So, here's my story. I bought the car in Austin before moving to Phoenix, and drove it there without so much as a scratch. I went car-care crazy on it. I only used Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax, no Armor All on the interior, and I had bought the factory bra and car cover for the trip. I had just started to really read this website and Autopia. I described my feeling to a friend of mine like this: I've never been in love with my own car until now, and now I know what that's like.

A week in town, and I'm at the Biltmore Fashion Mall (for those of you who know where that is). I'm at a T-intersection, as shown below, when this chick in an '88 Honda Accord comes flyin' around the turn at ~40mph, starts spinning, and slams sqarely into my left-front wheel. You can see how bad that wheel was hit in the photos. It gets worse. After the impact, which pushes me into the next lane, I hear her engine hitting the rev limiter. Yep, you guessed it, she got the pedals mixed up when she started spinning. Nobody was hurt. The cops came out and ticketed her for speeding, negligent/reckless driving, etc. She claimed that she had just started driving the car again after 3+ years, but had "got it checked out." Right, whatever. We both had to get towed. I took it to the dealership closest to where I live, which is a nice one, and their (outsourced, but good) body shop is handling it. Her insurance is covering everything, including my POS Dodge Stratus rental. I tried my hardest to get it totaled, but it's not gonna happen. Total damage so far is about $7000. I've already been promised that all the body panels will be replaced (not repaired), that only 100% Toyota OEM parts are being used, and that they're "going 110%" on the parts. That means they're replacing parts not because they're damaged, but because they were attached to parts that were damaged.

I guess I just wanted some feedback on how I handled this, which is my first accident in about 8 years. Is there any other criteria or conditions I should give the body shop? They're talking about a "blend" on the left-front corner of the hood; maybe I can ask them to replace it instead? But a total car repaint, to match the freshly-painted new body panels, seems unlikely. BTW, I'm 28 and an ultra-safe driver. But this does suck.

 

what they are doing sounds right, nothing out of the ordinary.....just check it real good, and if something does not look right refuse the work. it should look like new when you get it back.
at least she had insurance......

so they are replacing front fender, light, door and rear quarter panel?

 

that suuuuuucks!!

but on the up side, you seem very nice at vector graphics. ;P

 

Jeez, it hurts to look at that.

Sorry bro. What happened to you is what every new car owner fears. Hopefully everything runs smooth when you get it back.

 

If you really want to get serious about your paint, tell the shop you want to see the finished panels before they get sprayed. Look for things like pinholes in the primer/filler, uneven spots, and tap on the panels to see if there are places where there is an uneven amount of a "thud" indicating they used more filler instead of reshaping the panel. The exterior paint will only look as good as the undercoat.

I repeat, the exterior paint will only look as good as the undercoat....

About blending, I've seen it done well and I've seen it done not so well, and I have to tell you, if you do care about your paint as much as an Autopia'n would (points to self) I would tell them to just repaint whatever they are trying to blend. If they argue, tell them if you didn't like the way it turns out, they would have to redo it anyways.

Talk to the painter, tell him how serious you are about the paint, and how important the prep work is to you, and tell him to reject anything that won't be "new"

If, for ANY REASON, you aren't satisfied with the shop, have your car towed out of there. You don't have to use that shop, or the next shop, or the next one... Get references from the dealer, from family, friends, ask to see the shop's finished and unfinished work. I can't stress how important it is to choose the right shop. Keep in mind since you were the victim you are liable for at least a rental during the repair, which sometimes includes finding the correct shop.

FYI - my TC was smacked in a parking lot when it still had temporary tags, and I did NOTHING of the above because I was a newbie. I took it to the shop the insurance company offerred, the management were uncaring *insert obcenities* and their work was ____-poor. I now regret every second of it and anyone who looks at my quarter-panel can obviously tell something's not right. Good thing I never plan to get rid of it, and I have a lifetime warranty on the repairs (including worksmanship in the paint)

 

Dude that sucks. Welcome to Phoenix! The worse drivers in the world!!!!! Good luck!

 

You know what to do.

 

thats suxz! oh also check your engine and suspension parts it looks like it bend your front wheels

 

The sad part about this is even though its getting fix with OEM parts, the value of you car has just plummeted on top of the $7000 repair job. You will never get the true value of your car if you ever try to trade or sell it. That accident will be permenantly on your cars VIN history!!!

 

Did they check the frame yet? It looks like the strut tower may be pushed in, and if that's the case, they'll have to pull motor and most of the body panels and put it on a frame straightener.

The frame may be fine, but make sure they check it. A bent frame can cause major problems for years if not fixed correctly. (And may make it totaled)

 

that sucks man. Did you get her address?

 

Ouch!

 

I think her Honda was jealous of your tC! I bet she was yappin' on her celly, huh?

"He was like sssooo cute...blah, blah, blah. Oopsey! Can I like, call you back? I just like, hit somebody. Oh-my-God!"

At least you weren't injured! That's the important part. Also, YEAH! Be glad that her insurance is taking care of it. Sorry to hear that bro.

 

OMG I would have to jump out and WHOOP SOME AS*!
That sucks.... Wish you the best on getting it all fixed and back to new again. How long is it going to take for them to fix everything?

 

I'm sure your Dodge Stratus doesn't compare to the Dodge Aries...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNWpP9R4Hig

 

Dang homegirl messed your tC up! Well I think its cool that they are gonna replace it with OEM parts.