I had a kind person recently parked next to the Sportage and opened their rear door and left a scuff breaking the varnish finish next to the fuel filler above the rear near side wheel arch.

will get ir done when i see me mate.

I had a bicycle stand collapse in my garage, dropping a bike on my (10 year old) mx-5.

The bonnet sustained most of the damage. It's aluminium.

The wing picked up a couple of very minor dents, but didn't break the paint.

I can't see any of them from the driver's seat, so tempted to just leave them.

"Another reason why I typically run older cars."

Me too. When I was running my old (black) X type I used black nail varnish to touch up scrapes - much cheaper than 'official' touch-up paint. When cured and polished it was acceptable from a distance.

I did the same with my last car, an 07 Lacetti SW (also black). It was already a '3 yard' car (looks OK from three yards away) when I bought it and I aspired to no more than keeping it reasonably respectable from a distance. It's quite liberating not to worry about your 'pride and joy'. Shrug and keep things in perspective. It's quite illuminating to stand and watch a supermarket car park, or a McDonalds. Large numbers of big SUVs or VW Transporter 'Family' vans, or converted camper vans, with doors flung open with gay abandon and no regard for others.

I bought my current car (a black i10) a week ago. Mechanically very good (may need a new a/c compressor) and bodywork excellent - but I've found on the top of a rear door substantial corrosion under the rubber seal. Shows as minor bubbling on the outside and had been touched up but remove the seal and it's more serious, almost through. Local bodyshop suggests it might need a bit of welding and quotes £250+. Found another bit on the other rear door too. Final bill could easily be £400.

So I'm in abit of a quandary. Spend to have it done professionally, or do it myself, sanding back, using Jenolite, filler and rattle can (probable cost £50 ish). I'm tempted towards the latter - not primarily because of the cost but because although I hope that this car will be a long-term keeper it (and all cars) are always vulnerable to the £200+ 'minor damage. Generally I'm happy if my car looks reasonably clean and respectable, not bothered if it's not perfect.

Note: I believe that this car may have been built in India. There were known problems with Dacia Dusters built there with corrosion. Thinking about how it got into the rubber seal area, I wonder if the car has been a regular visitor to enthusiastic car washes. The industrial strength pressure washers they use (combined with who knows what chemicals) can easily force water where it wasn't meant to go, and it sits there. I have applied some ACF50 and have some Jenolite waxoil on order to do a full job.

If you see a car parked well away from everyone else even if I have to walk a lot further then that's me although sometimes cannot be avoided but even then I am picky and avoid the big wide ones if possible

If one panel has been damaged then usually they blend in and extra panel or two on the same side in my experience. It depends on the person's skills, like all trades there are good and bad ones out there. I think it depends on the colour as well, some are harder to blend in.

Quotes were varied from £400 to £200 from a well known come to you lot, my indie recommended a body shop near him and the job cost £200.