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Minor Guardrail Swipe $4000 to Repair?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by LittleP2015, Aug 10, 2015.

  1. LittleP2015

    LittleP2015 New Member

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    Hi All,

    Me and a friend were driving up to Glacier National Monument in Montana (it's beautiful I recommend it btw) and so I let my friend drive a bit of the way up. Well, he dropped his sunglasses, was reaching around the floor trying to find them, and swiped a guardrail going 40-50mph. No significant damage, car is fine and drivable. Just a long scratch going from the front tire towards the back tire with some dents here and there.
    I went to a body repair shop today here in Montana and they quoted me $4000 for all new genuine Toyota parts-- new front fender, two new doors, and a quarter panel and paint to match.

    My friend originally said he would just pay for the repairs himself. Well I bet he wasn't thinking it would be $4000!

    I was thinking some dinky repair shop could just sort of paint over the scratches and maybe attempt to fix the dents. Any experience with this? I still owe money on the car so would that even be legal, or wise?

    I'm looking into seeing if my friends car insurance will cover it.

    Your thoughts are appreciated.
     

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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    go home. and get some local pricing. what if you need to return to the shoppe, are you going to drive back to montana?

    cheapest way out will be to find a salvage prius you can remove those parts from and have them installed and painted.

    shouldn't be more than two large.
     
  3. LittleP2015

    LittleP2015 New Member

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    Montana is where I plan to get the repairs done since I will be here a couple more weeks
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sorry, i did.:p btw, it doesn't matter that you owe money on the car, unless you stop making payments. you don't have to fix it at all if you don't want to.
     
  5. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Wait until you get home since you said the car is fine a drivable, Assuming you have insurance...file your claim, get your loaner while being repaired and let your buddy pay the deductible...done.
     
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  6. apt5020

    apt5020 Senior Member

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    2005 Prius, take the money. Not worth repairing. Bluebook value isn't that high or use it to down a new Prius 2015 Persona :)
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That looks a little more than "minor" to me: is the sheet metal actually pealed open, near the front edge of driver's door?

    Like Frodoz: wait 'till you get home.
     
  8. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    Really, 4000$
    Drive it home, get some quotes, repair each panel, 400$ per, 1200$
     
  9. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    I'm surprised you need two doors. Two skins should be enough unless that guard rail damaged stuff inside the door.

    If you go through your insurance they will go after the driver's.

    Are you expecting the prices to be higher back home? Do you want to take another trip to Montana if the car takes longer or if there is a problem?

    I don't like the idea of dumping $4000 into a 10 year old car. You suffered the loss so take the settlement. You may not get a second claim covered if the same panel is damaged but hasn't been repaired or replaced.
     
  10. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    …you might want to throw in $10 for a roll of duct-tape for your friend so that he can tape his sun-glasses to his stupid head!!!! :rolleyes:
     
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  11. JTM2955

    JTM2955 Active Member

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    If it doesn't affect the drive ability of the car then leave it as is it's still worth whatever you paid for it even with the stripe down the side.to put $4000 into that car is definitely not worth it. Keep the money save it for a 20 2016-17 Prius. I wouldn't buy a 2015 now when we know Gen IV is on the way.

    LG G3 T-MOBILE phone ☎
     
  12. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    What are your plans for the car? How many miles on the odometer? How many years were you thinking of keeping it?

    If you were thinking of hanging on to it for another 5+ years, then I would put the money into it. Get a few quotes though. See what your friend is willing to pay.

    Otherwise, if it's already approaching 150,000 - 200,000 miles, then leave the dents there, and enjoy the car as is. I would still make your friend slide you some money to make up for his mistake.

    Good luck.
     
  13. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    get a few different quotes when you get home. also look for used doors and fender in the same color in the junk yard.

    that Montana shop might be trying to hose you since your from out of state.
     
  14. LittleP2015

    LittleP2015 New Member

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    I talked to my insurance and if I did go with the professional repairs I would pay the $1000 deductible and have my insurance pay for the repairs. Then my insurance would sue his insurance to cover the cost and I still get a strike on my perfect driving record.
    The car has 113,000 miles on it. And also just got a new HV battery.
    I asked a shop what they thought about just painting over it and they said they don't like to paint over body damage because sometimes it can accentuate it and there can be peeling, etc.
    My friend seems to be fixated on this $600 figure for repairs. Should I just take the $600 and not fix it and call it even? I was planning to have the car a few more years. I feel like the value has dropped quite a bit now because of this ugly scratch.
    Appreciate your thoughts.

    Also I may not be going "home" for several more months I've been moving around a lot living here and there.
     
  15. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    2005?

    Nope.
    I wouldn't fix it, except for maybe a little color-matched rust prevention where sheet metal is exposed.
    Totally not worth it on a 10 year old car with half lunar mileage.

    If you get it repaired, then it's still going to be a previously wrecked car on CARFAX, so you're going to spend money only to have the car be depreciated by having been previously wrecked - AND you're going to have a collision on your insurance record for 5 years, not to mention whatever dynamics this has between you and your friend.
    Have him slide you some cash and put that money into paying off the car.
     
  16. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Assuming you're 100% sure the vehicle is safe to drive, I'd wait to get home to deal with the solution.

    I don't think the body shop was being disingenuous. That's the most perfect highest level of repair possible. So it becomes even the smallest scratch or dent nearly means work or replacement for the whole panel, you might as well take a sledge hammer and make it really good. (just kidding). BUT your pictures show damage to nearly every panel on the side, including the front bumper.

    I think it boils down to what do you want as far as repair, and what do you expect from your friend?

    If you can live with it? Yeah, it's a 10 year old Prius.

    Part of the reason I recommend just waiting until you get home, is then I think you could investigate less "perfect" solutions. Check with local body shops and let them know you're paying out of pocket and not seeking "perfect" OEM repair. See what solutions might be offered or possible.
     
  17. LittleP2015

    LittleP2015 New Member

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    My friend just gave me $800 plus $30 for touch-up paint and told me to either do it myself or get a less than perfect repair. I guess this case is closed.
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    cut the baby in half.;)
     
  19. JTM2955

    JTM2955 Active Member

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    Oh my, amazing what some guys will do.

    se
     
  20. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    How close a friends are you?
    Because it's only closed if YOU want it to be closed.
    He DID damage your vehicle...10 years old or otherwise.

    I mean, I think NOT investing $4000 dollars into it is wise. But conceivably it wouldn't be your $4000 or a claim against your insurance.

    If you're happy with $830 here, then more power to you and your friend. But he is the one that did the damage, you should be the one setting the standards for remedy.