I recently purchased a 2012 Ford focus 5 speed for my 55 mile each way commute to work. The first day I drove it to work it got hit by a drunk driver while it was parked. I had it towed to a local auto body place since they weren't going to and I didn't want to pay a tow truck to tow it to the place by me that I trust which was 60 miles away. ( They already charged the insurance company $180 to tow it about 2 miles  )

I got the repair estimate from the insurance company, they are going to fix it. Total cost was $6700 in repairs. So now I will have a $16k car that has <150 miles on it with $7k worth of work done to it. They are replacing the rear quarter panel, bumper assembly, control arms, rims tires, etc. Insurance says if they find more damage after they already spent money to repair and the newly found damage would have brought it over the total loss limit they will give me the replacement value. ( keeps fingers crossed)

3 things.

1. Will this car ever drive like it was brand new? As I will always probably hate this car knowing half of it was replaced. I know it can look better than new when a quality shop has done the repair.

2. I was curious about other things like the transmission. It is a manual and was in gear with the e-brake on. It got pushed about 20ft up the street scraping the curb a little. Could this have caused damage to the transmission? It was a little damp out and could have slid on the damp road but I just don't know.

3. The estimate was done at the place it was towed to. That place also owns the tow company but in a different name. I feel like they probably scam people to just tow their car there and have them fix it. So it has left bad taste in my mouth. Even though they did the estimate. I'm tempted to just rent a car trailer and tow it home and see if the body shop by me could do the repairs for the estimate I received from the insurance company.( showing them the estimate before I tow it obviously) The insurance company said they are sending me the check minus my deductible ( driver was uninsured with suspended license and out of state plates so it might take a while to get money from the owner if they can get it) so I have to pay my deductible to get it fixed now.

Thanks

What a PITA, sorry to hear.

While I can't answer 1 and 2, I can say that regarding #3:  check your state's "Right to Repair" legislation.  Many states did adopt this law which entitles you to have your vehicle repaired wherever you so choose (at the opposition of the new car franchises and the auto makers).

Unless you already signed the estimate to have it repaired where it was towed to which then could bind you to that repair facility.

Shouldn't your insurance company also send out, at your request and choice, 1 or 2 other body shop estimators?  I'd check into that before renting a rig to tow it around...

My two cents.   Good luck!  Hopefully it's "fixed right the first time!"    

I have an '02 Focus that has been rear ended at 35 mph and rolled onto it's side in it's younger years.

It now has 130K.

It's getting kind of ugly because of some rust on the quarter and rear lid that was replaced from the rear ender, but it's been pretty much trouble free.

god forbid michelle ditch me cuz of all my damage

New York does have "right to repair".  Towing it to your own shop would be on you tab though.  Can the car be repaired properly?  Yup.  Will it?  Different story.  The transmission should be OK.  If the car runs the shop should be able to determine if there is damage.  I would get the car out of that shop as soon as possible.  Where is the car?

Quote from: howie on January 10, 2013, 06:14:49 PM
New York does have "right to repair".  Towing it to your own shop would be on you tab though.  Can the car be repaired properly?  Yup.  Will it?  Different story.  The transmission should be OK.  If the car runs the shop should be able to determine if there is damage.  I would get the car out of that shop as soon as possible.  Where is the car?

The car is in a shop in Brooklyn now.

1) repair technology has come a long way. unibody construction has made things complicated and simple at the same time. if the shop is an up to date ( without necessarily having to be state of the art) repair shop in terms of equipment and technology and they have certified people performing said repairs, by all means, it should be completely repairable with no discernable or noticable differences. However, that being said, there should be warranty on said repairs by not only the shop itself, but the insurance company also. so if anything feels weird, looks bad, or otherwise isn't right, it is completely subject to re-repair at the insurance companies expense, that $ figure not to reflect on the origional amount of initial repair ( ie: they spent $7K to fix your car 1st time, then it takes an additional $5K to re-repair, that doesn't mean the $12K total spent = car totalled like under normal circumstances, as they are looked at as seperate claims in the insurance companies eyes, even if it related to the same intial claim)

2) drive the car after the repair and note any and all differences and feelings that seem out of place. report them to either the shop that did the repairs, or to the insurance company ASAP. if there is something that wasn't addressed or should have been addressed in a suppliment, then it should be done so within the very finite amount of time that insurance companies give you under these circumstances. I have seen where a customer is willing and often time does pay out of pocket to have a car fully inspected after a major repair by an alternate or trusted other shop, only to have a claim reopened to have those additional repairs done at the insurance companies expense and get reimbursed for their out of pocket expense within those circumstances.

