Is it worth obsessing over your cars condition?
Discussion
After a recent "paint" incident on my car I've come to the conclusion that it really isn't worth obsessing about the cars superficial condition.
I could go and get my car resprayed, and then the next day some idiot come and key it.
Yes I shouldn't think like that but that's the reality.
Don't get me wrong, we all want nice looking shiny cars but no matter how careful we are things happen that are out of our control.
I've had nicer cars than I do now, and went to the hassle of parking miles away from other cars, but yet always found a car parked right next to me, or a random trolley next to my car.
Then there's the issue where you can drive carefully but all it takes is an idiot to crash into you causing damage.
It was the same when I'd obsess about washing and polishing my car, then feel sick when I had a stonechip etc.
I find once your car has a few marks you stop caring, and it's a much nicer feeling.
It's the same with having a clean car, I'd get annoyed after washing and polishing car when it got dirty, now though when you leave it dirty (outside, not inside) it's just less stressful.
How many of you have stopped caring? Should a car not be there to be driven rather than look nice?
As long as a car is mechanically sound then that's the most important thing no?
Or are some of you obsessed with your cars superficial condition and will feel sick at the slightest dent, and stone chip? And you find yourselves either taking up 2 spaces, or parking miles away...
I'd be interested to hear from those that have given up caring, and those that will go to great lengths to keep their cars looking "perfect"
I could go and get my car resprayed, and then the next day some idiot come and key it.
Yes I shouldn't think like that but that's the reality.
Don't get me wrong, we all want nice looking shiny cars but no matter how careful we are things happen that are out of our control.
I've had nicer cars than I do now, and went to the hassle of parking miles away from other cars, but yet always found a car parked right next to me, or a random trolley next to my car.
Then there's the issue where you can drive carefully but all it takes is an idiot to crash into you causing damage.
It was the same when I'd obsess about washing and polishing my car, then feel sick when I had a stonechip etc.
I find once your car has a few marks you stop caring, and it's a much nicer feeling.
It's the same with having a clean car, I'd get annoyed after washing and polishing car when it got dirty, now though when you leave it dirty (outside, not inside) it's just less stressful.
How many of you have stopped caring? Should a car not be there to be driven rather than look nice?
As long as a car is mechanically sound then that's the most important thing no?
Or are some of you obsessed with your cars superficial condition and will feel sick at the slightest dent, and stone chip? And you find yourselves either taking up 2 spaces, or parking miles away...
I'd be interested to hear from those that have given up caring, and those that will go to great lengths to keep their cars looking "perfect"
The one you keep in the garage you can worry about. The one you hack about in on a daily basis can be a heap and anyone who does it that way has it right in my book. Trying to drive around in something really pretty expecting it not to get covered in dents, chips and scratches (not to mention the R word) is a bit foolish.
I've never bought a car younger than 7 years so it comes with the territory. They're pre-worn and imperfect already so I just clean them every few months. I did replace the wing on the Mondeo because it had a large dent when I bought it.
I worry about the Cosmetic condition of the Caterham much less now I have crashed it a few times, so I recommend this if you're suffering guilt!
I worry about the Cosmetic condition of the Caterham much less now I have crashed it a few times, so I recommend this if you're suffering guilt!
A road cars condition is only technically 'of value' at the point of sale, the rest is just pride...
With Race and Rally cars it's all about the working machine, where it's value is in the component parts not necessarily the 'glossy paint'.
It's an eye opener to start with, but the best way to look at cars... 1000's of parts, of which the 'glossy bit' is but only one.
With Race and Rally cars it's all about the working machine, where it's value is in the component parts not necessarily the 'glossy paint'.
It's an eye opener to start with, but the best way to look at cars... 1000's of parts, of which the 'glossy bit' is but only one.
It is just a car but it's also something that you've worked hard to afford in the first place, even if you drive a £500 shed I think it's still perfectly reasonable to be upset when someone damages it due to their lack of respect for the property of others. Pride and joy comes in many forms.
From my experience the pain is dulled somewhat after the first scratch.
From my experience the pain is dulled somewhat after the first scratch.
I've never bothered too much about scratches and dings in my car, but then I can't say I've ever picked up any trolley/car park dings either, and neither of may cars seem to be overly affected by stone chips. Either it's because I don't notice, or these things only happen to people who care and try to avoid them?
Either way, the only real affect is on your pride and the cars retail value. As long as you can put up with the pride bit, don't bother repairing any dents of stone-chips until the week before you sell it.
