Auto body repair question. (Cash offer vs Geico $500 deductible.)

So I had dipshits across from my parents back into my car while in Taiwan. Can't prove it. Geico quote was $800 for them to replace left rear quarter panel on a 08 VW R32. $500 decutible.
While parking today cursing the continuing pile of shit breaking. (Faucet for my rodi unit, blew a tire on I25 today) Had a guy in a white truck with an auto body sign on the side flag me down as I was parking at home anyways. Offered $300 cash to basically pull the area and then reshape/rework the area with rubber mallets etc and supposedly get it close to good as new. I said I wanted to double check if Geico was also pulling or whether it was a full replace and I had to take care of replacing the tire right away first anyhow. He countered the price down to $200. But I stayed strong and got his number.
$500 Replace (Rate jump?) Vs $200 random body shop person repair. (3rd option do the same thing cheaper somewhere known?)

I'm not a handyman so I'm looking for suggestions on what might be the right choice? I am thinking as long as it's not rippled warped like a retarded child with a hammer was doing on it, I can deal with not perfect, just lot less noticable than now. Car whenever I sell it already won't be worth much probably. (Continuing wierd problems and be a while anyways before I sell it, so would have >100k miles)

Typically, a not-at-fault claim won't effect your rates. Even if you can't prove it, it should be classified as a hit and run. You'll have to pay your deductible, Geico covers the rest and everyone moves on. Personally, I wouldn't trust someone flagging me down in a parking lot compared to a body shop. If he has a legit business name, shop, etc, then you could go through him, save a few hundred bucks compared to paying your deductible. Just be aware that once he starts messing with it, it'll be hard to get geico to cover it later on.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dave_L

Typically, a not-at-fault claim won't effect your rates. Even if you can't prove it, it should be classified as a hit and run. You'll have to pay your deductible, Geico covers the rest and everyone moves on. Personally, I wouldn't trust someone flagging me down in a parking lot compared to a body shop. If he has a legit business name, shop, etc, then you could go through him, save a few hundred bucks compared to paying your deductible. Just be aware that once he starts messing with it, it'll be hard to get geico to cover it later on.

---

+1 This is great info!,

Very unlikely you'd get a quality repair for $300 and No way in hell for $200. A nice car like that should get fixed proper. I'd guess that $800.00 quote is even low.

What Dave underscore L said. See what it costs to just get a new fender and have it painted.

Use your insurance.

Would you buy seafood from a dude on the side of 25??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tinelement

Use your insurance.

Would you buy seafood from a dude on the side of 25??

---

Yea I have....
freshest Rocky Mountain oysters I ever had. Was not a cow in the field next to him that would look at him in the eyes though [Coffee]

[mop]

[ROFL2]

[pick-me]......Dude, you have an R32 dub, not some Hyundai! Get it done correctly from your insurance company. You have a very rare car there, "only 5000 made in 4 colors", it will hold its value for a long time. Get it fixed right!!!!!



http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps739d9dad.jpg

[Beer]......................FUCKINGROOOOVIN

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ben4372

Very unlikely you'd get a quality repair for $300 and No way in hell for $200. A nice car like that should get fixed proper. I'd guess that $800.00 quote is even low.

---

This is the most accurate response. I would say the repair will be double once you actually get it to a shop. The insurance companies write "estimates" at about 50% if not less in hopes you will take the check and move on. Make a claim and get the car repaired properly. I have been dealing with insurance companies in the auto body repair industry for 22 years now and the are crooks. Use the insurance that you have paid for many times over.

Got pics?

As far as nice car, somewhat up to debate. This thing has had/continues to have so many issues.

Replaced fuel tank under warranty. Now a few months later if I fill up to full, 100% of the time it has trouble starting. Usually one turn gets nothing after 4-5 seconds. 2nd turn usually will get it started but sounds like only a few cyclinders firing and out of synch and starts getting louder/rattly. Shut it off and 3rd time starts just fine and is fine until I gas up again. (This is going to get looked at when I bring it in next week, hopefully related to their repairs they did.)


