Just wanted to warn those with a 2004 TL to be careful parking where there might be a curb barrier in the front of the car. I made the mistake of parking too closely to the barrier and caused several scratches on the very bottom of the car. I am so sick to know I have the first scratches on my new car, and have been trying to be very careful with it. I picked up some touch up paint from my local Acura dealer on Saturday and attempted to cover the scratches, but I am assuming because the scratches are on the bottom front which is plastic, the paint doesn't seem to want to cover. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should do?

 

Szorl,

Do you have the front spoiler or a stock TL? I know your pain, I have a Miata I drive on the weekends and its front end is very low and you have to be extra careful when parking (like you I found out the hard way).

I'm curious, what is the clearance down there?

 

I have just the stock TL, not sure what the clearance is though. I am extra careful now, I just wish I would have known before the damage was already done.

 

I've had bumper scratches on my last TL and found that the touch up paint wouldn't stick as well. Hopefully someone will have an idea to help you. Thanks for the warning about parking. Sorry to hear about your scratches, at least it wasn't a metal part that was scratched.

 

It's not just the front you have to worrry about...I just parked too close to the curb and scratched up one of my rims
Not sure if worth fixing but does anybody know of a place in nyc...it'll prob happen again!

 

You gotta watch those curbs they seek up on you.

I've scratched some rims because the curbs in older parts of Houston are concrete or stone slabs that can lean out and do a major job on the wheel.

I've often thought that an electronic version of the curb feeler would be a better accessory item than the parking assist stuff they sell now. Especially considering the price of the high end wheels and tires.

 

The front of the car is VERY LOW. I was surprised that I was always catching the parking blocks.

 

Thanks for the reminder. Sorry about your TL. If this happens to my '04TL, I'll get it fixed immediately so that I don't stew over it. It makes you sick.

 

same here too. First I thougth it was the aero I have cause the scratch to the pavement, but it isn't because I one time asked my wife to backup the car, and I watch the scratching occurs, and it is not from the aero, but the bottom of the car body. I did also have parked too close to the front of the curb when head in to the parallel parking space, and the bottom scratch the curb. So, really, when you have a even normal driveway, do a slight turn to go down the driveway to prevent the scratching from happening.