One thing I noticed when I bought my Crossfire was a total lack of bump strips on the doors. On previous cars, these no doubt saved my finish numerous times in parking lots. Not only are my crossfire's panels devoid of any protection, the finish is black. Therefore, the slightest indentation will show.

I have to imagine that DC thought of this, and perhaps the sheet metal thickness in this area is a little on the thicker side to prevent such damage. It is a Benz, after all. On say, a Metro, the door skins are so thin that breathing on them will wrinkle them. Ditto my Escort, which looks like a golf ball after (I assume) being pummeled by hail stones in a storm long ago.

My Crossfire is parked in a garage right now, with a cover over it, and it shares space with a Grand Am. The Grand Am has acres of plastic cladding on it, which I assume is soft enough not to mar my door if contact is made. I am going to pull the cover off the car and check on it this weekend, but I wanted to know if any of you have reason (based on experience with your car) that I should be concerned.

 

A country song comes to mind..."unbreakable walls - break, unbendable steal - bends, etc. etc." As much as we would like it to be, the Crossfire is not bulletproof.

 

Juddz, I had my car less than 24 hours, parked it away from everybody, and some numb nutz in a Ford pulled up at an angle and caught my passenger door. It's so slight it's hardly noticeable on our white car, to anybody but me, but of course it's the very first place my eyes go to every time I look at it. Still I can't stand those door edge moldings on the new Vettes, and I'm glad we don't have em on our cars.

 

Mine has been to the shop 3 times for door dings and touch ups. I think these little cars are highly suceptible to door dings of any kind. I got my first one from my neighbor the night I brought it home. I am very careful about where I park it but the dings still find me. And, oh yeah, you can see em real good in black.

 

i have no door dings, and i don't plan on parking close enough to anyone to find out how resistant the doors are! i just jinxed me. darn it.

 

I've had very good luck with "Dent Wizard", or "paintless" dent removal. They've done a couple of my other cars, so I'll probably wind up taking my XF to them eventually.

 

...what is the cost to get a ding pulled? BTW, thanks so far for the info.

 

I had one done by a dent pro type guy on my Miata a couple of years ago. He came to my house and charged $80.00. The door ding disappeared in about 15 minutes.

Pete

 

Juddz, It depends upon where the dent is, how hard it is for them to get behind it, and how long it takes them to "massage" the dent out. If the dent is in a leading edge like a crease around a fender lip, or a design crease or body site line, then it takes them a little longer to get it out. That is when you compare it to the broad flat expanse of the door.
Like PGA stated, it's never taken them more than 15 or 20 minutes to fix any of mine.
I've paid as little as $60 and as much as $135. Always been satisfied with the result. Sure beats having them "bondo'd" up, and repainted (which never seems to match on a metallic color).

 

Thicker steel - heavier - slower and higher c of g.

Friend of mine once removed the steel skins on his Hillman Imp and replaced them with 1.2mm Aluminum, almost tinfoil. (All before carbon fiber.)

 

I had the same thought, bought paintable trim, painted it the same color as the car. I avoided at least one ding.

 

Eldon, that doesn't look too bad!

 

Resistant? I seriously doubt it which is why I park way away from everyone. I've had a few run ins with people from work but I usually just move to another spot, our lot is half empty anyway. I'm not taking any chances.
+fireamx you are correct, Dent Wizards is great. Cost me $225 to have 19 hail dents removed on my PT and you couldn't tell they were ever there. If the paint isn't broken go to Dent Wizards.

Pat

 

Nice idea with the door guards but IMO it takes away from the design and flow of the body lines on the Crossfire. On other cars with out such drastic styling it works much better visually.

My solution is park out in left field and walk the extra distance.

 

Eldon, Your door guard doesn't look as bad as I would have thought. Nice how you lined it up with the "center" vent molding.
Looks better than the one that comes from the factory on the new Vette. (IMO)

 

Agreed, but I prefer the walk from a quite part of the car park. Our doors will get a ding sometime, here in the UK they make the spaces smaller than the US (and are always trying to make them smaller still).

Was looking for a news article about a carpark that reduced the size of the spaces to increase capacity but got it so wrong that even drivers of small cars couldn't get out of the doors...did find postings about people parking over two spaces, something I have noticed recently. One poster said he did this but bought two car park tickets! I do occasionally park on two spaces in the "outfield" if the car parks quite, drives the wife mad, but I have noticed the even if there are twenty spaced to each side some people feel the need to park in the bay next to you.?

Wonder is a XF would get ticketed like the Acura in the link or would they allow some slack cos the car looks so much better than an Acura?

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...AGRFA7H1I1.DTL

 

I now pay more to park in a covered lot and haven't had to have anyone park next to me yet. I will valet when the covered lot becomes full. I actually sold my beater (airport car) due to the new parking lot. Second time Chrissy has been to the lot. I have had one ding removed $50.00 in the center of the door. Still need to touch up where my daughter backed it to her, in the driveway...

 

I am famous for parking out in the furthest part of the parking lot. It also is great exercise and you don't have to circle the lot to find the closest spot. Hey I have an Idea how a bout a special parking pass (like handicap) for people that have nice cars. This could be a pass you buy once a year and gets you an extra wide spot!

 

I don't have any door dings yet but I did do something that about made me sick. I parked next to a curb and got a little too close and rubbed it ever so slightly. It scratched the rim a little and it won't buff out. It's not too noticeable but I see it every time I wash the it.

 

wayne - i think if you do some checking around there are people that fix rims. I came close a few weeks ago backing into a place and I hit the curb. My heart went in my throat. Fortunately it hit the tire and not the rim. I know for a fact we had a Volvo dealer fix my wife's rims, they were a mess when we bought the car (used) the dealer had them done. I think he told me $75 - $125 per rim?
Good luck.

Pat