Someone backed into my LS and almost hit-and-run
10-18-17, 09:57 AM
#46
When I worked at FoMoCo in Dearborn, I drove a colleague named "Ed" to a meeting in a different building. When we returned (we took a test car), he opened his door right into someone's personal car, leaving a huge dent and scuff. He did not leave a note, and my opinion of him was completely shattered as a result. This was the origin of my parking paranoia, because I know that there are a lot of "Eds" out there who just don't care. Since then, I have not received a single door ding on any car. My Wife did, however - a person named "Ramel" opened the door of his pickup into her Prius, leaving a ding with telltale white paint transfer.
Hence, my (now our, since my Wife has contracted the condition from me) "paranoia parking" rule. It has paid immeasurable dividends.
Hence, my (now our, since my Wife has contracted the condition from me) "paranoia parking" rule. It has paid immeasurable dividends.
10-18-17, 10:39 AM
#47
Racer
Thread Starter
FatherTo1: what matters is what you see, not what others see. Wouldn't the other person's insurance pay for a replacement panel and painting? A good body shop would do an excellent job of painting and matching, including blending.
For me, I've some paint chips and scratches and one very small crease. While they bother me a bit, it's not worth money out of my pocket at this point to fix them, as they are hard to notice unless one looks closely, in some cases very closely. I fear that just touching yhem up without a much more expensive paint job might make yhem more noticeable to me. Unfortunately, over time, I expect more of the same. At some point, if the car is a long-term keeper, I'll do something aboiut it.
For me, I've some paint chips and scratches and one very small crease. While they bother me a bit, it's not worth money out of my pocket at this point to fix them, as they are hard to notice unless one looks closely, in some cases very closely. I fear that just touching yhem up without a much more expensive paint job might make yhem more noticeable to me. Unfortunately, over time, I expect more of the same. At some point, if the car is a long-term keeper, I'll do something aboiut it.
10-18-17, 11:20 AM
#48
I would leave that as is. I think trying to get it perfect again might just lead to more problems.
10-18-17, 01:59 PM
#49
Lexus Fanatic
I actually saw another door ding on that door higher up before I saw that...
I would leave it be. Just asking for trouble repainting the door...
I would leave it be. Just asking for trouble repainting the door...
10-20-17, 02:53 AM
#50
Geez, a Miata is one of the smallest cars you can drive and you can see everything in them, kind of inexcusable to hit a parked car in something like that. I had my GS460 backed into while at work and they drove off without leaving a note and have had people open their door into my car, people are really careless and it's surprising how many people act like getting insurance involved over a scratch or ding is crazy. Maybe if you paid attention and respected people's vehicles it wouldn't be necessary 
10-20-17, 06:26 AM
#51
Racer
Thread Starter
Yesterday, the body shop said a new estimate for a conventional repair, including blending into the front door, is an additional $1000. I am just waiting for the other party's AAA to approve it and I will just ask for the payout. I wasn't thinking to "profit" from this incident at the beginning (and still don't believe I really am by having to live with the dent). Anyways, it is what it is and, like others have pointed out, I would rather not risk more issues with trying to get the repair "perfect", which it won't be if good paint front the front door has to be sacrificed.
10-20-17, 06:29 AM
#52
Lexus Fanatic
I’m surprised the PDR tech didn’t take care of that other ding when he was working on that panel...
10-20-17, 06:35 AM
#53
Racer
Thread Starter
Geez, a Miata is one of the smallest cars you can drive and you can see everything in them, kind of inexcusable to hit a parked car in something like that. I had my GS460 backed into while at work and they drove off without leaving a note and have had people open their door into my car, people are really careless and it's surprising how many people act like getting insurance involved over a scratch or ding is crazy. Maybe if you paid attention and respected people's vehicles it wouldn't be necessary
On a separate note, I was just in for an oil change yesterday and my mechanic let me borrow his newly acquired 2007 GS 350 so I could get to work. The structure had some shake and rattle over potholes but oh-man was that car fun around turns! That V6 pulls strongly and has great midrange punch. I would see the speedometer quickly climb with barely much territory covered on the tach. The close-ratio 6-speed does a great job keeping you in the powerband. I don't think I ever crested 4k or 5k RPM yesterday and simply didn't need to around town.
10-20-17, 06:48 AM
#54
Racer
Thread Starter
I like that he only focused not the actual damage and glad he didn't have to remove window trim to access the dent in question, as was the original plan. Instead, he was able to get his tools in using the channel where the wiring goes into the door. I didn't witness any of this, it was just relayed back to me. I know some shops offer to take care of other things when having to do a bumper, for instance. I understand the PDR guy skipping the other ding out of concern for liability issues if something goes wrong. Plus, it really is insurance fraud on one level. If he asked me if I wanted to pay the difference, then that is different. He didn't offer though.
10-20-17, 06:54 AM
#55
Lexus Fanatic
I’d expect he would have noticed that and fixed it without charging the insurance any more.
Good PDR techs in my experience are a little obsessive compulsive, I personally wouldn’t have been able to not fix that little ding.
Good PDR techs in my experience are a little obsessive compulsive, I personally wouldn’t have been able to not fix that little ding.
10-20-17, 08:19 AM
#56
10-20-17, 09:03 AM
#57
Lexus Fanatic
10-20-17, 08:23 PM
#58
Racer
Thread Starter
10-21-17, 08:44 PM
#60
Racer
Thread Starter
I can feel the crease, *****. The body shot said they would have to fill it with some resin, sand it down, then blend the paint. I had already polished the door as much as they can and it still left the crease.
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