Stamford winter roads and the damage they leave behind

By the time the snow clears in Stamford, most cars carry a winter's worth of small damage. Road salt eats at stone chips until they bloom into rust. Plows throw ice chunks that crack grilles and scuff bumpers. Tight parking on side streets after a storm leaves scrapes and dented doors.

Rust is the one that gets expensive. A stone chip that exposes bare metal will start rusting within weeks once the salt hits it. Caught early, it is a touch-up and a spot of clear coat. Left through a second winter, it spreads under the paint and the panel has to be cut and welded.

Paint transfer is the most common winter complaint. A yellow post, a white van, a black mailbox, the other car's color ends up on your panel. If the transfer is on top of your clear coat and the paint underneath is intact, it often buffs off without a respray. If the clear coat is gouged, the panel needs paint.

Spring is the right time to walk the car in daylight. Look at the lower panels, the wheel arches, and the leading edge of the hood. Run a finger across anything that looks raised or rough. A chip you can feel is a chip that needs covering.

Bring it in and we will tell you straight. Some winter marks need a repair. Some need ten minutes with a buffer. We will not sell you the first one if it is the second.