Hit and run on my Prado's front bumper

[d1cecub3 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close d1cecub3]

So being on holidays we drove up from Melbourne to QLD's Surfer's Paradise and after shopping for nye food at Queensland's Australia Fair shopping center. I return to find my car had been hit and not a single note was left - and with no witnesses or and cctv around the area I parked, I have no chance of chasing this one up. It's not the damage that gets to me I understand that everyone is only human and mistakes are made, what gets to me is the fact that some people are so careless and can do such a thing without taking responsibility for their actions.

Oh well I'll look on the bright side, everyone I love is well. All's well, ends well... time for an ARB Bullbar/Warn winch upgrade when I get back home. Though my only question is; with the current damage on the bumper, will they be able to put an ARB Bullbar in? If not can you guys please give me some suggestions on other bullbar. I was thinking of AFN bullbar from Wolf 4x4 in QLD - though I am unsure of any reputable bullbar/winch installers in Melbourne (any suggestions would be great).

Thanks all! Stay safe all and have a prosperous and happy new year!

[ben29150 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ben29150]

Gee some people are just pricks!

[blackve Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close blackve]

low lifes, I just don't understand.

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

What pricks. Being a GC local though it doesn't surprise me. Ppl have no courtesy here and some just have nfi what's going on around them. Wouldn't surprise me if it was some oldie driving by feel.
You'll still be ok for a bullbar mate. That bumper may even pop out with minimal paint stretch if you get to it asap. I can recommend a smash repairer locally if you're still up here.

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

Franchise removalists are the worst in Sydney for this sort of thing these days. They maneuver in tight streets not giving a flying f$%# what they damage with their truck. I have had two vehicles damaged and personally witnessed a removalist truck reverse up my street scraping three vehicles and no even slowing down. The driver didn't bat an eyelid, parking his truck and proceeding to get to work. When confronted he couldn't see what all the fuss was about.

[d1cecub3 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close d1cecub3]

Yep, it is very frustrating to know that there are people out there who just don't give a damn. I've always wanted to buy a brand new Prado and after all these years I finally can afford one; I go through extra lengths to ensure I don't get hit by car doors by parking to curb edges as close as possible or ensuring My nose doesn't stick out too much. Well I guess it goes to show if you are a really unlucky it doesn't matter what you do.

thanks Bill Or - but there isn't any scratches just paint transfer and the nasty indentation so I'll just leave it until I get back home to Melbourne.

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

You need a steel or alloy bar, though the Toyota bar looks as ugly as f*#*.

I always reverse into a parking spot, with the steel bar sticking out at the front. Most drivers drive straight into a spot, then have a very difficult time reversing out, and that is when the parking lot dings occur.

[gspy4u Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gspy4u]

That's why i hate shopping centres so much. Just about all the panel damage I have ever had on most of my cars throughout the years has been from lame pricks at the car parks. Whether its from stupid trolleys or stupid people who can't park or stupid fat pigs that smack there door into yours. ARRRR drives me nuts. Thankfully the prado has the side steps which seem to take most of the cars door hits. Seriously, is it that hard to consider others these day.

An excuse to get a bullbar now I guess.

[d1cecub3 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close d1cecub3]

Yep - I was always on the fence about getting a bullbar because it is just still new. But this just pushed me over and now I can't justify spending money on getting me vehicle to the same condition. I'd rather spend a bit more money on upgrading it.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

But this just pushed me over and now I can't justify spending money on getting me vehicle to the same condition.

Pretty much the same thing happened to our previous 95 Series but the prick even managed to push in one of the headlights (snapped the internal mounting post too). No note left and no witnesses, they just left it. No way the person who did the damage can not have known, just lowlife scum who don't give a toss. I figured by the time I spent a grand replacing the bumper I may as well fork out the extra for a bull bar.

That ding in you bar should push out OK, I had a similar one on the rear bar repaired and repainted for ~$500. Since a lot of the bumper would need to be cut to fit a bull bar anyway they might even fix it as part of the bull bar install and not charge too much extra.

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Whether its from stupid trolleys or stupid people who can't park or stupid fat pigs that smack there door into yours.

Hahaha.

Some of them are too fat to get into their cars, so they swing the door wide open. I have seen a few push the door open with their feet as they are too f***ing fat to get out like a 'normal' human.

[Thruster Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Thruster]

Mate, have a talk to centre management. A lot of the shopping centres here have a few cameras aroundt they might be able to see if they can get you a licence plate or something else to identify them.

Agree with the other comments about drivers around these parts. My girlfriend's car was hit in our unit complex leaving a nice white streak of paint off their car across the front bumper. Most hilarious thing was the white car that did it was still parked there when I found it, made catching up with the culprit pretty easy!

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

This is one of the reasons I installed a dashcam on my rig. At least I'll get the rego of a car clipping me for the police/insurance company. Might even help if some low life prick decides to pinch my lights...

Nonetheless the damage looks repairable by way of a heat gun... Dent should pop right out. Top section that is left after it gets cut when installing the bar doesn't look too bad. You'll be right!

[Limo Guy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Limo Guy]

Check with ARB as they remove a fair bit of the bumper to install their bars.
Looking at mine I think they will remove the damaged section during install

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

So being on holidays we drove up from Melbourne to QLD's Surfer's Paradise and after shopping for nye food at Queensland's Australia Fair shopping center. I return to find my car had been hit and not a single note was left - and with no witnesses or and cctv around the area I parked, I have no chance of chasing this one up. It's not the damage that gets to me I understand that everyone is only human and mistakes are made, what gets to me is the fact that some people are so careless and can do such a thing without taking responsibility for their actions.

Oh well I'll look on the bright side, everyone I love is well. All's well, ends well... time for an ARB Bullbar/Warn winch upgrade when I get back home. Though my only question is; with the current damage on the bumper, will they be able to put an ARB Bullbar in? If not can you guys please give me some suggestions on other bullbar. I was thinking of AFN bullbar from Wolf 4x4 in QLD - though I am unsure of any reputable bullbar/winch installers in Melbourne (any suggestions would be great).

Thanks all! Stay safe all and have a prosperous and happy new year!

You can fix that with a shovel, I did the exact same thing last week at work, hit a construction fence and blew the passenger corner in about the size of a water melon.

When I came home I just unclipped the splash guard and put my long handled shovel in and it popped it right out, no evidence it ever happened. Quick wash on the corner and a rub to remove the paint that was stuck on it and bobs your uncle.

Seriously it took me longer to unclip the splash guard (about 2mins) then it did to pop it back out (about 15sec). Those black marks will rub off with your finger.

Don't waste $2500 on a bulbar unless you want one.