Mazda MX-5 RC

We’ve renamed our long-term Mazda the M-hex-5 – because the little drop-top has had more than its fair share of troubles. But it’s now ready to shine again!

None of the Mazda’s maladies has been of its own doing. Indeed, all those to drive the two-seater have praised its sharp handling and ability to turn even dull journeys into fun trips.

Yet as we reported in Issue 994, it suffered the misfortune of someone running over the roof, denting the boot and scratching the bonnet. Since then, the left front wheel has been kerbed and the right front wheelarch scuffed.

However, Halfords came to the rescue with its nationwide Smart (Small and Medium Area Repair Technique) service. The process is easy, and could save hundreds of pounds in repairs. Instant quotes for work are offered at all branches, following which a technician from Smart repair firm Shine! fixes the damage at a Halfords store, or at a site of your choice.

The firm’s vans are custom-built with on-board power and lots of kit to restore any car, and the staff have plenty of experience in bodywork. So an appointment was made for our battle-scarred Mazda.

Only the kerbed wheel and front wheelarch needed to be resprayed – some less scrupulous bodyshops could have claimed a total repaint was needed. With the bodywork sanded back, primed and masked off, technician Mark Bootes used his PDA to download the correct mix from paint supplier DuPont for our Mazda’s True Red colour.

It was mixed in the van – there are enough shades to match any hue, including metallics and pearlescents. A top coat and lacquer were applied and the area baked by a portable heater. The job was done. The ‘walk-over’ damage, meanwhile, wasn’t as bad as first thought.

The dented bootlid popped back into place, while the bonnet scratch was soon buffed out. With the front arch and kerbed wheel resprayed and dried, it was time for Shine! to carry out its other speciality – a full valet.

No detail was left untouched and the cabin looked as good as new. It should stay that way for a while, too, as the team applied Autoglym’s Lifeshine finish, guaranteed for five years.

The top-quality service came at a price – the valet was £299, and the repairs £210. But the good news is our MX-5 is looking immaculate again – let’s hope it continues to keep its nose clean.