Time has come for a bit of tlc on the body front - a bit of rust has appeared on a rear arch. The old girl is 13 years old now, so, to be fair, she could do with a lick of paint.

The problem - repair and refresh in the original blue black mica.

Or, go for a full respray?

I do not want to make it look odd or too in yer face - I like the sleeper quality. I still want to keep the car in a shade of black or possibly dark grey or some kind.

Any opinions or colour recommendations? Once the body is under the knife I may well go for a new suspension and wheel combo, including the arches getting pulled/rolled to accomodate wider rubber. Again, any ideas. Aiming to seek out a good body shop in the NE in the coming months, so need to decide by then.

 

I actually really like the newage wagon in black, although I've never seen the blue black mica in the flesh, and I normally prefer black cars to be solid rather than metallic. I actually think a proper solid ink black (pic above looks solid!) would maybe best if future value is to be taken into consideration.

Alternatively I have a crystal grey blob wagon and actually I really like the 'slightly darker than silver' colour, but I think a darker pearl grey met would look really classy too, something like Audi Dolphine grey, but I'm sure there's better dark greys out there.

 

Nice looking wagon, reminds me of one i know lol. If it was me I would keep it the same colour.

 

I really do fancy a very dark metallic/pearl grey. Future value is a funny one, as the car is quite old and heavily modded, I suspect I'd break rather than sell the car on whole.

I will be visiting a few local bodyshops to get some ideas/quotes soon.

 

Well, she's off for a body refresh in a couple of weeks to a local body shop. Keeping the Blue/Black Mica, getting the scuffs painted (mirrors, bumpers, rear spoiler edge etc), rust removed from the rear arch, and a full machine polish. Just a smidge over £700. I may get a few more items done once she in so may get slightly higher.

 

£700!!!

Bargain!!! Where are you getting it done?

 

Corbridge Coachworks, just down the road.

 

Wow that does sound good.

 

make sure you get pics up!

 

Will do - need to take some pics as its been a year or so since the last ones. Car should be out mid Sept ish.

 

Well, the car is back from the body shop after its refresh. All the typical touch points have been made good - mirrors, all the corners. The rear spoiler re-done as it was always a bit marked since I bought it many moons ago. Wiper arms all done. Front bumper had numerous scuffs and scrapes - all fixed. Rust cut out of the rear wheel arch and made good. Full machine polish too. Very pleased with the end results. There are still a few scratches on the rear bumper where the dogs have kindly clawed on their way into the boot. But I'm not getting too picky about things like this, as the car is an everyday car and the dogs will continue to get in and out. Mind you, a fitted bumper protector would be good - any ideas?

All in all, with some extras that I had not quoted for, the job came to just over £800, which I think is reasonable. Pics are on a grassy incline in the back garden, so the angles are a bit funny!

 

Looking good, and I like the Prodrive front bumper. Any reason you didn't get the side skirts painted as well?

 

Must admit, the skirts never occurred to me. They are not smooth skirts - they feel textured to the touch, so I'm not sure how well paint would take. They could do with some back to black though, as they are looking a bit grey.

 

From one 'Wagoneer' to another: Very nice looking motor!

 

Very kind - I love it. It's got 'enough' in the engine department (I'm resisting the inevitable 2.35 etc etc!), its practical enough to fit the 2 labs in the back and is not too showy.

 

definitely need to get those skirts done bud! They can be done - my wagon looks so much better with the skirts colour coded and smoothed. It makes the car look so much lower. That aside - looking good though