Dealing with a body shop, parts, fender, hood and a new Paint Job

It happened to me in 2005. I bought a Honda CRV in July of 2004 and paid $18,000 for it. In January 2005 this lady couldn't see and gunned it at a rotary and hit me at a right angle in the front causing $14,000 of damage. The car has been a maintenace nightmare since. I went to trade it and guess what, that bad car fax makes it worth $1000 less. I took the iinsurance company to court to get reimbursed for the extar insurance I bought for the renatl car (and won) but the law in Massachusetts allows the insurance company to just put the car back the way it was. You get nothing for the bad carfax, nothiing for the additional headaches and maintenance because you can't prove them as being part of the accident.

I'm driving older cars now. It is much better to have a car that they will total. Thanks to our "legal system" which seems to have very little in common with a "justice system" when you get hit you just lose.

Larry sorry to hear about your accident. I'm glad you weren't hurt.

The body shop has straightened the frame, installed the fenders, hood, front clip, and air dam. The car will go for paint at the end of the week. The trim pieces, brackets, grill, plastic pieces, headlamps and parking lamps will follow after paint.

Enterprise gave me a Hyundai as a rental car.

The car gets about 23 mpg around town, 28 mpg on the highway.

The ride is somewhat loose compared to a Honda and the suspension tends to be a little bit soft.

The car rides like a bus over broken pavement. I would not buy this car if I was in the market for a new car but it is not bad for an Asian import made by Korean workers getting paid minimum wage in Seoul Korea.

I can see why this car sells so well. Cheap transportation.

Isn't it Great to have Insurance?

I'm glad everything worked out for you.

I wonder how much money you would have saved had you put it back together yourself. Might have been able to pocket a few bucks but best of all is the feeling of having done it yourself. I am not a pro when it comes to putting cars together but I can say for sure that the feeling I get after finishing a project is priceless.

If after your attempt was not to your liking you could then have a pro finish it off.