[Scourge]

Hi Guys,

Just got call from the gf ... she rear ended an SUV on her way home from work. I haven't been home yet to take a look at it but sounds like it's just her hood that took the impact.

Anyone have any experience (or hookups) with body shops in the Cambridge/KW area? The car is an 04' Echo hatch in red.

Also considering an aftermarket cf hood to save on the cost of trying to match the 10 year old paint if anyone has a suggestion.

Thanks for the help!

PS. Here's a shot of the little trooper in his winter duds a while back.

[ZTWsquared]

(06-13-2014, 08:39 AM)Scourge Wrote: Hi Guys,

Just got call from the gf ... she rear ended an SUV on her way home from work. I haven't been home yet to take a look at it but sounds like it's just her hood that took the impact.

Anyone have any experience (or hookups) with body shops in the Cambridge/KW area? The car is an 04' Echo hatch in red.

Also considering an aftermarket cf hood to save on the cost of trying to match the 10 year old paint if anyone has a suggestion.

Thanks for the help!

FWIW I can get you a good quality aftermarket metal hood for 130 + HST.

[GFXjamie]

Don't go to golden triangle is my suggestion LOL car star is suppose to be solid but at work we use Melair auto body in ayr.

[Scourge]

Thanks guys,

I went by Shouldice, Golden T, and Carstar. Golden T convinced me right away not to go with them. Shouldice seemed fine, but I wasn't happy with their cleaning practices (dirty wash water, buffing towels looking grungy). Carstar convinced me to go with them ... I used carstar in Mississauga a couple years back, wasn't entirely happy but I'll give the local guys a chance to redeem.

Next battle will be with insurance, initial quote came in at 140% of redbook. This was Sarah's first car, she's had it from new and still loves it, so I'll fight tooth and nail to have it fixed.

-George

[GFXjamie]

Good luck! Car star I have always heard good things from so hopefully they come through as long as insurance does

[ZTWsquared]

(06-15-2014, 03:53 PM)GFXjamie Wrote: Good luck! Car star I have always heard good things from so hopefully they come through as long as insurance does

When my wife had a parking lot fender bender 3 years ago - Carstar was one of the places my insurance company wanted a quote from - apparently they are on RBC's "recommended" list.

For a damaged fender, door skin, and front rotor/knuckle/strut - they're quotation was shockingly high ($4200) - and it was one of the reasons RBC decided to write the car off.

Using OE parts (yeah, okay, from the US) and hiring my own mechanic to put them on - and using another good bodyshop here in Brampton - the actual cost to repair the car back to original condition was $1800 - and that included replacing the struts and rotors and knuckles on both sides of the car to SVT spec.

There's something funny going on in the insurance industry and used car market - it almost seems like insurance companies and bodyshops are conspiring to write off older cars at the slightest excuse.

At 4200 I can see writing off a 2001 Focus, even in 2011 - but even today I can't replace that car with anything decent for less than 3 grand - and it was certainly worth the 1800 to fix it.