Need Some Help, Accident Advice?

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Nov 1, 2003 | 07:28 PM

Locke434

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 24

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From: Chesterfield MO

Need Some Help, Accident Advice?

I was driving in downtown Saint Louis, MO, and a person ran his stop sign and I hit his side. I hit the fron left of my care, and most of the damage is to the from, and isn't too bad. Was drivavable home. Anyone have any advice where a good place to get it fixed is at? I have the insurance money, and I need to get an estimate from the place. Also anyone know anything I should look for to make sure I'm not getting a shady job done? I mean, things that are special to corvette's if a generic shop does it, then I should make sure get addressed?

Thanks all

Amar. :grouphug:

Nov 2, 2003 | 02:14 AM

MrSpeedyBob

Safety Car

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 4,504

Likes: 0

From: Charleston SC

Re: Need Some Help, Accident Advice? (Locke434)

Some GM dealers have body shops, they should know what there doing.

Nov 2, 2003 | 02:46 AM

Powerdrive

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 2,140

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From: Cincinnati Ohio

Re: Need Some Help, Accident Advice? (Locke434)

Take your time, look around. Look at the work you see being done while your there. Ask to see some finished projects.Are they using GM parts(good...typicaly) or some generic afterproduct? what kind of equipment has the shop got? When I bought my car the drivers quarter looked like it was rubbed with steel wool(grey,not black)...the door looked $%^ty too. It had been patched and painted with crappy paint and sealer....and you could still see the patch!!!!!!My body guy was cussin that SOB..It all had to be stripped. Chances are the dealer will do a good job but you will be taxed...Local shops will work with you on price (a little) but you need to feel them out . My dude is the shiznit. MO is too far though Good luck. :chevy

Nov 2, 2003 | 09:28 AM

VettBrat

Instructor

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 117

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From: Coweta OK

Re: Need Some Help, Accident Advice? (Locke434)

I have worked in the insurance industry for 20 years. During that time most complaints have revolved around poor repairs to cars. One reason big reason is after the insurance company pays for repairs the car owner goes and gets several estimates trying to save money. When in it comes to repairs most of the time you get what you pay for. If you pay a cheap price chances are you will get a cheap job. Two suggestions. Check out a couple of finished products or call a local Covette Club and ask them who they recommend.

Nov 2, 2003 | 05:39 PM

VenkmanP

Safety Car

Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 3,793

Likes: 9

From: VA

Re: Need Some Help, Accident Advice? (Locke434)

Don't assume the dealer is competent. I had an accident shortly after buying my vette (ran over a hood that flew off a car in front of me.) I took it to the nearest Chevy dealer assuming they would be competent. They were idiots. The paint job on my bumper is crappy.

I've found the same with Chevy dealer mechanical work so far - incompetent. Other cars I've owned (all foreign) usually the dealer is the most competent repair place, just not cheap.

Get a body shop recommendation from somebody in your area. In most big cities there are places that specialize in repairing expensive imports, like ferrari and porsche. Those places will often be the best, but they also aren't cheap. However with the vette you need somebody who has experience working on vettes, so I wouldn't take it to even the best bodyshop unless they had experience with vettes. Hopefully someone on the forum will know a good shop in your area.

If you have time, try and take a look at some finished repair work that the place has done to see if it meets your standards.

Nov 2, 2003 | 06:30 PM

MyBlueC5

Corvette ***** OG

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 4,776

Likes: 21

From: Charlotte NC

St. Jude Donor '05

CI VI Veteran

Re: Need Some Help, Accident Advice? (steve9899)

Having been in the bodyshop business for 20 years, I can tell you that most dealerships are not a good place to take your car. Simply because most dealerships which are typically pretty busy since they are "self-fed" are nothing more than production shops.

Many insurance companies have their own in-house adjusters and when they write the estimate, their jobs are to write the car to put it back together pretty well as cheap as possible.

Any good and reputable bodyshop will make sure that your interests are protected. A previous reply mentioned calling a local corvette shop... that is an excellent idea. You know how **** those corvette owners are....lol.

Good luck, if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Mark

Nov 2, 2003 | 08:30 PM

subman

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 873

Likes: 2

From: Whittier ca

Re: Need Some Help, Accident Advice? (VettBrat)

Quote:

When in it comes to repairs most of the time you get what you pay for. If you pay a cheap price chances are you will get a cheap job. Two suggestions. Check out a couple of finished products or call a local Covette Club and ask them who they recommend.

:iagree:

Nov 4, 2003 | 04:10 PM

Locke434

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 24

Likes: 0

From: Chesterfield MO

Re: Need Some Help, Accident Advice? (Locke434)

I found a really good guy at John's Auto body, I saw alot of his work. I trust him, and he seem's very confident, and he had many good looking corvettes in the lot (in which I found out were all finish products). When I say the previous pictures, and felt reassured. Thank you all, I will not be cheap with any of it. All the money that statefarm has givin me will go to the repair. I'll post pictures of it before and after. :party: