So here's my story:

I just picked up an '02 Type-S three weeks ago. This last Friday night, I was driving home when a drunk driver side-swiped me. When I called 911, he ran from the scene, only to show back up later and get arrested. He didn't have insurance, speak English, or even know what was going on (he failed the field sobriety test and was immediaty put in the back of the cop car). He was a complete dumb ***.

However, I'm not looking for sympathy, I'd like some advice. Now I'm stuck with a $250 un-insured deductible, and an auto collision shop of my choice. My insurance is Geico (please hold your complaints about them, they have been good by me...we'll see how they handle this claim). So my questions for the RSX community (primarily those located here in the DFW) are:
-Who did you use in a similar accident?
-Did they do good work? (like all of you, I'm very picky...this car is my baby)
-Customer Service?
-How long was it in the shop, and...
-If you havn't had any work done, what have you heard through the grapevine?

Any suggestions are appreciated, with the exception of places like Macco. I want only the best, seeing as how the insurance is flipping the bill.

Oh, I will also note that Geico has arranged for Service King to do the work, and provide me with a rental car via Enterprise. I have had a friend mess up his RX-8 pretty bad, but it was only bumper/headlights/hood. Service King did his work, and it came out great. I just want to have all my facts in line. Has anyone heard good/bad things about Service King? I know they can vary by the particular techs working on your car.

Thanks,
-Chris

 

I've actually heard great things about service king. I live in North Dallas area and the service king is A+ from what i hear. If service king is Geico's car repair i'd take it to them as if something doesn't match you can tell them "hey this isn't right i want it fixed" and they will do it. USAA (great insurance company) also has Service King as their collision repair shops so Service King is A+. I'd let them fix my car in a heart beat especially if it's recommended by your insurance (well at least the top notch insurance agencies).

I'm the same way as you when it comes to my car. It's my baby and i want it done right not half assed. I'd say if you let service king do the repairs, you wont be let down cuz they stand behind their work.

 

Thanks risk, that's the info I wanted. Service King is only here in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and recently Houston. I've heard good things, but just wanted to see from a car-lover's point of view...I want it perfect. The fact I get a guarantee is also great, so I can just take it back if I find something shady.

Well, I'll be checking periodically throughout the day, if anyone else has any suggestions, please let me know!

-Chris

 

np..
you wont go wrong with service king

 

update:

C'mon DFW! Anymore suggestions? I just dropped my baby off at a Service King in Arlington today. I'm happy the quarter panel has only got scratches...no bondo for me. Anyway, I have until tommorrow morning to give them the go-ahead with repair work. I got a lifetime guarantee to the work that they do (premature fading, chipping, or quality issues like fitment or paint flaws).

And my rental car? 2007 Dodge Avenger...eww.

 

you should sue the drunk driver i bet you can get some cash

 

oh yeah i got a Hyundai sonata v6 as my rental car.

 

just to ask
does any one know what would happen if the son of a B just took off
would insurance still pick up the bill
just to ask cuz there has been few times where i had the right of way and some motha Fuucuh runs the red and would of smashed me driver side if i didn't look when it was my green
well hope things follow thru as they should

 

yes they would but at least on your part you should of called the police department and made a police report

 

I am an in similart position with my 2002 Acura RSX. Minor accident (technically two), insurance mess. I purchased my car from Vandergriff Acura and have always taken my baby (I call my car my baby) their for service. They've always treated me right and been straight with me. Since prior to this point I'd never had to have any body work done I have no experience with the body shops. I asked my service rep at Vandergriff if he could recommend someplace he said they deal with Vandergriff Collision Center go figure. I'm still trying to figure out where I want to take my car to get it fixed. In a total insurance mess and still not sure if I want to deal with Vandergriff Collision Center. My dad has had work done at Service King and recommended I go there but I'm not sure I was impressed with their work. Not sure if it was them or the car or what. He seemed happy with them, I don't actually recall my issues. Like you I just want to find someplace that is going to do a good job. I would definitely recommend going somewhere that backs their work and if possible somewhere your insurance company backs. Mine told me that they back Vandergriff even to the point that if I were to move somewhere Vandergriff didn't have a shop they'd back the work somewhere local.

