Dr_Pain
05-30-2013, 04:00 PM
Well, I guess this story will start with a big ol' WHY!!!
Why would people spend tens of thousands of dollars on a car, to just neglect it?
Why would they trade their car.... at a loss ... because they have fallen out of love for their car just to go out and buy another one exactly the same?
Why do people spend so much dawg-on money on beautifying themselves to go out around town driving a turd?
Why don't people understand that a little love and care will help maintain the value of their investment (vehicles)?
Why do I keep agreeing to shine up those turds?
I guess you can pick up from my opening rant that I am a little emotionally raw and a tad unhinged...... but this too shall pass!!
This is the story of a little E320 Black Mercedes who only wanted to be loved. Eight years ago, while a young Fraulein, she was sitting pretty at the dealership waiting to be adopted. One sunny day, after her weekly bath she was imagining what her life would be if she was only part of a family. As it is, while still dreaming, she peek to her side to see a nice doctor and his wife perusing all the orphans on the lot. They locked eyes, fell in love, and decided without hesitation to bring her home. She was overjoyed at the fact that some wealthy doctor and his wife had saved her from her pitiful existence at the dealership, where weekly she was molested by some unscrupulous shady character called "The Detailer". Ah! the life, so she thought!
Her arrival at the family home was like a fairy tale. She rounded the driveway to a majestic antebellum home in the historical district of a quaint little town. She was taken aback by the fact that she had her own covered parking spot. She was paraded daily around town, going to fancy restaurants and the likes. Although she thought herself "special" it was shortly after her second week that she was brought to the local car wash. Her experience was very reminiscent of her experience with "The Detailer". She was scrubbed and banged around as if she was nothing more than a commoner. "Don't they know who my parents are?", she thought? "My family is well to do and prominent people in the town", she uttered to herself. Although she had valid concerns she quickly realised that those people could not care less. She attempted to seek comfort from her family, but instead of receiving the love and support she deserved, she was passed around from one person to the other, going from mother to sisters without a care in the world. At times she was parked under trees where birds would use her as a potty. She was left unattended for days baking in the sun on more than one occasion. Her interior was even "used" by the house mutt. How degrading!!!
Well, years went by and her circumstances did not improve, they actually degraded. She was attacked by flying rocks and was forced to drive over fresh road paint. Lets say that the color white on her black exterior clashed.... but no one cared.
Just recently she overheard the matron of the house state that it was time to look for a new car. Although the story sound bleak, the story did not end on that note. One day, out of pure coincidence this handsome tall fellow engaged the owners of the little E-class. The conversation was muffled however the word "restoration" was overheard. Although it took another 6 weeks to finally see this handsome man again, the day finally came, and it was with hope and excitement that the keys exchanged hands.
The man had soft gentle hands. He caressed the paint paying special attention to all the curves and panels, and took note of all the blemishes and scars. The little E-class was rolled out of the garage and gently sprayed down. He and his son used a contraption called a foam cannon with a special mixture of blue Dawn and Mr. Pink. With the softest of hands and some microfiber mitts she was given the most thorough bath she had ever taken. All the nooks and cranny were cleaned. Following her bath, she was rolled back into the shop and received a second hand wash using a new tool called the Nanoskin Autoscrubber mitt. She was again rolled out of the shop and received yet again another delectable bath from the foam cannon. Back in the shop, she was dried with microfiber waffleweave towels and pictures were taken, as they were trying to document her story.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/603066_527816720614040_900424284_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/424976_527816687280710_974236054_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/931207_527816730614039_634243451_n.jpg
The process was pretty grueling and hours after hours they worked, and continued taking pictures.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/581746_527816800614032_822834937_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/421280_527816830614029_1035581704_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/942575_527816847280694_763767355_n.jpg
You can see the younger benefactor in the reflection of the door!!
The first completed results to be seen where the headlights, which had yellowed and became oxidized over the years of neglect. After 1 hr, sight was restored!!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/971050_527816783947367_832393950_n.jpg
The inside was thoroughly cleaned with a combination of APC and leather cleaner, folex and a specialty tool (which tickled) called a Tornador. All the vinyl surfaced were properly dressed and all the leather properly protected. The carpets were deodorized and protected whereas the entire cabin was given a new car smell. If only this experience could last FOREVER! Unfortunately, the experience did have to end. It was nonetheless the best 23 hrs of her life!! Although still scared, she is restored!
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/574629_527816873947358_1820110230_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/575674_527816903947355_1836521936_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/970481_527816927280686_971228048_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/971922_527816953947350_2032981380_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/575400_527817000614012_1633693374_n.jpg
As Paul Harvey so eloquently said for years, "Now, the rest of the story!". The owners had made mention that they wanted to sell the car and get a new one. The matron had decided that the blemishes were too plentiful, and did not properly reflect her stature in society (ie. she did not like the fact that she driving around in an expensive turd). Well, upon arrival to pick up the little E-class, her mouth came unhinged, and she exclaimed "This is not my car!!"....."I love it!"...."It's like getting a new car!"..... "and I don't have to go and buy a new one." She did express her gratitude and gave a 25% tip above the quoted price, and wrote the check with the anticipatory excitement of a school girl (and trust me she hasn't been a school girl in the better part of 50 years). She stayed and visited for a good 30 minutes circling the car, touching and opening and closing the doors...... as if she was buying her first car.
So why do I continue accepting polishing turds?..... because I am in the business of making people fall in love with their cars all over again.
