Yeah i'm officially a dumbass. I nailed a lightpole after my tail end skidded out on a ramp. The front end is pretty messed up. Front bumper is completely busted, front lip is damaged pretty bad, and the hood is bent through the middle. Left fender is bent slightly. There is a metal support on the front bottom edge of the radiator that got nailed pretty bad. Seems like everything is kinda scrunched up in the front of the engine bay, but nothing broke (no radiator leakage, I was able to drive it home 15 mins, slow of course). Steering alignment is off....


Question is, what should i do next? I wasn't going fast when i ended up hitting the pole, since I was coming to a stop, but it was a head on collision with the pole. From the info I wrote, do you think there is frame or suspension damage? From people who have experienced damage to the front like this, what did you do for the front-end (is JDM really cheaper than USDM?). Also, for the NC people, what bodyshop do you recommend for collision damage in the Durham area? I have only gotten a paint job done at Rick Hendrick Collision Center in Durham, so I have no idea how they are with accidents. Thanks in advance everyone...hopefully this doesn't turn out that bad....


Jason
'00 FBP ITR #1297

 

Sorry to hear that man

 

Bummer....throttle-lift is a bitch isn't it!


Ask XR4Ricer...I mean XR4Racer for his bill quote on the lower radiator support. He ran over a stump at Deal's Gap!

Ask Pat...ITR009...about Hendrick's Paint in Durham. Had his malested hatch painted there I think.

Don't know any body shops in Durham. Kenny Hawkin's in Raleigh has a good name. He does mostly high-end Euro stuff. Doesn't hurt that he tracks his Viper either.


[Modified by RStoR, 11:53 AM 4/18/2002]

 

at least you are not hurt and be able to post here what happened. Sometimes, these things are taken forgranted.

Good luck.

 

Hendrick (on Crash Lane in Apex) is a very good shop.

But, yes... you were a dumbass.

 

Jason's (fastasknutz) sister had her GS-R painted there, and he was less than happy with the results.

Avoid Cary Collision - they did a half-*** job with my hatch replacement a while back.

Hendrick in Durham isn't bad - they repainted the hatch/roof/hood following the egging. The original job was not 100%, but they were excellent about following up and fixing any mistakes. Shame it took three trips. And I don't live in Durham

I've never had body work done in RDU though - only paint. Hope that helps.

 

Wow, we could almost be twins.



My estimates were anywhere from $3400 to $4500 to replace the damaged parts with brand-new pieces. I'm realistically looking at around $2500 for used parts and less than expensive new pieces.

 

Looks like your car swallowed a Chrysler 300M.

 

jdm fronts are never cheaper than usdm front ends...

 

What's the typical policy with insurance companies as far as replacing damaged body panels with OEM or low-quality aftermarket parts?

 

You have the right to demand new OEM parts with most any insurance company. They will likely not try to use non-OEM or junkyard parts since your car is reasonably new. But ask, and get part numbers on the estimate and shop bill. Go visit, if necessary

 

ouch. sorry to hear that man. tail out kicked my *** soon after i got my aaaaaarrrr, but now its my friend (in the snow at least, McRae has nuttin on me)