(Un)happy birthday to me

[akira3d]

I took it fairly easy yesterday (especially compared to last year's big day) driving my NSX down to Torrance for dim sum, taking in a movie at The Avenue in Palos Verdes, and then continuing to Newport Beach to dine at my favorite restaurant (Roy's).

Though my birthday was pleasant, I missed something that happened to my NSX somewhere along the way.

When I got into work today, I noticed two deep gouges near the Acura "A" logo on the nose of my NSX. Both are as long as the width of my finger...both go all the way down to the base metal. They don't look anything like the rock chips I've collected over the years...they're much worse. I don't recall hearing anything loud hit the front of my car during the drive, so I suspect I must have picked them up when my car was parked. I didn't park near other cars, nor did I park in spots where another vehicle would be able to rub across the nose, so I suspect someone on foot had to physically inflict these gouges.

I don't have my digital camera with me...so I won't be able to post pictures until tomorrow.

Not a happy way to start my 31st year...

 

[Darkcyd]

Ouch!!! Thats not good news... Sorry to hear that Eric. Hopefully there'll be some way to fix it nicely.

 

[akira3d]

I'm afraid that I'm not very skilled at doing touch-up work either. My attempts at filling rock-chips have been pretty laughable. Though I'm an artist, I don't have very steady hands (which is why I do all of my work on computers).

 

[paulviriyapan]

Sorry to hear about the damage to your baby. It also really really unnerves me because of all the other recent posts regarding vandalism, and the fact that I drive in the same general area as you. This really worries me.

 

[akira3d]

I usually do a quick visual inspection of my car before I get in to drive (just so I'll know exactly when and where any damages might occur). Now it's getting to the point where I'm afraid to look. On the bright side, at least I've only encountered vandalism, right Vince?

 

[FuryNSX]

Eric,
I'm really sorry to hear that this happened, particularly on a special day like your birthday.

-Randy

 

[POWERED by HONDA]

That sucks Eric!!!

I hope the rest of your birthday was good. Happy Belated!

 

[PHOEN$X]

Sorry to hear of this, it bites big time. I wonder if some punks tried to steal your Acura badge. Maybe someone local who's skilled with touchup paint can help you apply it...

To take your mind off things, you should go to Todai (in your beater!) for your free bday meal.

 

[CChung]

Hi Eric,
So sorry to hear about your car on your 31st B-day. If you want, I know a guy really close probably to where you live that does really good work. Private me if you would like his number. Anyway, hope you had a nice B-day with your wife and post some pics of the damage.

 

[ajnsx]

ditto all the above

 

[Darkcyd]

I usually do a quick visual inspection of my car before I get in to drive (just so I'll know exactly when and where any damages might occur). Now it's getting to the point where I'm afraid to look. On the bright side, at least I've only encountered vandalism, right Vince?

I'll say. Unluckily for me, some lowlifes tried to rip my emblem off 2 months into my ownership. Didn't succeed but still left some unsightly marks on my bumper that I have yet to fix. The touch-up wasn't really that good either. Eventually it'll have to go in for an entire bumper repaint/replace.

Paranoia can suck. After I got the car back, I put in one of those pager alarms. The first morning I took it to work, it went off twice (due to garbage trucks driving by it is my guess), and I went tearing out of my office to go check on it. My alarm is pretty sensitive and so nowadays whenever I get back to my car and find the alarm's been triggered or had the warning chirps go off, I always do the walkaround. Always scared of what I might find.

 

[K2]

Sorry to hear a sad news on your birthday.

I hope something really good happen to you soon.

Think Positive.

 

[Veleno]

What a way to ruin a perfectly good day for you, sorry to hear about it.

On a side note, if you ever come/visit Guam, you'll be happy to know that there is a Roy's here as well If I remember correctly, the owner of the franchise is from Guam, but ICBW.

 

[akira3d]

Did I overreact?

It's kinda funny, but when I went to take a picture of the scratches, they didn't seem as big as they were when I first found them...but they'll still need to be touched up.

I snapped this pic in my garage (bouncing the flash off the ceiling), so it doesn't really show the scratches very well...I'll need to take a shot outside.

 

[POWERED by HONDA]

I don't think you overreacted. That sucks!!! At least we know he wasn't trying to steal the Acura symbol.

 

[NSXROX]

Dude I don't see any scratches.

 

[akira3d]

Here's a close up - from a low angle. The top one feels rough, but doesn't appear like the deep gouge I initially described...perhaps it will polish out. The lower one does cut through to the base metal and will need to be touched up.

 

[akira3d]

Here's another shot with the Acura logo...this time under clear skies.

 

[akira3d]

And here's a shot to remind me that I have many reasons to still be happy about the condition of my car

 

[PHOEN$X]

The top one feels rough, but doesn't appear like the deep gouge I initially described...perhaps it will polish out. The lower one does cut through to the base metal and will need to be touched up.

Very detailed close-ups! The top mark does look shallow enough for a scratch remover to work, the bottom chip looks like it will have to be filled in. It's not that bad though, at least it didn't cause a dent. I wonder if a rock could have done the damage, then bounced and created the second scratch...

And here's a shot to remind me that I have many reasons to still be happy about the condition of my car

That's right! I'd be more than happy to take your NSX off your hands if you're not thrilled with it.

 

[nsxtasy]

The lower one does cut through to the base metal

Plastic.

 

[akira3d]

Plastic.

Stupid me...thought it was aluminum under there.

 

[nsx_parts]

Could be worse:

Sorry to hear it though.

 

[akira3d]

Ouch