Unsolved mystery is that especially in summer, if I drive an hour or more, it developes a kinda vapor locking type symptoms. Will plummet to like 5mpg and I can smell gas something awefull. I'll start at a light and move about 5 feet before the power drops out and it burps and stutters from 2-10 seconds and then it will surge on the rpm even if I wasn't flooding it and be fine for anywhere from a few minutes to another 15 seconds. I managed to on a trip home on I25 put it on cruise and watch it steadily every 15-20 seconds start to rumble/lose power with the rpm's fluctuating then it would surge a little and be fine for another 20 seconds. Goes away if I stop the car for 10-15 minutes. (And doesn't start up again right away like you'd expect from a pure heat issue.) VW Techs have zero idea and doubted me longest time until I started getting witnesses and some crappy video.


TPS like the tires to be pretty heftily over inflated. Think today at discount tire replacing a blow out from yesterday coming home, they had to put it at 40/41 ish.




I did opt to wait to have Geico fix it at the local Abra. Blew the $ for right now on an incredible deal on some other hobby equipment.

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...psccb87dd7.jpg




http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...ps632783a7.jpg

Last pic is just car shot, dmg is to left 1/4 panel.

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...psc99a678d.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spleify

This is the most accurate response. I would say the repair will be double once you actually get it to a shop. The insurance companies write "estimates" at about 50% if not less in hopes you will take the check and move on. Make a claim and get the car repaired properly. I have been dealing with insurance companies in the auto body repair industry for 22 years now and the are crooks. Use the insurance that you have paid for many times over.

---

I, as an insurance adjuster have NEVER under paid a claim in "hopes they will take th check and move on". They may be some "crooks" in insurnace but I don't know any. But I have had a lot of body shop do some shady stuff....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ben4372

Very unlikely you'd get a quality repair for $300 and No way in hell for $200. A nice car like that should get fixed proper. I'd guess that $800.00 quote is even low.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spleify

This is the most accurate response. I would say the repair will be double once you actually get it to a shop. The insurance companies write "estimates" at about 50% if not less in hopes you will take the check and move on. Make a claim and get the car repaired properly. I have been dealing with insurance companies in the auto body repair industry for 22 years now and the are crooks. Use the insurance that you have paid for many times over.

---

Both of these....

I posted to be funny last night. But seriously, get it fix properly. You pay thousands in insurance. Use it! I am also a long time auto body guy, coming up on 24 yrs now. Your insurance doesn't just pick a dude off the street, there is a reason for that. You mentioned your car isn't perfect, which one is? Get the 1/4 put on properly. You would be surprised how easy it is to eff that repair up and you would never know! Remember, on a unibody car, your 1/4 is part of the strength to the car. Get it fixed wrong, the next accident might cause you injury because the welds fail........

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spleify

This is the most accurate response. I would say the repair will be double once you actually get it to a shop. The insurance companies write "estimates" at about 50% if not less in hopes you will take the check and move on. Make a claim and get the car repaired properly. I have been dealing with insurance companies in the auto body repair industry for 22 years now and the are crooks. Use the insurance that you have paid for many times over.

---

If you really work with insurance companies from your shop than you know better than to post stuff like this.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Irving

If you really work with insurance companies from your shop than you know better than to post stuff like this.

---

Hes actually pretty close there. How much $$ in sups do you write per claim??

Remember, I'm the technician. Not the consumer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fitz19d

As far as nice car, somewhat up to debate. This thing has had/continues to have so many issues.

Replaced fuel tank under warranty. Now a few months later if I fill up to full, 100% of the time it has trouble starting. Usually one turn gets nothing after 4-5 seconds. 2nd turn usually will get it started but sounds like only a few cyclinders firing and out of synch and starts getting louder/rattly. Shut it off and 3rd time starts just fine and is fine until I gas up again. (This is going to get looked at when I bring it in next week, hopefully related to their repairs they did.)


Unsolved mystery is that especially in summer, if I drive an hour or more, it developes a kinda vapor locking type symptoms. Will plummet to like 5mpg and I can smell gas something awefull. I'll start at a light and move about 5 feet before the power drops out and it burps and stutters from 2-10 seconds and then it will surge on the rpm even if I wasn't flooding it and be fine for anywhere from a few minutes to another 15 seconds. I managed to on a trip home on I25 put it on cruise and watch it steadily every 15-20 seconds start to rumble/lose power with the rpm's fluctuating then it would surge a little and be fine for another 20 seconds. Goes away if I stop the car for 10-15 minutes. (And doesn't start up again right away like you'd expect from a pure heat issue.) VW Techs have zero idea and doubted me longest time until I started getting witnesses and some crappy video.


