Is this a reasonable price and is it worth it?

Thomas_Holding

Herzlos said:

Are the scratches through the paint and primer exposing metal? If so I'd get a paint pen from Halfords and touch them up. Otherwise I'd just leave it alone and keep the £600 for future maintenance. . 

I will check

Thomas_Holding

JGB1955 said:

Personally, I would keep it mechanically 'fit' but not bother one iota about what it looks like. I doubt you're going to recoup that £595 if you decide to sell it...

I plan to keep it until it breaks or if I am very lucky sell when I have loads of grandchildren and need lots of space.  (As I have none at the moment the car will have to last a few years)

eschaton

Thomas_Holding said:

Thank you all - I was worried that it might rust and break down quicker

I can’t see a bit of paint and pulling dents stopping it from breaking down. 

Herzlos

Thomas_Holding said:

Thank you all - I was worried that it might rust and break down quicker

Nothing on the side will contribute to a breakdown, though rust could eventually ruin the panel it's on. Assuming it's not a plastic panel.

What panels are the damage on?

The big concern is safety - if there are rough/sharp edges on it then it may not pass an MOT. I don't think that's the case here based on the cost estimate. 

The next concern is rust, but that's more a precaution. 

Finally you've got cosmetics. But on a car of that age/value, as long as it's in good mechanical condition who cares about some cosmetic damage? You could pay £600 to fix it and then get hit by a shopping trolley tomorrow. 

chrisw

But if you do want it doing to look nice or peace of mind, then that's not a bad price for the work described.

shera12

£595 sounds reasonable for a proper repair, especially if it will keep the car looking good for a few more years. If the gearbox is solid and the car runs well otherwise, it’s probably worth doing.