• Hi Guest!
    If you appreciate British Car Forum and our 25 years of supporting British car enthusiasts with technical and anicdotal information, collected from our thousands of great members, please support us with a low-cost subscription. You can become a supporting member for less than the dues of most car clubs.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Crunch...

Share this page

Morris

Morris

Yoda
Offline
One of the owners of the company I work for backed into my car while it was parked. The rear apron, driver's side reverse lamp and license place holder are wrecked. The owner is a very good man. He is in fact one of the kindest people I know. He has offered to pay for everything. But still, it stinks to be in this awkward situation.

Can anyone recommend a body shop in or near Austin, Texas?
 
sorry to hear but glad you are dealing with an honourable man (as is he)
 
Sorry to hear about the "crunch"! You might want to give Steve a call at Olde English Imports over on Burnet Road. Not sure if they do body work but as far as a recommendation, he might be a source.
 
And this my friend is why I still have me rubber bumpers.

Akward? How you think he feels?

Better he hit yours....
 
Well, as stated good you're dealing with an honest chap.
Someone with a bigger car backed in to our -08 Volvo yeasterday and hit it really hard. The back is a complete mess, but they just drove away leaving me for a nasty surprise once I got back to the car... If only I could get my hands on the person who did it...
 
And my wife just backed into her Prius into a wall - even with her back-up camera. ;-) The wall didn't even respond, and it had no insurance. Looks like we're out of $500 for the deductible.
 
A couple of weeks ago someone ran into the back of my (previously unmarred) 2010 Volvo and put multiple scratches on the bumper cover, it looks like someone attacked it with a wood rasp.
 
I just, last week, clay blocked my 1998 Ranger Pickup. Bought a bottle of scratch remover for the job. Never needed to open the top.

I can just feel it, next week I get slammed.
 
Good news. I was able to deal with most of the dammage with my handy dandy rubber mallet. with a little time with a dolly I should have it looking pretty good. My flat black paint is very forgiving. So at least I can drive it around without too much embarassment.

I am sorry for all of your crunch and run storiess. That has happened to me as well. And I have done it to others as too. I have never left without at least leaving a note with my contact and insurance info. I figure if my insurance goes up, that is a small price to pay to keep my integrity in tact. Heck. I wish keeping my integrity in good shape was always as easy as paying an extra $100 every 6 months. Of course, if that were the case, I am sure my integrity bill would quickly excede my salary.
 
So I asked the guy who crunched me for $450 to fix it myself. I felt like that was a real deal. He seemed a little upset by that price, though he made no objection. I can't decide if that is just the normal reaction anyone would have to writing a $450 check, or if I asked for too much. What do you guys think?
 
Well, you were in a bad situation. It might have been better if you had a body shop estimate to show him which surely would have been more money. Then he should have gladly accepted your offer.
 
My car has been hit out on the street in front of my home several times.
Some people act like you shouldn't have the gall to park a car like that where they might have no choice but to ram into it.
Some don't think twice about laying out a grand to fix the scratch on their BMW bumper but act like you are robbing them if you want them to cover the damage done by that bumper to your sheet metal.
Others just open up their checkbook and ask 'how much'?
People's true nature reveals itself.
 
Morris said:
So I asked the guy who crunched me for $450 to fix it myself. I felt like that was a real deal. He seemed a little upset by that price, though he made no objection. I can't decide if that is just the normal reaction anyone would have to writing a $450 check, or if I asked for too much. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

I would exercise just a little caution. My son caused a <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">very </span></span></span>minor fender-bender and the guy said "hey I'm fine, and, yes, maybe I'd be willing to handle this in cash given it's probably below your deductible." I advised my son NOT to do this (given he really couldn't size the other driver up). So... guess what, a week later the guy says "oh gee, I think I'm in pain" (and it turns out he has a history of shady insurance filings)... and wants a lot of money. My son's insurance paid him off with $5000. A cop friend of mine says it's a <span style="text-decoration: underline">very </span>common racket (and insurance companies are generally willing to buy someone off for $5000 - and generally avoid legal proceedings).
 
Go get an estimate and give it to him.

Better yet, tell him he seemed put off by your price, toss him the keys and tell him have it fixed.
 
The guy who hit me is one of the owners of the company I work for. He is an ex Navy SEAL who served in Viet Nam and was severely injurred there. He is a very good man. I actually consider him to be a friend. Though admittedly I am more generous with that term than most. I am more concerened about giving him a raw deal than vice versa.
 
Morris said:
The guy who hit me is one of the owners of the company I work for. He is an ex Navy SEAL who served in Viet Nam and was severely injurred there. He is a very good man. I actually consider him to be a friend. Though admittedly I am more generous with that term than most. I am more concerened about giving him a raw deal than vice versa.
Click to expand...

I think that amount is more than reasonable - though any time I have ever done the "cash" route I have had an estimate or two to back me up. You also don't want to mess up a good relationship for $100 either way.
 
Morris said:
I am more concerened about giving him a raw deal than vice versa.
Click to expand...

Well, sounds like he thinks it is. Toss him the keys and let him find out for himself.
 
I took a similar knock 2 years ago. Estimate was a padded $1,500 but the shop told me it was more like a $1,200 deal. Insurance adjuster agreed to $1,100. My point is, Insurance companies and body shops work (conspire?) off exactly the same number sheets and break it all bit by bit. Nothing arbitrary, no guessing, doesn't matter what car. To that I would add: I'm no psychologist, but there's a big difference between ASKING for what your owed and DEMANDING it. (in a nice way of course, but to ask implies you'll take NO for an answer and he doesn't owe you, he's doing you a favor. Before you know it, the victim is seen as the victimizer :madder:

On the plus side: If a backup light or two off a '70 Midget will fit your car; I have a pair that you can have for free. I'll even ship them on my dime since it's x-mass time. PM me your address if you want 'em.
 
Thanks Steve. Only the lenses were busted and I already have a new set on the way from Moss.

The more I think about it, the more I think I am being over sensitive about the whole deal.
 
Back
Top