Paint Chips
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 539
Likes: 20
From: Southeast Connecticut
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
Paint Chips
I'm close to buying a very nice Laguna Blue '14 Z51 3LT which has several paint chips on the front bumper. Other than that, the rest of the paint is great. Would that be a deal breaker?
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,670
Likes: 24,663
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 '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
No. If you drive the car, chances are paint chips are going to happen at some point. Even with PPF on the car chips can happen if a large enough piece of debris hits.
Consider the existing chips part of the patina for the car, enjoy every drive and if it gets bad enough, have the panel repainted.
Consider the existing chips part of the patina for the car, enjoy every drive and if it gets bad enough, have the panel repainted.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 539
Likes: 20
From: Southeast Connecticut
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
No. If you drive the car, chances are paint chips are going to happen at some point. Even with PPF on the car chips can happen if a large enough piece of debris hits.
Consider the existing chips part of the patina for the car, enjoy every drive and if it gets bad enough, have the panel repainted.
Consider the existing chips part of the patina for the car, enjoy every drive and if it gets bad enough, have the panel repainted.
@C7GSM7VERT
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,023
Likes: 933
From: S.F. Bay Area,CA
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
That's like saying I wouldn't date Sofia Vergara because she has a pimple (or two) on her butt! Superficial and fixable. My only concern would be the dash delamination of a 3LT.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 2,233
From: Phoenix, Arizona
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 347
From: Iowa
If you want a garage queen that you never drive because you'd rather look at it than drive it, then absolutely a deal breaker. If you want the car because you want to drive it then avoiding rock chips is inevitable and it should not affect your choice. The caveat is if there's significant damage or super obvious chips from many feet away. At that point it's up to you if you can live with it or not, also at that point pricing comes more into play. Really it comes down to whether you can live with the imperfections or if you want an immaculate vehicle.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32,040
Likes: 4,610
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32,040
Likes: 4,610
If you want a garage queen that you never drive because you'd rather look at it than drive it, then absolutely a deal breaker. If you want the car because you want to drive it then avoiding rock chips is inevitable and it should not affect your choice. The caveat is if there's significant damage or super obvious chips from many feet away. At that point it's up to you if you can live with it or not, also at that point pricing comes more into play. Really it comes down to whether you can live with the imperfections or if you want an immaculate vehicle.
It's....hardly a Garage Queen!"
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,772
Likes: 343
From: SIOUX FALLS SD
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
I would negotiate the price and include the cost of a re-painted front bumper cover in the cost. I had an 05 Corvette I purchased new and had the bumper cover re-painted for $350 when it had 70,000 miles on it. I sold it with 82,000 miles and the car looked almost like new. There are many 10 year old or older Corvettes that have had the bumper covers and hoods repainted as well as light touch ups. It's just part of the game if you drive them. Chipped up bumper covers don't appeal to me after they get to a certain point especially if the rest of the car is nearly in mint condition.