Well yesterday sucked.......

I had a migraine so bad I left work early( I get a headache maybe 3 times a year...not common) . I went home and parked behind my apartments garage like I always do and headed upstairs... My head hurt so bad I instantly laid down on the couch and went to sleep. I hear a knock on the door and my neighbor says" You own the silver vette right??" Im in complete shock because I know whats next........ He says" I backed into your car and cracked the headlight a little.

I go out there and his 99 dodge ram is halfway up the hood of the vette!!! It was so far on top of the car that the wheels were compressed against the inner fenders and the air deflector was touching the ground. Well he tries to pull forward and it drags the car...

Im still kinda stunned about everything....we had to jack his truck up in the air to get the vette out...

Damage-- Deeply gouged front clip, drivers headlight bucket completely torn open and smashed, hood has deep scaratches half way up it and the corner near the headlight has about a inch of cracked and exposed fiberglass. The drivers side fender also seems to be aligned funky....and I am not sure but I believe the air box area has some damage as it is loose now.


My question is when I go to get this fixed what should I know and what should I be looking for before I accept delivery of my fixed vehicle????

I have heard people say that since the car has different materials for hood and bumpers, etc...that the paint doesnt always match or that it becomes noticeable down the road..........

Please advise me guys

By the way its a 01 QS Z06.....should I make them align it?? just in case

Shawn

 

 

You're a bigger man than me - I'd have probably killed that guy - but cooler heads prevailed, so that's good.

I assue that your neighbor is insured and that the claim has been filed. I would look for a very competent body shop with experience on Vettes. Once you've found that, and after the work is done, I would very carefully check the paint match in bright sunlight and under artificial light (probably florescent). In the old days when I had silver cars, paint match was a challenge. I would assume that the entire front clip will have to be painted in order to get a good color match.

I would also take the car to a competent suspension shop that has alignment capabilites, to make sure all is okay.

I feel for your loss, sorry for your troubles! Good luck!

 

Hopefully you are recovering. I guess on the "up side" if there is one, this person came looking for you and actually accepted responsibility for his actions. Your insurance carrier can probably make things right while working with his carrier.

Make no mistake, you did have a crummy day.

 

Honestly I am very serious when I say I was lucky I was that sick...I dont know what I might have done. Especially since I park there everyday........they know my car is there..... As horrible as it is Im just glad it was the Vette( forgive me father for I have sinned) and not my 01 Firehawk that is one of 2 with all options and only has 10k on it.... I would be in jail right now.....As a matter of fact he almost (but didnt) hit the Hawk one night and we almost boxed over that as I was livid...

But all is cool I slept it off and now I am just trying to roll with the punches. I know of a couple shops I may possibly go to and they have insurance....( and I am a Insurance broker so I dont plan on playing any games here) it will get fixed.

Anyone know what the policy is for how things end up on carfax??? I had thought about trading up to a C6 Z06 in a couple years but I am assuming my resale is gone.

 

You're right, your day sucked!

 

But, think about what you would have done if the guy had driven off without telling you about what had happened to your car while you were asleep on the couch.

As others have said. Find a reputable body shop in your area that has experience with vettes and go over the paint extremely well before accepting it when it is done.

 

Quite possibly true but since it took 3 guys and a jack to get his car off mine I dont think he would have got anywhere without making enough noise for me to hear him.....it was literally about 15 feet from me....but who knows...I am thankful.....it could have been worse and/or I could be in jail

 

Make sure you get a free rental

 

I feel your pain! That is everyone's nightmare. You will get it fixed right, I am sure... They really are cars in the final analogy, even though we feel soooooo attached to them.

 

Sorry your car got hit but it is tempered by some people in Florida that lost everything yesterday. It was a bad Friday the 13th.

 

very true.......it is just a car....and I am fortunate enough to have 2 nice cars...in the past when it was my only car...I would have been more volatile....I guess Im growing up and putting things into perspective....That and since I sell insurance I deal with accidents evryday...( Although 2 times in one year is unacceptable)

Shawn

 

You took it better than I would have. Sorry about your bad luck.

 

There are more and more quality paint people out there with the increase in "classic" car interest. Take your time and find one.
Go to a weekend "cruise" somewhere near you and ask the owner of that sharp '36 Ford (or '49 Merc, or 55 Chevy) who painted it for him.
When you see one that blows you away - that's your man!
Ugly story - hope all works out well!

 

The thought of that happening just gave me a migraine. Good luck getting it fixed.

 

Well on a positive note...I went to a C6 viewing today ( it looks better in person I must admit) and recieved a great compliment.

I was complimenting a guy on his tigershark fascia and how nice his car was and he said....I wish my car was as clean as yours.!!! That is the nicest firebird I have seen ( its a Firehawk but thats ok)

I got a compliment on my F-body from a vette guy :P That really made my day and he doesnt even know it...

I know it sounds stupid but in San Jose it seems most vette people think they are superior......I own both and love both...feeling a little better

Shawn

 

Sorry to hear. Good luck with the repairs!

 

Sorry about the damage to your car. Make sure the headlights work well, all the paint matches and the body panels line up. Now would be a good time to think about that new front fascia to customize the car.

 

Did you get a police report on the accident? Sometimes people will try to get out of responsibility once they know how much money is involved.

 

You read my mind :P