Ok so a little background of bad luck first, I bought my Prelude about a year and a half ago, dropped the timing belt within a month of having it because they guy that sold it to me obviously didn't know what he was doing when he switched the timing belt before he sold it and didn't torque anything down like it should be. So I swapped an H22a into it, but while it was at the shop getting that done it got broken into. So I was left with the doors being pryed on in multiple places, the sunroof bent up, and the back drivers side window pryed on, then broken. Then after I got it back, I was hit with a hail storm. So I was left with a Prelude with a new motor, and just under $5000 in damage to the body.

On 7-10-09 I took it in to get an estimate. On 8-6-09 I finally got it in the shop to get fixed, and also a few other things done (complete paint job, fix rust, debadge and fill in holes). The shop I took it to has a pretty good reputation and does good work, and I have seen some of the cars he has done and they all come out nice.

They got the body work done, but the painter (who is the owner of the shop) is in no hurry to get my car done. It has been sitting there in the shop for about 4 months now. I go in there about every week, but nothing changes. He keeps telling me that it should only be a couple weeks til its done, but I go in a few weeks later and nothing is done. The guy that did the body work was talking to me yesterday and told me not to count on him starting this week like he said he would. This guy told me that he has 4 cars to paint, one which has been sitting there partially done for 4 years, and another one that took a year and a half just to get primered.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can get this going or what I should do? I see so many cars get in, get fixed and painted, then get out while mine just sits there. I'm 19 years old, so I'm wondering if my age might be a factor in why he keeps pushing me back. About a month and a half ago he did paint the mirrors, sunroof, sideskirts and bumpers, but not buffed. And nothing has been done since.

I want my car done by spring at the latest. I'm not sure if I should threaten to take my car somewhere else or what. Does anyone have any suggestions? The last thing I would want to do is **** off the person that is painting my car. But I need my car back and am getting sick of being pushed behind everyone else. I just think that going this long with it sitting there and nothing getting done is rediculous.

Anyone with advice let me know! Thanks!