When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'll give that a try. I sure hope that you are right. I'll let you know as soon as I can get to it. Thanks!!!
Can you post up pics after you wash the car? This thread is deceiving if what you posted wasn't after cleaning because people think the car got pitted. If that is just salt... it might not be a big deal.
I have a friend and customer who lives here locally. His car is for driving, and he does just that. He drives it. He was in last week and bought two sets of all black, non logo Silverado splash guards and rigged them up for driving on the gritty Ohio winter roads. I gotta say, they don't look too bad and they will deflect a ton of the grit !!!
I've had mine out with no problem like this. I would take this back to the dealer, that's unacceptable for even a Kia Rio if you bought it brand new and that happened so quickly.
Are you serious??? I guess you are or you would have added a smiley.
The OP stated he drove the car at speed over a road with sand and small stones on it. Subsequent damage is not the problem of the dealer or GM.
I have a friend and customer who lives here locally. His car is for driving, and he does just that. He drives it. He was in last week and bought two sets of all black, non logo Silverado splash guards and rigged them up for driving on the gritty Ohio winter roads. I gotta say, they don't look too bad and they will deflect a ton of the grit !!!
Could you have your friend post a photo of the guards and how they were mounted? It sounds like something I might consider. Thanks
Reading this thread and after a 200 mile hill country twisty road cruise and encountering gravel on the road along the way, I thought I better check my new 2014. My rocker panels, in front of the rear wheels just got blasted. They look terrible. Same with the carbon flash rear fascia behind the rear tires. Incredible damage.....and I have splash guards all around. While driving I could hear all the gravel hitting, but I never imagined it would do this kind of damage. I'm getting rid of these sticky tires pronto.
I agree about the tires. If you find suitable replacements let me know. I would like to keep "Run Flats" on but might consider other types. Also, what's your plan on repairing the damage? I don't think that clear bra material would prevent this.
Can you post up pics after you wash the car? This thread is deceiving if what you posted wasn't after cleaning because people think the car got pitted. If that is just salt... it might not be a big deal.
Almost warm enough to wash the car. I will let you know if washing is enough.
From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Originally Posted by Apocolips
Almost warm enough to wash the car. I will let you know if washing is enough.
Should be able to just run your hand over the area to see if those marks are indented (actual pitting) or sitting on the surface (salt, etc. sticking to the panel)
I have a friend and customer who lives here locally. His car is for driving, and he does just that. He drives it. He was in last week and bought two sets of all black, non logo Silverado splash guards and rigged them up for driving on the gritty Ohio winter roads. I gotta say, they don't look too bad and they will deflect a ton of the grit !!!
I had my 11 2500HD parked next to the C7 in the shop and was eyeing that up. it looked like they would fit well. The aftermarket should take the GM C7 design, extend it some and mold in a groove in the bottom. A rubber flap could be slid into the groove or removed to suit the protection demands of the owner. A couple different lengths of flaps should be available. Some ripples in the groove and/or flap would keep it in place. RPI or others, how about it?
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Doesn't matter if it is winter or not. You drive the car and debris on the road will be kicked up on the body panels. One thing you can do, besides splash guards, is get some of the 3M clear bra installed in the most vulnerable spots. I have it on mine and it does a great job of protecting the paint.
I agree about the tires. If you find suitable replacements let me know. I would like to keep "Run Flats" on but might consider other types. Also, what's your plan on repairing the damage? I don't think that clear bra material would prevent this.
As of now, the alternative for tires does not include run flats because of availability. I'm taking the car to my clear bra/detailer shop to see if he can remove and replace the damaged vinyl. Hopefully no paint damage on the rocker panels. I'm at a loss on how to repair rear carbon flash fascia short of new paint.
Couple thoughts. The discoloration appears to cover the screws as well as the surface, so maybe it's a buildup of material rather than pitting. Also, most of the damage is on the underside of the car, so even if it is more than salt, maybe it won't be too noticeable. I'm sorry about the damage, but hopefully it won't turn out to be as bad as it initially seems.
I have ordered both the front and rear splash guards for my car, but not sure how effective they will be. The bottom of the "Chevrolet" guards are the same level as the bottom of the car, therefore the trajectory of most of the stones, etc coming off the wheels will not be stopped by guards. That is why I also ordered the carbon fibre side skirts which should protect entire sides from debris coming off the front tires. For the rear, I will try to add some rubber flaps below the stock guards (depending on how they look). I actually didn't realize how far under the painted surface went until reading this post.
FYI, I got a rock chip on my new C7 the very first day driving from Atlanta to Dallas. I hit construction and got a rock chip just in front of the back wheel, right behind the clear guard. I was sick!
Been keeping my driving to warm days and clean roads, at least until I have my side skirts installed, hopefully by the end of the month!
I have the GM splash guards front and back, they look good. Had the same concern about them not being long enough but have found they do a good job. There is a dirt road off of the road I live on and cars coming from it bring a lot of sand and small gravel onto our road. Granted I usually am only traveling 35 mph but so far no chips. I can hear the sound as I go over that area but it has not caused any visible chips.
Reading this thread and after a 200 mile hill country twisty road cruise and encountering gravel on the road along the way, I thought I better check my new 2014. My rocker panels, in front of the rear wheels just got blasted. They look terrible. Same with the carbon flash rear fascia behind the rear tires. Incredible damage.....and I have splash guards all around. While driving I could hear all the gravel hitting, but I never imagined it would do this kind of damage. I'm getting rid of these sticky tires pronto.
That's the area on these cars that I thought would get hammered the worst. With that big flare out everything coming off the front tires is going to hit it. I dont' think harder tires are going to help, they will still throw rocks.
My Nice new cars go through the same cycle. When new, it's pure terror to take it out of the garage. Then after a few months, it's ok to go play in traffic, but NEVER park it in a public parking lot. Then a year later...ok, park it in a lot, but NEVER at night.....Then after about 18 months...OK, WTF, it's now my daily driver. Then 18 months later, its a new car ('17 Vette) and back through the cycle. I'm through saving cars for my "Old Age".... (because its here!)
Can you post up pics after you wash the car? This thread is deceiving if what you posted wasn't after cleaning because people think the car got pitted. If that is just salt... it might not be a big deal.
Just finished washing the car. Bad news is that the damage is still there. They must have used light colored primer under the black. I found a couple of other places that show road rash. The forward lip of the rear door opening has been pitted, even the wheels show a bit of pitting. Not sure whether to get it repaired or just live with it.
Exactly why I cringe when people put on some snows tires and daily drive the Corvette in snow on the roads covered with salt and gravel.
Think they are looking cool when they actually look foolish!
When I was in the brutal Nebraska winters.
I drove my new car one winter. It was never the same showered with pits on the front and lower rockers. Hood and windshield pits.
My Taco 4 wheel pick-up and Colorado due the winter weather
work.
Doesn't matter if it is winter or not. You drive the car and debris on the road will be kicked up on the body panels. One thing you can do, besides splash guards, is get some of the 3M clear bra installed in the most vulnerable spots. I have it on mine and it does a great job of protecting the paint.
Well it does matter what climate, if it's real winter weather ice, snow because the sheer volume of stuff
on the roads they put down with the gravel trucks and salt compounded by being wet.
Summer driver causes WAY LESS damage to your car!
You gotta be kidding?
Last edited by 3 Z06ZR1; Jan 20, 2014 at 03:43 PM.
I'm thinking about ordering the side skirts from RPI Designs. They would really help the pitting in the sides of the car. Some 3-M film behind the back tires. The side skirts are kind of expensive but cheaper than re-painting the sides of the car.