TPS like the tires to be pretty heftily over inflated. Think today at discount tire replacing a blow out from yesterday coming home, they had to put it at 40/41 ish.


I did opt to wait to have Geico fix it at the local Abra. Blew the $ for right now on an incredible deal on some other hobby equipment.

---

Sorry to hear about the issues you are having, no doubt dubs can be temperamental, especially the electronics. Did you have the power / drivability issues prior to the new gas tank being installed?

The good ol' "The insurance companies are scams" vs "the body shops are scams" debate. Never gets old. Now we just need a roofer to chime in.

^LOL

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Snowman78

I, as an insurance adjuster have NEVER under paid a claim in "hopes they will take th check and move on". They may be some "crooks" in insurnace but I don't know any. But I have had a lot of body shop do some shady stuff....

---

You clearly have not been in the industry very long then. And you obviously have never actually WORKED on a vehicle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Irving

If you really work with insurance companies from your shop than you know better than to post stuff like this.

---

What the hell is this supposed to mean Sturving. You think I should keep my mouth shut and pussyfoot around so as not to upset an insurance adjuster... Haha that's funny. You, being on the insurance side, would have no idea what body shops have to deal with. You insurance guys write a couple of sheets a week and all of a sudden your a journey body man.

Oh, and Abra sucks they are one step above Maaco. Shoot me a PM with the area you are in and I will give you a couple of shops you can decide over. Law states you can take your vehicle anywhere you desire. The insurance companies will "encourage" you to take it to one of their "preferred" shops(again to benefit the insurance companies be jade they get a price break from certain shops(DRP) do they want you to go there)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spleify

You clearly have not been in the industry very long then. And you obviously have never actually WORKED on a vehicle.

---

Hello Buddy,
I have worked as a insurance adjuster for 6 years. Befor that I was at 2 body shops for a total of 6 years (Paint prep, body man & combo guy) befor that I was a mechanical tech for 3 years (Honda dealership). I am a I-Car Gold tech and ASE master tech. So, YES sir I have worked on many vehicles.
Take care

Hell with it. I'll buy the car outright for $3000....:p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tinelement

Hes actually pretty close there. How much $$ in sups do you write per claim??

Remember, I'm the technician. Not the consumer.

---

Supplements are exactly my point. We authorize tons of them, all day long.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spleify

What the hell is this supposed to mean Sturving. You think I should keep my mouth shut and pussyfoot around so as not to upset an insurance adjuster... Haha that's funny. You, being on the insurance side, would have no idea what body shops have to deal with. You insurance guys write a couple of sheets a week and all of a sudden your a journey body man.

---

That wasn't even close to what I was talking about. I think you should have a firm grasp on what you're talking about before you paint an entire industry with such a broad brush. Adjusters write estimates only on what they can see, with the full expectation that there could/will be a supplement once the shop tears down the vehicle for repair. How is an adjuster supposed to justify dolling out money for hidden damage that might be there, if it turns out not to be damaged once the car gets torn down? The adjuster will issue a check on the spot anytime possible because want money and feel more comfortable that they are going to get taken care of once that money starts flowing. Any time I have to explain the process to someone, I always explain that the estimator will write the estimate for the damage that they can see and they aren't going to tear the car down right on the spot. They'll be issued a check right then and they can take their vehicle where ever they wish for the repairs. Bring the estimate and the money to the shop of their choice and their shop will work off of our estimate. If additional damage is found when the vehicle is torn down, the shop will send in a supplement and we'll pay that directly. If it is a claimant, they shouldn't have to pay for anything (unless they want to upgrade to gold rims). If it is an insured, they won't have to pay any more than their deductible.

No one is writing checks and hoping for people to go away. We want them to get their vehicle fixed and be happy. A lot of the time, there is a lien holder involved and we have to write two party checks to make sure the vehicle gets repaired, as you well know.

As for recommended shops, we don't save any money on those repairs. Those shops are set up to just fix what needs fixing and send us the bill. We recommend them because 1) those shops meet certain requirements with their equipment and experience, 2) Those shops will guarantee the quality of their work for as long as they own the vehicle, 3) No time is spent passing estimates and supplements back and forth because we just pay the bill later, 4) Not everyone has been in a wreck before, or knows which body shops are good or not. It behooves us to have a list of available shops at the ready for those customers we have that require additional hand holding.

