How picky are you with your car?

RAPID_BA · 21-08-2011, 09:19 PM

How picky are you with your car?

I am very picky. I recently picked up a set of bf original tail lights cleaned them up and put them on. ( I have a ba) In the day they look fabulous but at night when turning on the lights, the lenses is clear and can see a slight scratch on the glass (or plastic). The bottom part in the light is mirrored and there is a slight mark inside on them ever so slight. 99% of people wouldn't even notice but when you know it bothers me. If you are behind the car looks great.

I'm thinking of buying a brand new set as I just want it perfect.

Am I just too picky?

If my rims ever get a mark on them I would go out and buy a new set. If exhaust makes any strange noise well ill get a new exhaust. Is this too picky?

How picky are you with your car?

Whiskeyonesix · 21-08-2011, 09:41 PM

I'm not very picky at all! As long as it starts, goes and stops it's fine with me! I keep on top of anything that needs repair, but I wouldn't just go out and replace a perfectly legal part cos it looks a bit duff - of course, I'm notoriously tight-fisted so thats probably just me

Hey, if you feel the need to go out and buy a new exhaust or Alloys or whatever, it's your money and your car

I've spent serious cash in the past doing up motors that just weren't worth the money - except in my eyes of course.

XRGhia · 21-08-2011, 09:43 PM

As long as it runs, idgaf....

kenz · 21-08-2011, 09:46 PM

if you're as picky as you make out to be why did you even bother with a used set of lights to clean them up when you are only guna buy a brand new set anyway

Windsor342ci · 21-08-2011, 09:51 PM

Hulk Im probably similar to u mate. Not as full on. If I was confident it wasnt noticable then id be happy to wear it.

You mentioned rims aswel, Im actually getting my front left 20" shadow chrome rim repaired on Tuesday as I hit it on the way up the car carrier I got. First time Im using someone to fix the chips. He thinks he can get it as good as new!!! We'll wait and see....

Fordman · 21-08-2011, 09:55 PM

Yer im pretty crazy on some things too, after i shammy my car down, i walk around inspecting it for ages, making sure it looks immaculate. -and scratch-x-ing any small imperfections. I cant half-*** a job on my car its gotta be good.

**fordomatic** · 21-08-2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fordman

Yer im pretty crazy on some things too, after i shammy my car down, i walk around inspecting it for ages, making sure it looks immaculate. -and scratch-x-ing any small imperfections. I cant half-*** a job on my car its gotta be good.

scratch ex doesn't solve any problems

Im with you hulk, even with my front bar i usually get it resprayed once a year. i refuse to buy a car bra as i like my car being naked but i cant stand the smallest stone chips. recently i found a really small swirl mark on the roof as soon as i got home i got the buffer out and removed it. after every wash i inspect the paint for the slightest marks. i am definitely OCD with my car, but at the same time i drive it and enjoy it, i think that is the main thing. no point being pedantic about a car and not using it.

TheZHLANE · 21-08-2011, 10:04 PM

When i get a small unoticable chip on my bumper i get the whole thing rechromed..

Ryan · 21-08-2011, 10:15 PM

After I drive I ALWAYs brush off my floor mats. In fact anything that makes the interior untidy does this to me.

Smoke Pursuit · 21-08-2011, 10:27 PM

You will find those BF tailights come like that from the factory.. They arent exactly high quality...

I bought a set for my BA back in 2005, and they were scratches and had glue inside the lense...

Don't waste your money.

JG65TE · 21-08-2011, 10:30 PM

you blokes have too much money on ya hands.

RAPID_BA · 21-08-2011, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenz

if you're as picky as you make out to be why did you even bother with a used set of lights to clean them up when you are only guna buy a brand new set anyway

I grabbed em as my mate was trading how bf in. They look immaculate in day but under lights a slight slight mark. Bugs me as my ba lights are mint

Mr Hardware · 21-08-2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JG65TE

you blokes have too much money on ya hands.

QFT.
I'm far, far too busy to give a rats about some unnoticeable scratch on some taillight of some 8 year old falcoon.

Road Games · 21-08-2011, 10:39 PM

I vacuum my exhaust pipe ...

after i polish my dipstick

and i don't own a Kingswood either ...

geckoGT · 21-08-2011, 11:03 PM

Bugger, I missed this thread. I was too busy glad wrapping the hubcaps.

Ford_The_Win · 21-08-2011, 11:04 PM

I'm very particular with the interior of my car, it gets a good vacuum out every couple of weeks, always spotless. I can't stand getting into a car with dust, fluff and dirt everywhere, and brown fingerstains on the gear lever, steering wheel etc. As for the outside I couldn't really care that much. I wash and polish regularly so it looks great most of the time, but my paintwork is buggered, full of scratches and marks and the clear is just starting to blush. Mechanically I keep it well maintained, but the suspension and brakes are buggered and it makes a lot of weird noises I choose to ignore.

