You’re a 19-year-old surfer dude, zooming along the snaky Pacific Coast Highway in daddy’s 911 Carrera, when you suddenly overtake a stone beach bunny, flying in the same direction, in a topless Mustang and Rio-inspired bikini. You’re overcome by her incandescent beauty, and you shout out your favorite pick-up line - “Hi!” When she smiles back, you’re so undone, you fail to notice the bend in the road. You plow straight through a wooden fence, across the golden Malibu sand, and crash into a stainless steel picnic table anchored in cement.
Or, say, you’re a wildlife photographer and nature freak, driving through the wilds of Northern Maine. You want to set up a blind deep in the forest, to shoot a Moose. But your new and lovely boyfriend is undermining your morale by arguing, at top volume, that wandering the bush lugging a bunch of heavy telephoto lenses is the only way to go. That’s when – Jesus! – you spot the 980-pound beast with the monster antlers a second before you smack into him.
Take the auto-body repairman’s point-of-view. You hear the weather forecast on the radio calling for snow. You grin sheepishly. Snow makes you happy. For that matter, so does rain, sleet, or any other type of inclement weather. When a snowstorm hits, you can count on collisions, tree limbs collapsing on car roves, drivers whip-lashing into guardrails. Business triples. Everybody else’s misery is your gain. It’s all a blessing in disguise.
What Is It?
Among the services provided by top-tier auto body repair shops are the restoration of an automobile’s panels, fenders, frame, or drive shafts - whether your car’s been damaged only cosmetically, or, more likely, collided with some heavy-duty inanimate object. Sometimes all that’s involved is a smooth coat of body filler, a Dixie cup of paint, and a good eye. Auto body shops are also masters of dents-’n-dings and nip-’n-tucks. Then, of course, there’s the occasional encounter with a stonewall, Bull Moose, or Mac truck.
Who Needs It?
If you read Dennis Parks’ “The Complete Guide to Auto Body Repair,” have an awesomely outfitted garage, and a killer set of tools, you can do your own bodywork. You’ll feel sublime and save a fortune. But for most normal people who’ve just trashed their cherry set of wheels, an excellent alchemist of auto painting and collision repair is the way to go. Remember, too, auto body shops are not populated by mechanics. For concomitant problems relating to engine repair, brakes, radiators, oil leaks, exhaust problems, etc. - consult a talented auto mechanic.
Benefits
Getting your car back to looking and performing as spectacularly as it did before requiring a17′ Galaxy ultra liner frame machine.
Friendly and informed auto body services guide you through the entire repair process. The Man with the Golden Wrench will make sure all repairs will follow vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. They make it crystal clear to you what is being repaired, what is being replaced, and what type parts are being utilized. (For instance, you’ll want “OEM” parts – made by the car’s original manufacturer.) Stay away from auto body shops recommending after-market substitutes, and using terms like “righty, tighty,” or “lefty loosey.”
The best auto body shops guarantee their work. You want your beat-up and broken-down hunk of junk the tow truck hauled in to again look and perform like a young Greek God. And you want things to stay that way.
Risks
Get estimates. For the exact same job, auto body repair prices fluctuate wildly. Also, select a shop with communicative, technologically savvy people, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, (Sunlight downdraft spray booths, Curtis rotary screw compressors, and resistance spot welders), and feels like a doctor’s office. Finally, you want a shop manager who plays the consummate diplomat in dealing with insurance companies often contesting prices.
Your insurance company may refer you to a shop that’s formed a strategic alliance with them. (This is commonly known as a Direct Repair Programs or DRP.) The shop meets the insurance company’s criteria and agrees to do business in that manner. The insurance company’s ostensible purpose is to streamline the claims settlement process, and they work closely with a select repair facility to accomplish that. Whether this alliance serves your own best automotive interests is for you to decide.
There’s also the question of franchise. That is, many car manufacturers imply that only certain franchised dealers can repair your car. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has recently protested, correctly claiming every auto manufacturer makes the same service and repair information available to independent repair shops as it does to dealers. Moreover, the National Automotive Task Force (NASTF) helps all independent auto body shops to identify and rectify all repair-related problems. The Man with the Golden Wrench may well be found in an indie auto-body shop.
Finally, some cars that have suffered significant crash damage just aren’t worth it. Especially, ones with “uni-body” construction where you have to stretch and bend the uni-body back into shape. Who knows what stresses were put on it? Chances are, the vehicle’s structure is not as solid as it was before it was bent and straightened. And who knows how well it’ll hold up if you get hit again?