I get that as a body guy, you probably have to constantly talk with some desk reviewer about differences in estimates, parts, labor time, whether to blend or not or whatever. That's neither here nor there because five different shops will write five different estimates on the same damage all day long. What is shitty, is that you made the comment that adjusters write low-ball checks in the hopes that people will take the money and run, when that is not the case. I said you should know better because I know you send out supps all day long and they get paid all day long. You got shitty when just assumed what I was calling you out on, were wrong, and tried to get personal.

If you want to bash insurance companies, I've got plenty of stories for you to use (not for on here, for the next time we're hanging out), but because they write checks sure as hell isn't a good reason to do so. Finally, as you well know, you and I both likely over see the successful repair of at least a thousand vehicles a year and the interaction between insurance companies and body shops goes smoothly what, 95% of the time? I occasionally, rarely, have run into an issue with sometimes a certain shop, but more likely a certain person, at a shop, but I'm not throwing out BS about the entire auto body industry, because I know it's not true. For the record, I've written exactly zero estimates. But I've written lots of checks, and it's never just to shut someone up.

OP, with the exception of that one comment that Spleify made, literally everything else everyone on this thread (including Spleify) has said is true. You've gotten a lot of good advice, don't let some bum fix your car.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Irving

OP, with the exception of that one comment that Spleify made, literally everything else everyone on this thread (including Spleify) has said is true. You've gotten a lot of good advice, don't let some bum fix your car.

---

Yeap, in the argument it may have gotten lost, I did already opt to just go for the insurance full replace.

To other reply, yes the weird engine issue has been since the first summer when I got it in dec 2010. Usually not an issue unless I have to go anywhere deep denver and drive around. Problem is its very dangerous if its hapening when I'm making a left at a light not to mention slowing traffic off a straight light.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fitz19d

Yeap, in the argument it may have gotten lost, I did already opt to just go for the insurance full replace.

To other reply, yes the weird engine issue has been since the first summer when I got it in dec 2010. Usually not an issue unless I have to go anywhere deep denver and drive around. Problem is its very dangerous if its hapening when I'm making a left at a light not to mention slowing traffic off a straight light.

---

Very strange! No offence to any dealer techs on here, but for the most part its a crap shoot if you can find any that have in depth troubleshooting skills, being this been happening since 2010, and no cause can be found just proves my point. Have you reached out to the VW community? Vortex has a lot of great info such as here R32 . It's hard for me to believe a Vag-Com cant find anything wrong. If I were you I would also contact these guys BlueWaterPerformance , If they cant find the problem, no one can...teamleadr03 on this forum may be able to help you also
"European Auto Repair
www.bavarianmotorsllc.com
bruun.auto@gmail.com
303-656-9268

I would be more then happy to give you a hand on this issue, but I'm more old school tinkerer, mk2's and 3's. Dont give up, there is ALOT of great info out there, the big dealerships only know a 10th of it. Good luck!

Yeap, I've looked online and those forums, That's the problem with having such a unique, 5k produced car. No errors in the computer etc. The tech is actually my best friends friend. Was a bit miffed when he didn't believe me at first. He did call the VW tech line he has. He is a certified master tech if that means anything more than just typical tech.
I've not taken it anywhere extra specialized because I havn't been able to swing a $600 bill and maybe not fix anything. Some thoughts were heat, so figured now off warranty if I can this summer Cold Air intake, mild turbo, tune, etc by luck might fix.
Worst part is I basically have to blow $20 in gas driving around a lot to even hope to start getting it to reproduce. And as I said if I go and park it, may have to same thing all over again to get it to continue.

Maybe it falls under the lemon law?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fitz19d

Yeap, I've looked online and those forums, That's the problem with having such a unique, 5k produced car. No errors in the computer etc. The tech is actually my best friends friend. Was a bit miffed when he didn't believe me at first. He did call the VW tech line he has. He is a certified master tech if that means anything more than just typical tech.
I've not taken it anywhere extra specialized because I havn't been able to swing a $600 bill and maybe not fix anything. Some thoughts were heat, so figured now off warranty if I can this summer Cold Air intake, mild turbo, tune, etc by luck might fix.
Worst part is I basically have to blow $20 in gas driving around a lot to even hope to start getting it to reproduce. And as I said if I go and park it, may have to same thing all over again to get it to continue.

---

I feel your pain..Keep at it, it will work out.