RAPID_BA · 22-08-2011, 12:12 AM

Im probably being a little over the top about my light. No cracks or anything, just because the outa plastic is clear you can see any imperfections at night once the bulb lights it up. Being veeeeery picky but when it bugs you it bugs you. When no lights on looks perfect. Can only see when standing directly above car looking at bottom mirrored part.

geckoGT · 22-08-2011, 12:18 AM

You do realise they are a mass produced family car, not a limited production exotic? Sure I am fussy with my cars, I keep the interiors very clean, the exterior is well looked after and waxed regularly but there are limits on a daily driver.

robbyj · 22-08-2011, 12:57 AM

a p plater modified 99 AU falcon is practically worthless these days, i used to wash my car about twice a week, make sure no rubbish or anything was left in it. A few things bug me now with it, 20's have a few marks, a few rattles from the sub.
Nowadays though i let things slide, and just enjoy the car for what it is, having a bit of fun along the way

Donny · 22-08-2011, 01:01 AM

Hulk Bullpit

svo supporter · 22-08-2011, 01:16 AM

Is the car a trailer queen? If not, just drive it and enjoy it.

Mine. It gets a clean once a month, serviced every 10,00K and any mechanical things that need replacing, gets done when required.

If I was to worry about stone chips, I wouldn't even look at driving out the gate.

pottery beige · 22-08-2011, 01:39 AM

if its dirty i wash it.... if it breaks i fix it....

**SSD-85** · 22-08-2011, 01:42 AM

I keep my dailys' aesthetically presentable & in good running order, all to my own standard. Anything beyond that is being pedantic & a waste of time/effort IMO.

XF Falcon · 22-08-2011, 01:51 AM

I'm extremely fussy when it comes to my cars, so IMO buying new taillights cos you arent 100% happy with them is normal

Just ask to be able to open the box and inspect it before you walk out of there, just in case the new one has a factory defect in it.

I bought a new LHS foglamp as my RHS got a crack from a rock. I couldn't have one side new and one side with a few stone chips in it!

End of the day, its your car, and when you get someone complementing how nice it is, it makes up for all the countless hours/$$$ you have spent on it

Danny · 22-08-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoGT

You do realise they are a mass produced family car, not a limited production exotic? Sure I am fussy with my cars, I keep the interiors very clean, the exterior is well looked after and waxed regularly but there are limits on a daily driver.

Damn it Gecko, words outta my mouth again.

Was just about to say Hulk BA that out of the 25Gazillion BA Falcons there are on the road, no one is going to notice a small spec on the taillight of one, especially when most BA's are in shocking, bumper falling off, faded and farting condition. You're being precious my friend.

**DJR-351** · 22-08-2011, 11:00 AM

If i get a stone chip i wreck the car and buy a new one....

**GasoLane** · 22-08-2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

Being veeeeery picky but when it bugs you it bugs you. When no lights on looks perfect. Can only see when standing directly above car looking at bottom mirrored part.

I hope you put tyre dressing on the inside of your steer tyres, in case anyone happens to look at them when your parking on full lock.

Ben73 · 22-08-2011, 11:12 AM

My daily has had a 1cm chip out of the back bumper for a year now.
If I had a rare weekend car I'd probably be a bit more caring over the smaller details.

RAPID_BA · 22-08-2011, 11:20 AM

I thought I'd sleep on it and have a look in the morning. In the day they look perfect. Not a mark on it. Even for my standards I'm being too picky. I'm gonna keep em.

The problem with most people is they let the little things slide and before you know it they all tally up and your car is no longer mint condition.

I looked at a car once for sale described as immaculate. When I got there it was all stone chipped all over the place on the front end and there was a scrape mark on front bar. I said you call that immaculate? He said it only costs $200 to respray front. I said so why didn't you get it done then?

He knew I'd caught him out

Smoke Pursuit · 22-08-2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

I thought I'd sleep on it and have a look in the morning. In the day they look perfect. Not a mark on it. Even for my standards I'm being too picky. I'm gonna keep em.

The problem with most people is they let the little things slide and before you know it they all tally up and your car is no longer mint condition.

I looked at a car once for sale described as immaculate. When I got there it was all stone chipped all over the place on the front end and there was a scrape mark on front bar. I said you call that immaculate? He said it only costs $200 to respray front. I said so why didn't you get it done then?

He knew I'd caught him out

Problem is when buying used cars most people dont care. Dealers are reluctant to fix issues until people bring them to their attention... Like scraped front bars for example, if they fix them then someone scrapes the bar again in the yard or on a test drive they are no better off. Most of the time they will fix the issues before delivery if you ask them to and put it on the contract.

Sadly cars that are driven daily just cannot be kept mint, my FG XR6 I just traded did not have 1 single scratch or dint on it, but it had several stone chips and scrapes under the front bar (simply because I used it everyday).

Theres only so much you can do to keep a car like brand new, they eventually do get the odd nock / dint / scratch.