



IMG]http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x121/tropicaldetailing/GTRBEFORE/a6.jpg[/IMG]



Deep scratches in front of the rear spoiler (guess which side/color was covered with film).







Runs on the hood….



IMG]http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x121/tropicaldetailing/GTRBEFORE/a9.jpg[/IMG]



This picture of the rear spoiler clearly shows the water etching. It appears as if the dealer tried to correct this with a machine buffer as there is hologramming (appears as hazing directly above the lights) and a rotary buffer mark on the outside lip of the spoiler (bottom right).







More water etching on the trim piece above the door on the outside edge of the roof. This picture is from the driver’s side.







Scratches, rids, and severe hologramming describe the condition of the rear fender above the wheel compartment.







Another picture of the driver’s side rear quarter panel… You can see the difference in color (again) as well as a host of defects including some deeper RIDS, some lighter marring, and another milky defect.







I am appalled that such a cool car could be delivered in this condition, but I will use my skills and talents to try to bring this car back to the condition it should have been delivered in… Perfect. Wish me luck; I think I will be spending the next few days in Hell…

[NCZ13]

wow its hard to imagine a car in that condition thats brand new...



what are your thoughts on the car itself?



good luck!

[Todd@RUPES]

wow its hard to imagine a car in that condition thats brand new...



what are your thoughts on the car itself?



good luck!

right now my thoughts are I had better cancel my appointment on Monday..

Cool car, the transmission seems to pick up much nicer then a Ferrari with an autoclutch when moving it around.

[95supra]

If I ordered a GTR and it showed up in this condition, All hell would break loose at my local nissan dealer.. I would never have accepted it. NO WAY. ITS A BRAND NEW CAR. Even if it took rearranging every tooth in the mouth of a sales rep. pay for a brand new car, get a brand new car. end of story. This looks worse than my 1995 supra wich to be honest is 13 years old so you would expect minor flaws.





I cant understand how nissan can deliver a car to their customers in that state. I would be embarrased if I worked at nissan and had to give a customer that car. heres your 80k+$ scratched up piece of sh*t.

[Todd@RUPES]

what is scary to me is that each side (as well as other areas) have a lot of really bad hologramming, like the dealership or the port tried polish the paint and remove the water spotting. They didn`t even reduce it (which is making me think it might be very deep).

[Holden_C04]

Not that we need proof, but this is another example that shows dealerships only concern is about selling cars.

[simracer]

Wow, that`s pathetic. So much for that "hand-finished" paint job at the factory. Kinda wasted letting it sit at port for that long.



Best of luck getting all those defects out. Looking forward to the end results!



Is the paint the typical soft stuff we`ve come to expect from most Japanese vehicles?

[Todd@RUPES]

Wow, that`s pathetic. So much for that "hand-finished" paint job at the factory. Kinda wasted letting it sit at port for that long.



Best of luck getting all those defects out. Looking forward to the end results!



Is the paint the typical soft stuff we`ve come to expect from most Japanese vehicles?

Yeah the paint seems VERY soft. Claying with Meguiars "Red" clay was leaving a lot of that rainbow looking marring typical of the very soft paint. I had to switch to the blue clay and take my time to avoid inducing any marring. I will find out tomorrow morning when I start polishing, but from the inital "feel" I think it is going to be a royal PITA.

[BigAl3]

so sad to see such a very nice car (or any car that`s brand new for that matter) in that shape, that`s just unacceptable. do you think that milky substance is the plastic wrap outgasing onto the finish (maybe it was prone to the hot weather)?

[blk45]

Ouch! You weren`t kidding Todd. I didn`t think it was that bad when you told me about it. As already said, someone would be shot if I waited for my car for months and months, and this abomination showed up! Have fun! My boys` black one doesn`t look anything like that. I wonder if this one sat in the port longer?

[Lumadar]

Holy crap. It seriously looks like the car spent a DECADE in the heads of the anti-Christ of car owners.



Please take thorough pictures and document this...I`m on the edge of my seat for this one lol.

[gmblack3]

:grrr



I`ll ask my grandmother to pray for you in church today my friend.

[95supra]

If I received this at the dealership I would just toss the keys back to the salesrep and head off. When new cars come from germany to norway the entire vehicle is covered in some black stuff, looks almost like a layer of tar, but it is really good preventing scratches\waterspots and such. its a pita to remove with degreaser and hi press steamer.. but atleast the car comes out of this looking like new.

[Pats300zx]

I`ll ask my grandmother to pray for you in church today my friend.

Yeah me 2 lol...



Unreal....to think that a dealership would honestly consider providing a car like that to a customer is unbelieveable. Looks like you have your hands full on this one.



Can`t wait to see you work your magic on it.

[David Fermani]

That new car looks terrible. Hopefully the spoting is just mineral depositing instead of acid rain damage!!! :soscared: A decon wash is mandatory for this job. I can`t believe the clear faded that much in just a few months. I`m not too impressed with Nissan after this. Pretty pathetic actually. :down I`d document this with the dealer and insist that Nissan pay for it. There`s no reason any new vehicle should suffer this kind of turture. I`d also document paint thickness readings throughout the entire vehicle in case a re-clear is the only alternative.