The new car experience

Two Fridays ago, I picked up the first brand new car that I have ever personally bought in 18 years. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, but it is no weirder than a pilot saying that it’s the first time he has ever bought an airline ticket. In our line of work, there’s just no need to. And that’s both a good and a bad thing.

To be honest, I was worried that after so many years having all these incredible test drives delivered to my house, I have become desensitized. But when the moment arrived, nothing could have been further from the truth.

Like a love-sick teenager, I even stayed up that night staring at my new ride through the dining room window and wrote a mushy blog about the whole experience. Seriously. Like I don’t have enough deadlines already. If you want to hear what the 9-year old version of me sounds like in 600 words, just go to my website. Quick, before I gather my composure and pull it down.

In a perfect world, everyone would experience the joy of owning a brand new car at least once in their life. But no world is perfect––we live in the perfect example of that.

But while not everyone may get to experience the joy of driving out of a dealership with the plastic still on the seats and visors, wondering what is a reasonable time frame to leave them on, I just recently stumbled across the next best thing to the brand new feeling: professional auto detailing with specialty paint protection.

Funny, but my brother tried this service out last Friday––the exact same day that I picked up my new car. And when we met up the following day, I don’t know who was gushing more. Pathetic, as a word, doesn’t quite cut it. It was painful for our wives to watch.

You see my brother has this 1998 E39 5 series BMW that had not been driven in almost two years. In its day, it was as regal as they come, many actually preferring it to the “Bangled” version that replaced it, but the harsh tropical sun and the acid rain had washed away all its confidence, making her feel unworthy of even the most casual glances from those who remembered her in her prime.

Dust and grime had settled on the paint and cheap car washes only forced the dirt deeper into the diminishing layers, causing swirl marks, scratches, and just a general layer of ugh. Inside, the tan leather had lost its natural oils through years of dust, dirt and humidity conspiring together to clog the pores and trap themselves in the grain, making her look haggard, washed up, or basically like the mechanical expression of that famous mug shot of Janet Napoles.

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

So I convinced my brother to try a brand new home service detailing company called James car care. No, I don’t own it; I just liked the name. That, plus it is actually owned by the same guys who run Yushoken, which is that famous ramen house in Alabang. I figured if they could do half as good a job on the detailing as they do with their Tan Tan Men, then my brother’s car would be in great hands. Or I’d get free ramen as an apology. Either way, it’s win-win.

Now it’s not cheap; basic detailing starts at P3,500. But if you want the package that includes the Sonax paint sealant, it comes out to P9,500. It takes 10 hours to complete and they need at least a day or two’s notice. My brother was skeptical at first, but I assured him that, the owners being car fanatics themselves, we had automotive pride as a guarantee of quality.

I popped around to his place to take a couple of ‘before’ shots, then left once the guy arrived promptly at our scheduled 10am agreed time. But before I did, I asked if he could do something about a very stubborn sticker stain that was on the hood of my car that had been left behind by a decal. I had tried buffing it out before, but it wouldn’t budge. Fifteen minutes of magic with this guy, and there’s not a mark on it. It was a very good start.

After 10 solid hours on the car, including taking a toothbrush to the engine, the humble E39 stood proudly once more. Years of neglect had been chemically removed from the surface and the Sonax finish had put a level of depth to that rich green paint that didn’t just give it that wet look, but  more importantly, allowed you to see her soul again.

Inside was even more impressive. The leather looked like it was actually smiling. If not, then the cow it came from must have been.

He basically got a new car for under P10,000. And while I won’t be swapping my new car experience anytime soon, I can see what some people mean when they say love can sometimes be better the second time around.

To see before and after photos, or read the mushy blog, visit www.jamesdeakin.ph.