3) it is not uncommon for a body/repair shop to have an in house or partnership towing service. it aids in the moving of vehicles, both in terms of those that get totalled, or in terms of storage or various other circumstances. that I would not worry about so much, as it is not a "scam" or steering per say. it is also not uncommon for someonbe to want something repaired elsewhere, and there are laws in a lot of states to protect a consumer from that "steering" which is more often done by an insurance company ( InsCo says for you to take your car to "X" where they will assume all repair responsibility, but you may not be aware that "X" succumbs to all circumstances that the InsCo denotes-including but not limited to the use of aftermarket or used/refurbished/salvaged parts as a 1st priority for their own $$$ savings and threatens if you don't take the car to "X" that you will be paying all expenses outside of what they deem reasonable.) if the shop the car is at, is not certified and uses substandard parts or repair practises or just doesn't make you comfortable or makes the process easy, you have the the right to get your car repaired elsewhere. sometimes that piece of mind is worth the extra initial out of pocket expense to move the car, which in a lot of circumstances is still reimbursable.

The fact that you have to file the claim with your insurance company in the 1st place just plain sucks, and that is my .02. Hope this is all understandable and helps!

Thanks zoom. That's helpful


New info
I went to check out the body shop and go over what needs to be done. Without my authorization they started to repair it. I specifically told the owner I would sign off on them performing the estimate and having to remove parts but I would authorize repair after I get the estimate. The estimate called for a new quarter panel. They had ended up pulling out the dent instead. The damage to the car wasn't as bad as I thought and the work done looks pretty good.

Should I call the insurance company and let them know that they didn't replace the quarter panel? What about trying to make a deal with the guy to eat my deductible. he's now not using the quarter panel he would be getting paid for.

Like I said the damage isn't as bad especially since they fixed the body so far. I just wonder if it gets hit again will it be as strong? The body guy told me its better to just fix it than replace the whole piece having to take half the car apart. When they put it on the unibody machine most of the dent came out.

I'm not a body guy so I'm not sure what the correct practice is with these new cars. I am just tempted to rip it out of there on account of them starting work without my authorization. I specifically didn't sign that section of the body shops contract and went over it with the owner. Its just a big hassle and expense to have to do it.

I'd agree with the shop regarding not replacing the panel. The technology they use to replace panels is better than ever, but there is still the risk of rust from joints that don't get sealed or primed correctly. The strength of the HSLA steels they use today isn't compromised from being repaired as long as no heat was used.

I'd definitely use the repair to leverage them to eat the deductible...happens all the time.

Other than them starting the repair without your authorization I don't see a need to pull it out of there. Chances are they're an approved shop with your company and have to guarantee the repair and your company will be behind you to make sure they do.

I'm no expert on body repairs but you engine and Transmission should be fine. Shouldn't be an issue at all. If the engine and transmission were turned by the rear wheels during the 20 foot skid they really don't care, it's what engines and transmissions do for a living.

Which shop in bk?  You can pm me if you like.. I'm familiar with a few..  best friend of mine who's like family works in a tow/shop spot..  I'd rather pull dents then replace/cut 1/4s too.. just easier and in most cases better.. 

Well I just went to pick up my car finally. Needless to say I didn't take it home. As soon as I walked in I saw a small dent in the quarter above the tail light and could see sanding marks in it. So they have to repaint it. Overall the major part of the body work looks good they just missed that small one. I'm not sure how as I saw it as soon as I walked in. I didn't get to see the car in the sunlight because it was inside the garage but to me it looks like the base coat has more of a texture to it than the factory paint. I can tell the difference. The shop told me that it'll never be like factory and theirs looks better because the clear is smoother. Shouldn't they try to match the factory orange peel then?

I have had three cars repaired by the shop by me and every time we picked it up the car was looking better than when we bought it new. I am not a painter but I'm thinking if they color sand it it would look closer to factory.

Unfortunately my cousin, body and paint guy since he was 14, passed away last week...  he's the one who painted my car and taught me a few things..  he wasn't too far, in new haven ct.  You would of had a better option. 

Better does not equal match.  Better only works when they paint the whole car.

Your CarFax report is going to suck in perpetuity

unless you plan to drive the thing into the ground over the years

and park it at a junkyard when it gives up the ghost