Either way, the only real affect is on your pride and the cars retail value. As long as you can put up with the pride bit, don't bother repairing any dents of stone-chips until the week before you sell it.
The BMW has had to give up its garage space for the Lotus. I used to keep the BMW as mint as I could. Its got few stone chips and the front spoiler could do with being sprayed but its still in good nick. Its not nice seeing it getting dirty outside.
I will give it a full workover, but like you say is downheartening to see it getting dirty so quickly compared to being in the garage.
I will give it a full workover, but like you say is downheartening to see it getting dirty so quickly compared to being in the garage.
PumpkinSteve said:
It is just a car but it's also something that you've worked hard to afford in the first place, even if you drive a £500 shed I think it's still perfectly reasonable to be upset when someone damages it due to their lack of respect for the property of others. Pride and joy comes in many forms.
Absolutely.I don't think if I came out to my car and saw that someone had crashed into the side of it, I would just shrug and drive off as normal.
But I do wonder if now I'd even bother getting it sorted unless it was REALLY major.
When I used to get every little thing sorted on previous cars, it really felt like I was always chasing "perfection".
I'm at the stage where little door dings, stonechips etc do not phase me one bit, but recently I had a mad panic about damage to my paintwork, and was thinking about paying to get it sorted, then wondered what the point was.
Quotes have been absolutely extortiante, it needs a full respray to be sorted and I just don't think it's worth splashing out.
ejenner said:
The one you keep in the garage you can worry about. The one you hack about in on a daily basis can be a heap and anyone who does it that way has it right in my book.
What if your daily is not a heap? My BMW is a Total BMW magazine feature car. It now gets left on the street 
I hate having any scratches on my car or driving it dirty. When I first bought it I would wash it about twice a weeek!, but this has now been cut down to once a week after much piss taking from the family. I have to admit the more precious you are over a car the more things happen to it (in my experience anyway).
I'm not a perfectionist but i do like to keep my car looking reasonable. Some of my friends drive round in cars taped up with gaffa tape etc, i personally couldn't drive something in a dire state but as long as its relatively clean and dent free im happy.
At the end of the day worked to pay for my car so its only right that i want to look after it, same with most of my material possessions.
At the end of the day worked to pay for my car so its only right that i want to look after it, same with most of my material possessions.
Cotty said:
What if your daily is not a heap? My BMW is a Total BMW magazine feature car. It now gets left on the street
Well after being on the street for a little while it might well turn into one 
Seriously though, I do wonder what I'd be like with a really expensive car, it could go one of two ways, I'd either be so obsessed with it due to the cost, or be that rich that I didn't care.
I often see nice cars parked miles away, they are obviously people who worry about their cars, but then it is nice to see nice cars parked in the thick of things.
I remember when I had what was to me an expensive car, and I used to park miles away for fear of someone marking it, then I walked past a ferrari parked inbetween lots of cars, it made me feel like a bit of an idiot.
Or take that obsessive guy who detailed that astra vxr, yes it looked shiny, but does he even drive the car for fear of stonechips?! Yes it's nice having a clean car, but people forget that the paintwork is simply there to protect the metal.
I can understand it with a classic car that has been restored and is a summer toy, the owner gets his p[leasure from it being in good condition.
But someone with say a bmw diesel daily driver that obsesses with it is a bit odd in my opinion.
Edited by pops and bangs on Saturday 16th July 20:36
It's a machine that lets me get from A to B without getting tired, wet when it rains or having to sit with plebs on public transport.
It carries me, my family and piles of crap wherever and whenever we want to go.
It was my second most expensive purchase next to my house.
It can get filthy, scratched or dented, inside or out, but as long as it still does all of the above, I really don't care.
It's only a car...
It carries me, my family and piles of crap wherever and whenever we want to go.
It was my second most expensive purchase next to my house.
It can get filthy, scratched or dented, inside or out, but as long as it still does all of the above, I really don't care.
It's only a car...
Rubin215 said:
It's a machine that lets me get from A to B without getting tired, wet when it rains or having to sit with plebs on public transport.
It carries me, my family and piles of crap wherever and whenever we want to go.
It was my second most expensive purchase next to my house.
It can get filthy, scratched or dented, inside or out, but as long as it still does all of the above, I really don't care.
It's only a car...
you are hereby banished from PH!! It carries me, my family and piles of crap wherever and whenever we want to go.
It was my second most expensive purchase next to my house.
It can get filthy, scratched or dented, inside or out, but as long as it still does all of the above, I really don't care.
It's only a car...
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