It's called the Mazda3: I'm rocking this baby until Friday afternoon, I'm telling myself it's Torred and that I'm driving COMP T/A 57's Charger SRT8 around...well until I hit the gas pedal. The mighty C is in the body shop getting the front spoiler repaired. I've hit it before, but last Monday I had my wife take it to work while I spent the day detailing her ride...and then she calls me telling me she hit it hard on the way into work backing out of our driveway. Here's some damage photos:stretcher:: Pretty good tear on the underside and the clips securing the spoiler to the front undertray/guard thing were all ripped apart. It was enough of a shot to mis-slign everything too unfortunately, look at the difference of the line on the front of the car where the spoiler and fenders line up. Driver's side: Passenger side: The body shop told me they could make it look like new using the existing parts for $550. My insurance deductible is $500 and my insurance company told me that any repair under $1300 does not cost me any points or affect my premiums. The body shop estimate for the repairs using all new parts...$1250. So I went the all new route - duh:thumb2:!!! I'll keep you all posted on how she turns out, I already miss the car ssooooooo much Eric
Wow!! Are you sure you're wife isn't harboring any latent resentment towards your other 'girl'? Sheeeesh.
Haha...no, she loves it almost as much as I do. She actually laughed at me when I pulled into the driveway with the Mazda, knowing immediately how I felt about it:novote: Eric
Sorry to hear that Eric ... that you have to drive that Mazda, lol! Seriously, sorry bout the car, that sux. Funny cause this is exactly why my wife refuses to drive mine, she's afraid what I might do if she does something like that, lol!!
I've got to tell you, I think you're making a big mistake. It looks like all the damage is not visible unless you're under the car. Unless it's a show car that won't matter. You should have them repair it rather than do all new parts or at least keep the old parts. I say this because no body shop, dealer or not, will be able to get the paint to stick to the plastic pieces as well as the factory paint. I have been through this on two vehicles, a Ford and my Ram SRT10 and the new paint will not hold up well and likely will not match perfect either. I am pretty sure you will not be happy with a new piece. One last note. You can sometimes get the factory plastic pieces from the factory pre painted. If you can do that, you get the best possible option. Anyone ever had good results with replacement plastic body pieces painted by a body shop? I would love to know if there are any body shops that do whatever the factory does (bake the paint on the plastic?).
Sorry to disagree with you Chris, but that statement is not true. My painter did an AMAZING job on my Charger, and that includes repainting my bumper. Paint sticks no problem and the color match is dead on. It all depends on the Body Shop used and the experience within the shop. Anyone who has seen my car in person can validate my statement.
i agree with ron...if you have a good painter you will be fine.... and if hes as anal as some of us....ME BEING ONE...he couldnt live with them just "patching it up" if you will haha :naww:
i have seen rons car and can state first hand that the paint peels right off at the slightest touch...... hahahahaha actually, ron and the others are correct. quality, whether metal or plastic, comes down to the experience and talent of the person doing the job..... i have had peelers and faders, but i have also had perfection with plastic painted parts. an example would be my coolant bottle in the engine compartment.....painted with auto paint, cleared and is perfect!!! many people swore up and down it would peel and crack, but it is absolutely perfect!! it all comes down to the process and the talent of the person doing it!!!
Well Ron, your car is not really comparable to what most of us encounter...it's fricken' perfect! I hear what you are saying Chris, these are concerns I did talk with Bill the body shop guy about. He knew exactly what I meant and says he does take aging and fading into effect when he paint matches, and in his defense he is taking four days to do this pretty simple job. Matching Chrysler's crappy paint and clear coat application will be impossible, but in most instances I expect it to look like it did when it was new. I've seen pictures of his past work and have no reason to doubt his claims of me being satisfied. I will be keeping the broken front end and will have it fixed and prepped for paint, and then I'll just throw it into storage. Eric
Good idea Eric, smart man you are. BTW, I love your sig pic, I lmao every time I see it!!! What a great pic!!
Life just got better. Color seems to match pretty good, and I'm pleased with the fitment. It was cloudy and rainy so it got dirty and I haven't had a chance to look at it in the daylight but I likey:thumb: Eric
It appears you are in good hands Erik. The guy is taking his time with your sled and that is what chop shops do not do. hehe You will be pleasantly suprised by the out come brotha.
Update - got bling! Okay...after a couple weeks on the new spoiler and paint job, I just wasn't satisfied with the paint match. The paint guy agreed, I gave him a couple weeks to work on the paint with the Columbus show being the deadline. Well we got it back in this week - and I figured this is my chance to get a grille on easy being that he would have the front end off the car. Here's a photo where you can really see how mismatched the paint was: I just picked up the car yesterday afternoon and I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Perfect - no, 99% perfect, I'd say yes and it's way better than it was. That last photo does show that you can see a slight difference in the right light and angle...but honestly it's to the point where if you didn't know you would not be able to tell. I like how the new grille looks, it's a big adjustment and it taking some getting used to, but I like it - it's the MOPAR Dub edition. I don't know if it's going to inspire me to throw on some stealth auto bulbs and clear side markers, then strip off the molding and chrome the rims, or not...my wife will be pleased when I tell her about the new "vision" Just kidding, she's been great and is getting into the whole car thing. This week I hope to clay bar the car for the first time and then we are heading to Columbus next weekend! Eric
I was kind of digging that 2-tone you had going there. Silver and any variant of it is the hardest color to match there is.