As always, I welcome the comments and the feedbacks. I hope you enjoyed this rather big departure from the traditional Show and Shine.
Why would people spend tens of thousands of dollars on a car, to just neglect it?
Why would they trade their car.... at a loss ... because they have fallen out of love for their car just to go out and buy another one exactly the same?
Why do people spend so much dawg-on money on beautifying themselves to go out around town driving a turd?
Why don't people understand that a little love and care will help maintain the value of their investment (vehicles)?
Why do I keep agreeing to shine up those turds?
I guess you can pick up from my opening rant that I am a little emotionally raw and a tad unhinged...... but this too shall pass!!
This is the story of a little E320 Black Mercedes who only wanted to be loved. Eight years ago, while a young Fraulein, she was sitting pretty at the dealership waiting to be adopted. One sunny day, after her weekly bath she was imagining what her life would be if she was only part of a family. As it is, while still dreaming, she peek to her side to see a nice doctor and his wife perusing all the orphans on the lot. They locked eyes, fell in love, and decided without hesitation to bring her home. She was overjoyed at the fact that some wealthy doctor and his wife had saved her from her pitiful existence at the dealership, where weekly she was molested by some unscrupulous shady character called "The Detailer". Ah! the life, so she thought!
Her arrival at the family home was like a fairy tale. She rounded the driveway to a majestic antebellum home in the historical district of a quaint little town. She was taken aback by the fact that she had her own covered parking spot. She was paraded daily around town, going to fancy restaurants and the likes. Although she thought herself "special" it was shortly after her second week that she was brought to the local car wash. Her experience was very reminiscent of her experience with "The Detailer". She was scrubbed and banged around as if she was nothing more than a commoner. "Don't they know who my parents are?", she thought? "My family is well to do and prominent people in the town", she uttered to herself. Although she had valid concerns she quickly realised that those people could not care less. She attempted to seek comfort from her family, but instead of receiving the love and support she deserved, she was passed around from one person to the other, going from mother to sisters without a care in the world. At times she was parked under trees where birds would use her as a potty. She was left unattended for days baking in the sun on more than one occasion. Her interior was even "used" by the house mutt. How degrading!!!
Well, years went by and her circumstances did not improve, they actually degraded. She was attacked by flying rocks and was forced to drive over fresh road paint. Lets say that the color white on her black exterior clashed.... but no one cared.
Just recently she overheard the matron of the house state that it was time to look for a new car. Although the story sound bleak, the story did not end on that note. One day, out of pure coincidence this handsome tall fellow engaged the owners of the little E-class. The conversation was muffled however the word "restoration" was overheard. Although it took another 6 weeks to finally see this handsome man again, the day finally came, and it was with hope and excitement that the keys exchanged hands.
The man had soft gentle hands. He caressed the paint paying special attention to all the curves and panels, and took note of all the blemishes and scars. The little E-class was rolled out of the garage and gently sprayed down. He and his son used a contraption called a foam cannon with a special mixture of blue Dawn and Mr. Pink. With the softest of hands and some microfiber mitts she was given the most thorough bath she had ever taken. All the nooks and cranny were cleaned. Following her bath, she was rolled back into the shop and received a second hand wash using a new tool called the Nanoskin Autoscrubber mitt. She was again rolled out of the shop and received yet again another delectable bath from the foam cannon. Back in the shop, she was dried with microfiber waffleweave towels and pictures were taken, as they were trying to document her story.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/603066_527816720614040_900424284_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/424976_527816687280710_974236054_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/931207_527816730614039_634243451_n.jpg
The process was pretty grueling and hours after hours they worked, and continued taking pictures.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/581746_527816800614032_822834937_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/421280_527816830614029_1035581704_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/942575_527816847280694_763767355_n.jpg
You can see the younger benefactor in the reflection of the door!!
The first completed results to be seen where the headlights, which had yellowed and became oxidized over the years of neglect. After 1 hr, sight was restored!!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/971050_527816783947367_832393950_n.jpg
The inside was thoroughly cleaned with a combination of APC and leather cleaner, folex and a specialty tool (which tickled) called a Tornador. All the vinyl surfaced were properly dressed and all the leather properly protected. The carpets were deodorized and protected whereas the entire cabin was given a new car smell. If only this experience could last FOREVER! Unfortunately, the experience did have to end. It was nonetheless the best 23 hrs of her life!! Although still scared, she is restored!
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/574629_527816873947358_1820110230_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/575674_527816903947355_1836521936_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/970481_527816927280686_971228048_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/971922_527816953947350_2032981380_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/575400_527817000614012_1633693374_n.jpg
As Paul Harvey so eloquently said for years, "Now, the rest of the story!". The owners had made mention that they wanted to sell the car and get a new one. The matron had decided that the blemishes were too plentiful, and did not properly reflect her stature in society (ie. she did not like the fact that she driving around in an expensive turd). Well, upon arrival to pick up the little E-class, her mouth came unhinged, and she exclaimed "This is not my car!!"....."I love it!"...."It's like getting a new car!"..... "and I don't have to go and buy a new one." She did express her gratitude and gave a 25% tip above the quoted price, and wrote the check with the anticipatory excitement of a school girl (and trust me she hasn't been a school girl in the better part of 50 years). She stayed and visited for a good 30 minutes circling the car, touching and opening and closing the doors...... as if she was buying her first car.
So why do I continue accepting polishing turds?..... because I am in the business of making people fall in love with their cars all over again.
As always, I welcome the comments and the feedbacks. I hope you enjoyed this rather big departure from the traditional Show and Shine.