Should also mention the insurance mess is that I'm dealing with two seperate incidents one was my stupidity got in a hurry and clipped my g/f's car in the driveway behind me. The other some idiot rear ended me and their insurance (Progressive) is jerking me around. My experience with them has got me convinced I'll never have them for my insurance company. Not that I'd likely ever switch since I have State Farm and they've treated me very well and been very up front and straight with me. Just kicking myself that I didn't get the fender binder with my g/f fixed sooner.

Chris

 

are they worried about the front fender bender? If so.. they shouldn't be since it's prior damage.

 

I guess I wasn't clear problem is my at fault accident was also on the rear (right side) All damage is on the right side of the rear bumper. The accident Progressive is giving me the runaround on was a direct rear impact.

I think I'm going to just go ahaed and claim my accident with my insurance company and take my car to Collision Center (will update when I get my car back to say how things went) and pay for any other damage out of pocket.

chris

 

so it was your fault that you had an accident on your rear? Did you admit to fault? did you back up into somebody?

 

edit nm!

 

correct, I backed into my g/f's car in the driveway. My car was in the garage, I got in a hurry and fogot her car was behind me. Damage is estimated at $900. Then when the lady rearended me she knocked my bumper out of line and did minor damage to the backside of the bumber which her insurance is now claiming is post accident damage. They also say that the bumper out of line issue would be resolved by repairing my previous damage since they'd have to take the bumper off to repair the scratches.

Learning lesson for all make sure to fix any damage it will haunt you if you get hit, apparently the insurance companies can deduct previous damage. Even if not all that much related. My insurance company said its all dependent on perspective and such. The law is meant for more of a basis of something along the lines of you broke a tailight your fault or whatever grounds, then you break the tailight and do further damage. The insurance companies can deduct (not pay for) reparing the tailight because it was previous damage. However some insurance companies (like in my case Progressive) take the law very liberally. Others like my insurance (State Farm) actually trys to help. I didn't even realize I could still claim my accident with my g/f since its been awhile. They said I could since I'd never made a claim and would actually be the better way to go since Progressive is jerking me around and they can't/wouldn't deduct previous damage for the new accident. That is, they wouldn't say you'd have to take the bumber off to fix the Progressive damage so we won't pay for that. Just thought I'd share my experience. Sorry for getting off topic. Haven't really seen much on topic, has nobody had experience with local body shops!?

chris


Modified by CRobin78 at 12:49 AM 9/17/2007

 

Took my car into Vandergriff Collision South yesterday morning they are currently estimating middle of next week. So far so good, we'll see how things go and update you all on how everything went.

chris

 

i had to take mine to David Mcdavid Acura (was happy since it was an acura dealership)since that was on Progressives list. Looked at my car last week and it is well done. man.. does it look sexy.. till you look at the sideskirts the previous owner put on the car.. then you're like "Holy **** wtf is that batman". They've got some "wings" on the sideskirts... looks gay as ****.. to bad i didn't get into an accident where my sideskirts were messed up and could replace them back to stock. That would be awesome.

 

Took my car into Vandergriff Collision South yesterday morning they are currently estimating middle of next week. So far so good, we'll see how things go and update you all on how everything went.

chris

 

got my car back from david mcdavid acura here in Plano and they did an A+ fanstastic job plus i get a lifetime warranty. Now if i can get rid of these wing sideskirts my and the spray painted black rims i'd be set.

 

Picked my car up Friday, September 28, from Vandergriff Collision South, looks good no complaints. They came in right at the estimate even though they did a little more work than included in the estimate. Ok, one small complaint is when they painted the bumer the painted over the VIN number. But they said this was necesary to get a proper seal with the clear coat.

Car was technically I was notified at 5:11pm Thursday that my car was ready but wasn't able to get over there before they closed at 6pm, so had to wait and pick it up on Friday.

chris

 

meh.. don't need VIN on ya bumper you have it in window. But technically they could of covered up the VIN and spray painted around it.