Well that was unexpected....

Cleaning in the garage and had a tote fall against the damn truck. My fault and left a nice gash. After pointless cursing I'm able to post this question. Am I ok using the color match stick from the dealer on this? Good news I guess is it's on the passenger door lower down so I won't see it everyday.

 

Are you sure its a scratch in the paint and not a mark from the tote? Ie does it come off if you use wax, polish, bug and tar remover etc.?

 

No it's a gash. The picture doesn't show the several layers taken off. I can try some wax.

 

Do you have that rock guard stuff on the rockers? It will make a whitish streak like that when gashed or scratched. It can be easily touched up by touch up paint.

 

Yikes! Go to a body shop and get an estimate.

 

and empty your wallet.

try some touch up paint from the dealer. google paint chip repair if you're really finicky about doing it right. for ~$14 its worth a shot, if it doesn't meet your expectations then take it to a body shop.

 

Repairing gouges requires filling in the area with a special material and then painting it to match the rest of the exterior. This requires experience and skill to perform correctly — the kind of mechanic and skill that most amateurs and hobbyists simply do not have. No matter you wallet size, talk to them you may be surprised.

 

I filled a gash in the top of my cab where I accidentally slammed my new barbecue into it with dealer touch up paint. If you fill it correctly and the wet sand it smooth then put clear on it no one will see it but you. It blends pretty good if you don't know it's there and done right

 

Or just turn it into a beater and start some major off-roading

 

An LT kit should make the scratch unnoticeable. Or maybe a light bar on every side of the vehicle so no one sees it.

 

That escalated quickly. But I see the logic in it.

 

Haha. Never really have buyers remorse. But on my last truck I have found myself looking at my rig and asking " did I really need that...right now ".

 

Bummer, that "first" scratch is the hardest to deal with. Don't go the beater route. Go to a body shop, it'll be cheaper than you think and will be done right

 

Tacomas pick up scratches like nobody's business. You will probably have a half dozen decent scratches within a year or two. Chalk it up as an oops, hit it with a paint pen if you want, and move on. You will drive yourself nuts chasing them all the time.