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I purchased a brand new car from a dealership about 6 months ago but have noticed the paintwork doesn't seem to be very tough. When washing the car with a normal garden hose, the hose will leave rub marks which can only be removed by polishing. There are also a number of stone chips on the bonnet but only 3000 kms on the clock. Is there a way to get independent testing, or should I just raise the issue with the dealer ? What is a reasonable remedy - a quick cosmetic cut & polish, some other treatment or a refund ?

Hi there,
As the vehicle is new and under manufacture warranty, they need to be informed and given the chance to remedy. You might want to ask about the 3M or Duraseal coatings and if this will provide a better guard against light scratching. Unfortunately with a new car, the first scratches and stone chips are the worst, as the car is perfect up till that point. It may not be the best thing to let a plastic garden hose touch the paint as this will scratch any surface regardless of vehicle age, you may also want to use a brushless carwash to start with.