My Xmas present? A wrecked car!

[ScottsVaporGT]

If/ when it goes through, be adamant about the check being cut to you. Then take your time and shop for the parts. Stock pile them so you have all that you need, then take them all to the bodyshop at once so it gets blended correctly. It looks like you will need a fender also, keep your eyes peeled on the forum and craigslist and get some good deals on the stock parts you will need. This will allow extra money for the "mod" replacement parts. Also, BBR sells painted roush front fasicas so you could also save some cash there.

Good thoughts, thank you! Since I am not very mechanically inclined (yet-still learning) I will have to have the dealership tell me what all really needs to be replaced. I have a friend that works in the aftermarket dept at that dealership, and will probably get me that bumper close to cost. But will have to compare the prices with the painted one from BBR. Maybe if I buy the bumper and hood from BBR they will work something out with me. I have bought things from them in the past and they are good people, so I have absolutely no problem going with them.

 

[don_w]

Not sure what your reasoning is, but a dealer is the very last place I would take my car for anything. I wouldn't let them change my oil, much less repair damage. I'd find a good body shop locally instead.

 

[white05gt]

Not sure what your reasoning is, but a dealer is the very last place I would take my car for anything. I wouldn't let them change my oil, much less repair damage. I'd find a good body shop locally instead.

+1, don't take it to the dealer, find a local body shop that's reputable and tell them what you would like to do. Any decent shop will work with you on getting what you want to make you happy. Most insurance companies won't cut you a check for the full amount if you demand they pay you instead of a shop.

Some insurance companies don't even have an adjuster to come out and look. They have select shops that are qualified to do the estimate and repair.

 

[ScottsVaporGT]

Not sure what your reasoning is, but a dealer is the very last place I would take my car for anything. I wouldn't let them change my oil, much less repair damage. I'd find a good body shop locally instead.

I agree, I hate the thought of taking my car there too but wouldn't they be the highest on an estimate and therefor hopefully the insurance company will pay more? Which would mean more parts for me? lol I"m not trying to screw the insurance company, honestly, I would think that I would be saving them money using aftermarket parts, one of which I could get for a hell of a price.

 

[red_baron06]

damn sorry to hear that... gald your ok though hope everything works out for you

 

[white05gt]

I agree, I hate the thought of taking my car there too but wouldn't they be the highest on an estimate and therefor hopefully the insurance company will pay more? Which would mean more parts for me? lol I"m not trying to screw the insurance company, honestly, I would think that I would be saving them money using aftermarket parts, one of which I could get for a hell of a price.

If the insurance company has it's own adjuster, alot of times it doesn't matter what the shop price is. Also, the estimating programs are so similar at body shops, usually they are within $100 of each other.

 

[gzmo]

I'm sorry to hear about the accident All this information your getting will help you find out how to get everything settled the way you want. I'm subscribing to this just in case I run into any faults later on so I can look back and go about these steps.

 

[Vapor08gt]

+1, don't take it to the dealer, find a local body shop that's reputable and tell them what you would like to do. Any decent shop will work with you on getting what you want to make you happy. Most insurance companies won't cut you a check for the full amount if you demand they pay you instead of a shop.

Some insurance companies don't even have an adjuster to come out and look. They have select shops that are qualified to do the estimate and repair.

I don't know where he is located but here in Texas you have a legal choice of where to get your car fixed/towed ect. So that being said the insurance companies usually don't bat an eye about making the check out to you, simply because they don't really care if it gets fixed or how it does get fixed. Once they cut that check that is the end of it, and getting more out of them for other costs involved ( things the adjuster/shop forgot in the quote) is like pulling teeth.

 

[ScottsVaporGT]

I'm sorry to hear about the accident All this information your getting will help you find out how to get everything settled the way you want. I'm subscribing to this just in case I run into any faults later on so I can look back and go about these steps.

I'll keep you updated on what happens in this thread throughout this B.S. process! lol

I don't know where he is located but here in Texas you have a legal choice of where to get your car fixed/towed ect. So that being said the insurance companies usually don't bat an eye about making the check out to you, simply because they don't really care if it gets fixed or how it does get fixed. Once they cut that check that is the end of it, and getting more out of them for other costs involved ( things the adjuster/shop forgot in the quote) is like pulling teeth.

I'm in Akron, Ohio and I have never experienced an accident before so I couldn't tell you our laws. I hope its like Tx, it would be a hell of a lot easier to get the parts I want.

 

[ScottsVaporGT]

damn sorry to hear that... gald your ok though hope everything works out for you

Thank you!

 

[dagamore]

sorry to hear that your mustang was hurt, and hopefully it will get fixed quickly!

 

[J.Cagle]

you cant fix plastic

Actually, you can, but you will for sure want a new bumper,lol.
When I wrecked mine I had them use all factory ford parts(ford dealer fixed it) except for the hood. The factory hood they wanted to use was 1,200 bucks! I bought an after market cervinis hood for 600 and pocketed 600 bucks. I bought the hood with my credit card and had it shipped to the body shop. When all was said and done the shop gave me a check for 600 bucks.

 

[ScottsVaporGT]

Actually, you can, but you will for sure want a new bumper,lol.
When I wrecked mine I had them use all factory ford parts(ford dealer fixed it) except for the hood. The factory hood they wanted to use was 1,200 bucks! I bought an after market cervinis hood for 600 and pocketed 600 bucks. I bought the hood with my credit card and had it shipped to the body shop. When all was said and done the shop gave me a check for 600 bucks.

1200! Holy shit maybe there is hope for me to get my hood!

 

[J.Cagle]

Of course, my hood was a little worse off.

 

[ScottsVaporGT]

ouch! that is worse! Question on mine, since there are dents on the crease will they try and use body filler then? If so I will flip out if they use that shit on my car!

 

[GONE_N_60]

If they are stupid they will. If you find a good shop they wouldn't even suggest that. Don't be afraid to voice your concerns.

I had hail damage on my dodge a long time ago and I pecked at them untill they agreed to replace the hood, trunk, doors, and fenders with new factory parts. They hated me but I got what I wanted.

 

[J.Cagle]

ouch! that is worse! Question on mine, since there are dents on the crease will they try and use body filler then? If so I will flip out if they use that shit on my car!

Every body shop uses body filler wether you like it or not. Chances are your hood is 100% fixable. They will pull the dents, put a light skim coat on the ruff area and work it down. You have no say wether they replace a panel or fix it. it just depends on what yur insurace pays for. If the hood is less hours to repair than to replace then guess what, they will repair it. My front fenders were buckled out above the wheel wells after i hit the deer. I wanted them replaced, but the body shop guy was able to repair them quicker and cheaper. So thats what they did. And theres nothing wrong with that. It still has the same 10yr warranty on the paint work.

 

[white05gt]

There is nothing wrong with filler if done properly and it's not that hard ot do properly either. Most people can't even tell it's there but if you do it for a while then you can tell by looking down the side very easily.

 

[J.Cagle]

Most people can't even tell it's there but if you do it for a while then you can tell by looking down the side very easily.

If you can see it when you look down the side they didnt do a very good job of block sanding the filler or primer. A good reputable painter will have your car looking like it was never wrecked.

 

[white05gt]

I haven't seen very many shops capable of matching factory orange peel lol. Hence why I said if you have done body work such as I did, you can tell most repair jobs.