Anyone who lives in Chicago and owns a car is well resigned to the bumps, dings, dents and scraps that happen as a natural course of just parking on a Chicago street. Which is one of the reasons I'll probably never buy a new car as long as I live here.
Sometimes the dings are so small, and you know they'll simply come back, so you leave them alone. But I have to say, there comes a point when you really, really need to get the car fixed.
Take my friend Dan, for example. He bought the new Mazda MX-5 when it first came out in 2005 as a 2006 model. He loved that car. In fact, before he bought it, he asked if I got one as a test car, could he please take a ride with me and then put some stuff in the trunk to see how it fit. After that test, he bought one pretty immediately. And was pleased as punch.
Then 3 months later, someone side swiped him and tore off his side mirror. So, he taped it back on. About a week or two later, some guy hit him from behind, leaving his back bumper askew. Then there was the hit the left front fender took from another ill-aimed driver. Oh, and most recently, there was a vandal who decided to take a slice out of the rag top.
Due to the bad economy, job changes and two daughters who got married, fixing the MX-5 hasn't been a priority. I get that. I do. But it's been almost 5 years now. So, Dan, I have to say: It's time.
Therefore, I figured I'd do a blog post, and appeal to anyone out there who:
- Can fix the car cost effectively
- Knows of a great mechanic
- Has some ideas on quick fixes that would be less obvious but also cheap
Any general advice will do.
On another note, anyone else out there "creatively" fix their cars with duct tape, hangers, etc.? I would love to post a photo gallery if you'll send photos to jillciminillo@gmail.com.
