How do I fix this?

[pandamonium]

No bodging tips tho, need to fix it properly!

[Torsten2001]

Professionally I'd suggest, I know some good people around my way if it comes to it!

[andrewp]

The first thing I would do is clean the area up and cover the bare metal and cracks in the paint with varnish or even nail polish so that rust does not take hold.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Yeah ist not really a bad one, if you've not done bodywork before or got any decent facilities, it'll be difficult to end up with something less noticeable than what you've got now! I'd probably suggest getting it to a pro to sort that.

[AnthonyG]

I would find a professional who is willing to do it - some hate working on 'old' cars, though.You could manage a reasonable job yourself with Halfords rattle cans and a bit of Kurust, but a pro will know precisely how much filler (a very thin 'skim') to put on the panel, and will have better paint equipment. I suspect the paint will need matching as well, can't imagine much Lada paint records/stocks around these days!P.S since you obviously care about the car, I would seriously consider a decent security device to protect it - Ladas are very simple (and therefore easy to steal). Either a big round metal shield that covers the whole steering wheel, or an immobiliser of some sort. Preferably both really.

[pandamonium]

I hardly ever park the car where it could be stolen, its always at home on my drive or at work in a secure-ish lot. I've just painted it with Kurust stuff now. Until I can afford to get it done properly.

[Marty]

I hardly ever park the car where it could be stolen, its always at home on my drive .

Mwahahahahahr!Had my Mk 3 Fiasco robbed off the drive, PIR floodlight and CCTV camera did not stop the scumbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahg screwdrivering the door lock and away - whole thing on camera took less than a minute.

[Dead_E23]

I would seriously consider a decent security device to protect it - Ladas are very simple (and therefore easy to steal). Either a big round metal shield that covers the whole steering wheel, or an immobiliser of some sort. Preferably both really.

I've got a Disklok on my p&j (which is also very simple and easy to steal), and sleep much better as a result. They're not cheap, but there's still time to send Santa out for one!

[Torsten2001]

One of my colleagues is a former car thief (I kid you not!) he says the only thing that he would not have attempted to nick was a car with a disc lock (the thing that covers the steering wheel) everything else is easy apparently!

[Dead_E23]

I'd heard that they're referred to as 'the cap' by car thieves, and that once they see one on a car they consider it game over. In order to make stealing my car as tiresome as possible I've fitted more than one immobiliser (nuff said, I think), so unless they come with a HIAB they'll need to set an afternoon aside and bring all their tools with them. Even the MOT man commented on what a sod it would be to steal! (Just off to check outside...)

[Guest]

Glad I'm not the only one with CCTV, admittedly mine is more so I can stare at the exciting lines of the Charmant all day, without having to go outside into the cold.

[bones96]

most of my cars have had a kill switch hidden under the dash somewhere as a anti theft device even the plod when they had to move my last car couldnt start it they had to phone me up at work lol to ask me if they could move it out of there way and how to start it