To hood graphic or not to hood graphic, that is the question

Gents,

Got me a lame-ass paint etch/stain from baked in sap. It's not that noticeable unless you get real close but now that I know it's there I can't stop thinking about it.

Took it to the best reviewed detailer in town (guy works on exotics and classics) and he tried his best with all the safe methods but stopped when wet-sanding wouldn't reach it. He told me I should probably learn to deal with it but it might fade over time since if it baked into the paint it might also work it's way out with heat/time.

Luckily (?) the mark is on the raised hood area where the graphic would be installed. The sport decal looks absurd but the TRD Pro one seems like it would look decent on white.

I'm on the fence on this, either

a) I can just get over it and hope the sun fades the stain away eventually.

or

b) go ham and get the hood graphic to help me cope with my 4 month old truck's having paint blemishes.

 

orrrrrrr
you could put the hood up for trade for an non scooped hood. I guarantee that even with the blemish you could get a cherry non scooped hood and a couple hundred dollars in your pocket.

 

I'd go with a matte white wrap over the gloss white. Subtle, but should look pretty cool and cover the stain

 

You think so? Huh. Even so I'd rather keep the scoop considering I didn't get any of the OR goodies like the locker or crawl control.

 

Toyotas superwhite did that on my wifes rav4 also. Waxed the car a couple days before a trip. Car was parked in the woods over the 3 day weekend. Washed, then clayed the day we got home... Too late, damage done. I think its due to the missing 2nd stage clear coat. Super frustrating because I really like how it looks.

 

I’d put a graphic on it while you decide. If it’s only 4 months old and you just send it to a paint pro, then your hood is as smooth as it’s ever going to be, which simplifies installation. Do it. Do it now.

 

Yeah the detailer said because it was single stage he wouldn't risk going deeper. But he did buff out all the scratch marks from me trying to fix it myself which was may more noticeable than the mark itself so there's that.

 

My only hesitation is that it'll look lame on a non-Pro since I don't have the black bumper and black fenders to go with it and also that I'll do a hack job of installing it.

 

Then do something different from the Pro. Use a color different from Matte Black, or do the whole hood, etc.

Use your imagination. I have a pro and I think the tiny area they matted out looks stupid...

White Truck? Wrap the whole front end in Kryptek Yeti!



Go nuts!

 

If you are married to the scoop and love the aesthetics then it's not an option but if you are the kinda person that is more concerned about practicality over appearance then it's a very viable solution. The hood cuts down on forward visibility and does absolutely zero since it's non functional although the visual side of it is quite nice. In Hawaii the typical hood swap seems to be around non scooped hood plus $500 for a scooped hood. Granted it's not the same everywhere but I'm certain that you could trade it for a perfect hood plus a couple hundred. Just be up front about the damage. Put out a feeler on the hood scoop trade thread in the 3rd Gen marketplace section if you like

 

the glare off the white hood was too much for me so I added the pro vinyls to the hood. Its made a HUGE difference!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Blk_tZynfj7/?taken-by=bigpermtaco

 

Let me give you guys a better idea of what I'm dealing with and you can tell me what youd do in my shoes. Maybe i'm overeacting and don't know it yet.

 

I'd see if the sun fades it. You can always wrap. If you put a wrap and the paint fades around that, then you are always stuck with a wrap...

 

Just live with it. Even if you wash and polish the thing every month it's going to get other imperfections over it's life... little scratches, door dings, hail, gravel chips, windshield chips, etc. Drive the thing. Use the thing. Enjoy it. Don't sweat the little stuff.

 

I had the same problem on the roof of my wife's Super White 2005 Taco. After a few months and a couple of waxings it disappeared.

 

No shit? I'm going to clench my ass real tight and hope this happens.

 

If you're talking a graphic similar to a Firebird but with Tupac instead, I'll happily give a donation just to ensure it exists.

Otherwise, I'd say wait it out. It will either come out over time or you'll get some other paint imperfections along the way and this one won't bother you as much.

 

The occasional reminder to keep your head up might be worth it.

In seriousness, I'd love to do a retro graphic, or one of the blackout graphics, but my concern would be the paint fade in the hood over the years forcing you to keep the graphic on.

Years ago in another life when I had my first car the nose masks were all the rage in my area (don't ask.) I located an OEM Honda one and used it for less than a year when I was in HS. In that year I had a tan line on my hood.

 

I don't remember those nose masks ever being cool... But I could definitely see them affecting the paint. I think once you go to the graphic you're pretty committed, unless you want to repaint the hood.

 

Wizard graphic or bust.