Got hit, what now?
 

So I got backed into. Posted this on CR and forgot where I was and remembered I don't care that much about cosmetics for this car.

the damage:


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What do I do?

option 1: Get a new taillight, take the insurance money, beat the dent out, touch up the fender and bumper?

option 2: Get a new taillight, take the insurance money, beat the dent out, sand the whole car down and paint it flat-black?

option 3: Have a good shop do the labor and I front the parts?



Its not too bad, just annoying. I got three different quotes from different repair shops ranging from $1280-$1560. Having the adjuster look at it thursday morning to get a true quote. Really wanting to take the money and spend it on the rest of the car lol. Like tires if you didn't notice my azeni's are shot :(

i would have it repaired.

Seconded, you look like you live in a fairly humid climate and nothing invites cancer more than breeched, dinged paint.

^+1

i have a tail light so hit me up if you want it

oh man dude that sucks! Normally I'd be the first one over there with a rubber mallet, but that's quite a clutsterfuck of a dent. It looks creased, so I doubt it could be hammered out that easily.

You can actually fix it decently yourself, I will try to explain it a bit. Take a bottle jack, 2 pieces of 2x4 about 8-10 inches long, and a 4x4 about 2 feet long. Brace one short board against the inside of the dent, the other short board against the ridge of the recessed dip in the trunk on the passenger side, then brace the bottle jack against that piece with the long 4x4 going to the 2x4 against the dent. You basically are pushing the biggest part of the dent out from the inside with the bottle jack, then use a rubber mallet and body hammer to tap out the rest. Buy or borrow a heat gun to heat the paint up first so it is less likely to crack as you push it back out.

Here is a picture I tried to illustrate with, hope it makes sense, couldn't edit the script.

If you ever want to sell the car in the future... fix it right and call it a day.

You can save money by checking with some of the local body shops to see if they are willing to give you a better deal than the insurance quote.

If you don't repair the car, everyone will assume that you're a bad driver and judge you by the car's condition. Imagine, would you park next to your car in the parking lot?

Cheers,
Prospero

A bottle of jack? How is drinking going to solve the problem? ;)

I wont be selling my car, maybe parting it out much later in the future, if that. Going to try to fix it with a friend of mine that has done some body work on his old 91 beater.

Steve make me a whole rear CF body peice haha

I would take the money and use it for other things, save it for future issues, etc...and then just beat or push out that dent. I've fixed a lot of dents and you can get it "close enough". I used to want to have a perfect car, but realized it's just a matter of time before someone fucks it up again, so now I just say fuck it! Make whoever did that to your car pay for it though, douchebags

Someone just did the same thing to my buddy's car parked on the street.

+1 on never having a perfect car, I don't even care about the looks of mine anymore, just that it runs well.

there are bodywork forums with incredible detail. Little hammers can save you some cash.

ima gut and cage my car, fuck it haha. ima get the dent out myself.