Automotive punching bag

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 11:44 am

Well my wife's car go hit again at work by a visiting "business systems tech" a few weeks ago pulling into his parking spot. Fun!

So, I got an estimate from Mini-City Autobody for around $2k, called the fellow who was debating whether he wanted to pay out of pocket (I don't see why anyone would want to) or file with his work's insurance since he was in a company car. I'm getting another estimate with Foster's in an hour and don't feel it will be any less.

I gave him a heads up on the first quote price and got a great response that made me a little livid, "It's just a scratch!". I had to do everything in my power to say, hey it's just a parking spot, pay attention!

The door skin and trim need replacing as well as the entire side will need repainting, which of course requires quite a bit of part removal, plus the door is basically pushed in about 1/2". Anyone with experience want to chime in a tell me $2,000 isn't really THAT unreasonable at all? I don't feel it is because, much to my dismay, I know what $10,000 at Kenny Hawkins can do.

Just had to get that off the chest. It's too bad there's always one thing you come away loosing in a situation like this; your time.

Maybe we need a "some jerk hit my car" sticky for therapeutic purposes. :roll:

-Matt

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 11:58 am

Matt McGrain wrote:

Anyone with experience want to chime in a tell me $2,000 isn't really THAT unreasonable at all?

Sounds about right to me.

You should feel fortunate he came and told you, that is assuming nobody saw him and he tried to get away with it. Someone (customer) hit my Miata here at work, and we all knew who it was, but since I didn't discover it until hours after he left he denied it. I had no proof so the money came out of my pocket to fix it.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 12:00 pm

My wife's accord had a light scrape to the front bumper skin, bad scratch on side view mirror and a bit of scraping on the front quarter panel and it was $1200 (YMCA bus scraped my wifes 3 month old car while she was at work...I have my own forensic evidence of this but my wife wouldn't raise a fuss with the YMCA)

So based on what you said, $2000 doesn't seem unreasonable at all.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:52 pm

Just got an estimate from Foster's and it was $2030 versus $2070 at Mini City. Sounds pretty legit to me!

RobLupella · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:58 pm

JamesShort wrote:

My wife's accord had a light scrape to the front bumper skin, bad scratch on side view mirror and a bit of scraping on the front quarter panel and it was $1200 (YMCA bus scraped my wifes 3 month old car while she was at work...I have my own forensic evidence of this but my wife wouldn't raise a fuss with the YMCA)

So based on what you said, $2000 doesn't seem unreasonable at all.

I love the attitude nowadays where someone does something wrong and that the injured party should just accept it and do everything they can to give in.

He probably has other accidents and doesn't want another one to raise his rates. I can actually understand that part because if your rates go up by $600 for 3 years you can pay off the bill for less.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:05 pm

I don't know how long you're supposed to hold a grudge, but 15 yrs ago, Mini City Auto body did a horrible job on a repair for me. It was just paint as well. They didn't have to reshape any metal.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:08 pm

Jason Mauldin wrote:

I don't know how long you're supposed to hold a grudge, but 15 yrs ago, Mini City Auto body did a horrible job on a repair for me. It was just paint as well. They didn't have to reshape any metal.

Just like Lloyd over at Colors on Parade. I know a lot of people have good things to say about them, but the clear coat flaking off my Celica due to improper prep irks me daily and I would never send anyone there. - AB

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:38 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

Jason Mauldin wrote:

I don't know how long you're supposed to hold a grudge, but 15 yrs ago, Mini City Auto body did a horrible job on a repair for me. It was just paint as well. They didn't have to reshape any metal.

Just like Lloyd over at Colors on Parade. I know a lot of people have good things to say about them, but the clear coat flaking off my Celica due to improper prep irks me daily and I would never send anyone there. - AB

Yep. When it comes to stuff like that, I have a pretty long memory.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 5:13 pm

Karl Shultz wrote:

Aaron Buckley wrote:

Jason Mauldin wrote:

I don't know how long you're supposed to hold a grudge, but 15 yrs ago, Mini City Auto body did a horrible job on a repair for me. It was just paint as well. They didn't have to reshape any metal.

Just like Lloyd over at Colors on Parade. I know a lot of people have good things to say about them, but the clear coat flaking off my Celica due to improper prep irks me daily and I would never send anyone there. - AB

Yep. When it comes to stuff like that, I have a pretty long memory.

Yeah Kenny Hawkins burned my headliner and visor when he repaired my truck and then wanted me to fix it or forget it

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 6:09 pm

Matt,

Sorry to hear about that--big bummer. Did they itemize the estimate for you or just look at it and say "Mmmmm...about $2000 for that" instead? If so, is most of the cost in labor? parts/paint?

I am feeling for your situation as my WRX has a rumpled fron fender acquired during the ice storm...hope your results turn out OK, because I'm looking for a good shop.

Best of luck!

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 6:42 pm

Jason Mauldin wrote:

I don't know how long you're supposed to hold a grudge, but 15 yrs ago, Mini City Auto body did a horrible job on a repair for me. It was just paint as well. They didn't have to reshape any metal.

Kind of glad I'm not running with them. Besides, they really didn't seem be too overly friendly, but maybe it was one of 'those days'.

Ouch, no fun Steven. Good luck.

It's totally itemized down to how much labor is required to each intricate thing like even taping off the door jams. I'm running with Foster's again because they did an awesome job on my ITR with the groundhog incident.

The fellow that hit me is the one I have problems because he doesn't understand how rebuilding an entire door, removing a bunch of parts, repainting an entire side of a car with metallic paint is that much more than his paintless door ding was on his IS350.

Little punk... :twisted:

Chris Halweg · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:24 pm

Man that sucks. I'm afraid to have anything with nice paint on it because I would notice everything.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:31 pm

Matt McGrain wrote:

The fellow that hit me is the one I have problems because he doesn't understand how rebuilding an entire door, removing a bunch of parts, repainting an entire side of a car with metallic paint is that much more than his paintless door ding was on his IS350.

He doesn't have to understand, he just has to pay. If it was his car he would want it fixed right as well.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Fri Jan 28, 2011 11:13 pm

You'd have to ask Keith Vail to know his opinion for sure, but he took his S2000 to a place I recommended. IIRC, he was very happy with the work, and what I saw of it looked great. The place is out near Mebane, and I don't think he's very quick to finish stuff, but several local S2000s have been in and out of there with good results. I did some paint correction on one of them, and can say that the work that was done on that particular car looked excellent. Nice even flake, excellent match, very smooth clear with little to no orange peel.

Gibson's Autoworks, Llc
2844 N NC Hwy 49
Burlington, NC
336-578-8834

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:46 pm

Karl Shultz wrote:

You'd have to ask Keith Vail to know his opinion for sure, but he took his S2000 to a place I recommended. IIRC, he was very happy with the work, and what I saw of it looked great.

I would 100% recommend Gibson Autoworks! He is mostly a restoration shop but does normal bodywork as well. Their attention to detail is very good for the price IMO. They will take their time but not bad. I took the S2000 there after the off in Sanford and I believe he had it for 3 days. He even worked around my tough work schedule to let me pick it up before 8am.

I would only take my car back there to get body work. They are a bit of a trek but well worth the drive to get a small caring shop with excellent quality work.

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