To repair, or not to repair?

[john.wigley]

Reading a recent thread regarding the repair of minor bodywork damage got me thinking.

While I can understand someone spending several (many) thousands of pounds on a motor car both wanting it to look it's best and also being prepared to spend not inconsiderable sums on keeping it that way, I take a different view.

As someone who spends hundreds rather than thousands on a car, I tend to shrug off minor damage - stone chips, car park 'dings', bumper scuffs, minor vandal damage and such like. If it neither affects the way the car drives nor significantly detracts from it's resale value I don't worry about it.

To me, bodywork damage falls into one of two categories - structural or cosmetic. Cars have improved massively in the last 40 years to the extent that structural - unless as the result of an accident - has virtually disappeared. I bought a Mini new in 1978 and, despite paying extra for an 'Endrust' treatment, it required major 'surgery' after only four years. Similarly, we bought a year old Maxi in 1983 and 18 months later it needed a complete bottom half respray because of advanced rust.

When the Mini was a year old, someone nicked the badges off the boot and bonnet whist it was parked at work. Because I did not want to replace them only to have someone nick the replacements, and because it did not affect the way the car ran, I left it that way until I sold it five years later.

Perhaps this has influenced my thinking, but minor cosmetic damage does not bother me. £150 pays for three fill-ups or will buy two new tyres. You would need to get my arm very far up my back to persuade me to spend that amount on removing a scratch or a bumper scuff! Another consideration would be how long I needed to work to earn the amount being spent, and then convince myself that it was a reasonable exchange.

I'm not saying that is the right approach for everyone, just my personal philosophy! Does anyone feel the same?

Regards, John.

[luggsey]

My car has a nice patina of scratches and dings, most there when I bought it and a couple more in the last couple of years.
If the car I buy is significantly cheaper because of minor cosmetic damage that's a plus for me!
As long as it's mostly tidy and mechanically sound and safe that's all I need.


I also like the 185bhp when it's running well!

[ThomasG]

A bit, yes. And again, a bit for no..
Like you, I don't pay muchattention to cosmetic damage, but this is caused by the age/value of my car.
Years back I would spend better part of £100 just buying waxes, shiners etc.
Now I can't see the point.
Its not like I'm planning to hang to her for much longer.
Then again- if I will manage to get what I think I want as her replacement..
I'd quite seriously consider taking it abroad to certain country, and fund a ceramic coating.
For myself I call it laziness- no weekly wash+wax+polish+wax hardener+polish again..

[DaveNP]

Originally Posted by luggsey

My car has a nice patina ...

^ Most definitely this ^

Mines not a rust bucket, it is a Volvo after all, but with the laquer peel on the bonnet and the scuffs on the bumpers, it's certainly not polished.

[canis]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

I'm not saying that is the right approach for everyone, just my personal philosophy! Does anyone feel the same?

I absolutely feel the same, indeed I do. Although vehilce body repair was my profession of choice, back when I was choosing a profession, it's not something I've ever bothered about myself.

To me, a car is a tool. Of course I like it to look clean and presentable, but not to the extent of the "Toucha ma car, I smasha ya face" extent some people go to. I prefer it to be all one colour if I can.

But then, I'm not the kind of guy who spends 50k on a car. More like £50. If I had spent 50k on a car, I'd certainly want to keep it looking it's best. It'd wrankle me though. I'd never risk it out in public! I also wouldn't be laying a tarpaulin in the boot, and shovelling in rubble, soil and debris. Nor would I be loading it with logs. Or dogs. And I certainly wouldn't be heaving an old washing machine I've found into it, and then stacking around about 15 bricks because they look nice and will do for a garden project I've had in mind.

I should buy a pick-up really. Why don't Volvo make pick-ups?

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

Reading a recent thread regarding the repair of minor bodywork damage got me thinking.

While I can understand someone spending several (many) thousands of pounds on a motor car both wanting it to look it's best and also being prepared to spend not inconsiderable sums on keeping it that way, I take a different view.

As someone who spends hundreds rather than thousands on a car, I tend to shrug off minor damage - stone chips, car park 'dings', bumper scuffs, minor vandal damage and such like. If it neither affects the way the car drives nor significantly detracts from it's resale value I don't worry about it.

To me, bodywork damage falls into one of two categories - structural or cosmetic. Cars have improved massively in the last 40 years to the extent that structural - unless as the result of an accident - has virtually disappeared. I bought a Mini new in 1978 and, despite paying extra for an 'Endrust' treatment, it required major 'surgery' after only four years. Similarly, we bought a year old Maxi in 1983 and 18 months later it needed a complete bottom half respray because of advanced rust.

When the Mini was a year old, someone nicked the badges off the boot and bonnet whist it was parked at work. Because I did not want to replace them only to have someone nick the replacements, and because it did not affect the way the car ran, I left it that way until I sold it five years later.

Perhaps this has influenced my thinking, but minor cosmetic damage does not bother me. £150 pays for three fill-ups or will buy two new tyres. You would need to get my arm very far up my back to persuade me to spend that amount on removing a scratch or a bumper scuff! Another consideration would be how long I needed to work to earn the amount being spent, and then convince myself that it was a reasonable exchange.

I'm not saying that is the right approach for everyone, just my personal philosophy! Does anyone feel the same?

Regards, John.

Not really John,

doesn't matter how old the car I'm driving is, I don't want it to look like a banger. I'm currently having my 1986 745 restored, financial sense ? No, but I'm not interested in anyone's opinion on that decision.

Jon.

[green van man]

I found years ago if it looked clean and tidy you were less of a target for the traffic police.
It's stayed with me.

Paul.

[john.wigley]

Thank you, everyone, for your insightful responses.

Like 'luggsey' and 'DaveNP', I feel that my V70 is nicely patinated too, and does not in the least resemble a 'banger'. I therefore very much agree with Jon ('Prufrock') that I don't want it to look like one either! I agree with 'canis' in that I prefer mine to be clean and presentable and all one colour as well, and with Paul ('GVM') that a clean car is less likely to attract unwanted attention by the Police.

If my car sustains damage which I can reverse with a touch-up stick or the application of a little 'T-Cut', I will do so, and it also gets washed once in a while, too. Having said that, I find that a little road grime can actually improve it's appearance by masking the odd imperfection!

Our 'D' reg 745 still looked decent at 28 years old - owned by us for 18 - and was only retired due to terminal structural corrosion underneath leading to a failed MOT. We paid £550 for it's replacement - our 'V' reg V70. It too looks decent - Linda would refuse to be seen in it if it didn't - but unsurprisingly it does have the odd mark and bumper scuff. To spend £150 on it's repair would represent more than a quarter of the purchase price and increase it's value little if at all. Had I spent £5500 on a motor car, I might think differently, but I would also have been more exacting in my search for a used car in the first place.

I guess if one is going to show one's car that would take the discussion to another level; one where one could justify the cost as with any other 'hobby' expenditure, but for everyday motoring I really an not overly concerned by the presence of the odd blemish on an 18 year old car.

Regards. John.

[domhart10]

Sorry have to disagree. regardless of the age of the car all mine I like to look after and fix up where I can so it looks as presentable as possible.

Just feels nice keeping the car looking good. Regardless of what it is.

All down to opinion obviously

[Welton]

The problem I have seen is that if you did opt for a respray down one panel or the whole side due to a key scratch or whatever then the "finished job" is very often far worse than the damage was.

Water-based paints and lacking skills I guess but I've seen some shocking 'new' paint finishes which totally ruin the car.