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

[waxthis]

Got pics?

[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.

[fitz19d]

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

[Snowman78]

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....

[Tinelement]

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.

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........

[Irving]

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.

[Tinelement]

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.

[waxthis]

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?

[Dave_L]

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.

[Snowman78]

^LOL