When we're looking a bit tired, we nip off to a beauty salon or spa for a few treatments so why shouldn't we do it for our cars?
MINI
MAKEOVER
I bought my wife this beautiful blue Mini Cooper eight years ago for Christmas - bit extravagant I know but it was well deserved, trust me, and the only brand new car she's ever owned.
Over the years I've asked if she'd like to change it but on the two occasions we seriously went looking for a replacement, we came right back to the Mini Cooper and, quite honestly, there didn't seem much point selling a perfectly good, low mileage Mini only to replace it with another on finance.
However, since 2003, the Mini had picked up several scrapes and little dings. Someone had reversed into the rear bumper at some point (and not owned up) and while not serious damage, it was noticeable. The paintwork was generally a little tired all over and the black parts on the car had faded to a rather dull grey. All in all, this once stunning little number was sadly past its best. Chatting to a friend, he suggested getting a cost for sprucing it up at Davies Motor Company. They were Bentley and Aston Martin approved and said that this was the place companies take their second-hand vehicles to have them prepared for resale. Great idea, I thought, and immediately made an appointment (not telling my wife, thinking this was another opportunity to give her a nice suprise). I was given a quotation and agreed to drop the Mini off - the work would take a week. I fabricated a plausible story about the Mini needing some mechanical repairs.
A week later, we picked up our 'brand new' Mini from Davies Motor Company. I say brand new because that's what it is essentially. The car has been completely transformed. The rear bumper was repaired and resprayed and the rest of the car machine-polished and all the little dents, scratches and scrapes miraculously removed.
The alloy wheels which were covered in scratches and scrapes from too many brushes with kerbs are now like new. All the dull black mirror bases and wiper arms have been sprayed and are like new. Add in a new set of number plates, wiper blades and wheel centres and you're looking at a car that looks as good as when it came off the production line.
To say this eight-year-old Mini looks as new would be an understatement. Honestly, if it wasn't for the number plate, you couldn't tell it from new. It's gorgeous again and my wife is delighted! In aesthetic terms, the makeover is superb and in financial terms it makes perfect sense. These are austere times so if you have a car that you love that is essentially good for its age, but looks a little tired, why not go for a makeover rather than a full replacement. Our Mini has more or less stopped depreciating so we're enjoying free motoring now bar ongoing wear and tear. The whole exercise cost less than £1,000 and has almost certainly added that in value and there's no reason we couldn't go back to Davies Motor Company in a few years for another quick makeover just to keep on top of things. It's certainly in our diary.
