Before I threw the car out of alignment last week I bought some touch-up paint for my car, Nissan Opal Blue. I was reading online that as long as you own a grinder already, it only costs about $25 in primer, paint, sandpapers, and supplies to fix a rust spot. Since boyfriend owns a handy-dandy Dremel tool with a grinder attachment, he attempted a fix for me over the holiday weekend.
It’s a small spot of rust on the front body panel where a hit and run driver tapped me. (I hope to god his silver Audi A4 has a bigger mark with his more expensive car. phbphtpthtb!) It creased slightly and I left it alone unsure if I wanted to sink any money into a new body panel. Over time, it chipped and rusted into a 2 sq. inch spot.
When I took the car into a body shop to replace a bumper cover, I asked the guy about the rust. He said it would take a little while for the rust to eat through, a few years at least. I could just leave it alone, but since it’s a cheap repair, I want to give it a try. The car is worth a laughable $2000.00 at this point. But at least it won’t wear through in rust. Boyfriend ground it down to metal and applied the paint without a problem. It’s not shiny with a clearcoat on it, but c’est la vie. Good enough. It took about an hour and I can always hit it up with clear later.
I will have to sink the money into fixing the rear struts on my car, but it’s a very expensive repair. I want to get past my renovations first and a renter into the place before I think about spending another $800 for a $2k car.
And of course, in the midst of this, a little white rock hit my windshield this morning and I cracked my windshield for the very first time on this car. It only took 8.5 years. Tack on another $250 for that.
I am thinking that for $1600 in service this year, that I could *still* keep my car because that’s equivalent to about 5 car payments at $300 each. I also save the environment from outgassing plastics (which make me vomit. I hate ‘new car smell’.) and landfill. I’d feel guilty about this, but I still get 24+mpg on my car and about 29mpg on the highway. I am ineligible for any cash-for-clunkers program.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Ugh, cracked windshields are just frustrating. Is it the spider webby looking crack? Or is it something smaller that can be sort of repaired so that it doesn’t spread across the entire ’shield?
Or are you just going to replace the whole thing?
Hey! Check with your car insurance about the windshield. When I had a car, if you got a chip in the windshield, they would send someone to your house or office to fix it (I think they filled it or something) for free.
I hate the idea of getting rid of a free of car payments that still runs fine. I may not be shiny and new but your back account will be.
I hate car issues! Always cost an arm and a leg.
Hi! I work for Washingtonian magazine- I’m compiling a photo essay about people who love their old cars even though they may cause endless drama and you and your car sound perfect! If you’d like to featured, pls email at sgilbert@washingtonian.com. Many thanks.