I had a Cadillac DeVille DTS for 5 years and traded it for my 07 RL a couple of months ago. In 5 years, I didn't have a single door ding on the Caddy. In the first month owning my RL, I got a nice big ding (high up too obviously from an SUV or pickup). I spoke to a co-worker today that had a Acura for a few years and just traded it in on a Lexus. She said she had many door dings in her Acura and had them fixed many times. She said that the door metal is thinner on Acura's and more susceptible to dings than on other cars. Could that be true?

I had my ding fixed at Dent Wizard today, $130. That's a lot for one ding. Am I going to be a regular customer there?

I try to park far away from others cars whenever possible. If I can't, I try to park near median planting areas where a car would be only on one side. I also try to park next to expensive cars like Mercedes and Lexus figuring that car owner must car about dings too.

I see these big SUV's packed with kids and when they park, everyone just pushes open ther door and wherever it goes, it goes. If it's into the door of the next car, then oh well. Guess what?

 

People don't ding DeVilles because they feel sorry for the old people who usually own them. (Okay, just kidding. )

Acuras don't ding easier than other cars. They aren't made of thin metal. You were just really lucky with the Caddy and not as lucky with the Acura. My wife's Caddy STS has several dings and my RL has none, and they're both the same age. That just means her car got hit by careless, stupid people and mine didn't.

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My last two new car purchases I bought Acura's 'Titanium Pkg' which covered for 5 yrs.:

1) Wheel & tire damage due to road hazards
2) Windshield repair/replacement
3) Door dings/dents (up to two dings/panel, three panels/yr)

This was $500. In the year I have had my RL I have had 4 dings removed and 1 wheel replaced.

 

I find I don't get any more dings but it seems the paint, while as nice as any paint I've seen on a car, is somewhat brittle. I have one nice chip in my hood (hid pretty well with touch-up paint), and a number of pinhead size chips...mostly unnoticeable though.

LL

 

I think you are right, people are targeting Acura's to give them door dings. They actually wait to park next to Acuras.

Huh???????

 

I was under the impression that Acura used special grade steel to help prevent door dings. I park as far away from other cars as possible in parking lots. I get real parnoid when I have to park in parking garages or at venues where they tell you where to park. I had one small ding on the rear quarter panel of my '04 TL, and none so far on my RL after almost 16 months. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

DYK, that the average American will not walk farther than 700 feet from the entrance to any shopping center, etc.?

 

it could be as simple as that acuras are wider cars, taking up more room in a space. Or it could be that acura sit lower/higher to points where dings can occur, but i agree with the first one.

 

I don't think there is much protection from the door strip. Its almost flush to the doors. I just got my first ding high up on the rear quarter panel. It really make s me insane that people are so careless.

 

You can drive yourself crazy worrying about this, I stopped long ago....I do what I can to avoid getting dings, but if I get one I just shrug and move on....they are inevitable.

People are just too damn inconsiderate these days...I've had someone hit my car door with theirs while I was sitting in the car!(needless to say they won't be doing that to anyone else, and no I didn't kill them. )

 

I used these for the problem

http://www.eurobumperguard.com/car_door_protector.html

 

People like parking close to Acuras because they're just so damn nice. Throw in a rare RL and who wouldn't want to be near it!

I think a lot of the problem is kids plowing out of their parents' giant SUVs. Those heavy rear doors with the sharp points, and youngsters who don't know any better cause most of the door dings as they fling the door open wide. Another reason to encourage minivans -- sliding doors!

Rob144