Two for the Price of One! Coffee Shops and Auto Body Shops

resist the urge to mess around and get to studying... you'll appreciate it more down the road...

gets some rubbing compound and a buffer and get busy on your car after you are done studying...

 

RM95,

Are you looking for price or quality on the body work??

 

I get to take my car into a body shop next week, that's because I got side-swipped by a lady in a 97 saturn. I guess she forgot how important the blind spot was.

A small portion of my driver side door of my firebird was ripped off. By small I mean a 2X7 inch chunk. I can still drive it though and close the door with anyone breaking in.

 

RM,

A couple of pieces of advice first.

1) On your dents, depending on how small/large they are, there are a couple of places that specialize in PDR (paintless dent removal). This is the ideal way to go for small dings, mainly, because it keeps your factory paint intact (if you ever go to trade in your car or sell it, it will lessen the value if there is evidence of paint/body work). They usually will charge $50/$75/$100 per panel to do a complete ding removal (usually $500-$750 for a complete vehicle (maybe a lil more)). Sounds expensive, but its alot cheaper than a complete paint job w/ body work.

2) On your scratches, they can also be fixed without having to do paint and body work. Here is what you do: On the more severe scratches, take the tip of your fingernail and run it over the scratch. If your nail catches on the scratch, that means its deep and more than likely, will require paint work. If not, there is a good posibillity that they can be removed by doing a combination color-sand/buff (basically, they take a very fine grit sand paper, soak it in water and sand the paint down till the scratch disappears). A shop will normally charge around $200-$300 to do this for the whole vehicle. Obviously, its alot cheaper than paint/body work. If you go get estimates, definitely ask each shop about doing a color-sand before they give you a paint job estimate. Shops usually wont offer to color-sand unless they are specifically asked about it.

If the PDR and c-sand isnt possible, then the shops I recommend in your area are:

US Auto Connection (on 20th in the Heights) and River Oaks P&B (off of Kirby & 610 just north of Rice). These two shops probably have the best quality in the area, but will be higher in price.

Also, there is Downtown Body Shop (off of W. Gray and Travis in MidTown), Miller's Auto Body (on 24th and Shepherd in the Heights) and Master's Auto Body (on Yale and 24th in the Heights). These three shops have decent quality, but will probably be cheaper than the other two.

I have contact names and phone #s for each if you want them. Each shop knows me. However, I doubt that will entitle you to any sort of discount, although, they will treat you right and be fair, price wise.

Keep in mind that if a complete paint job and body work is necessary, you are looking at at least $1,500-$2,000, if not more. In the body work business, you get what you pay for. Places like Maaco and a few others can do it alot cheaper, but you are going to lose alot in quality and workmanship. Also makes sure whoever you go to is willing to offer you a long warranty. Good shops will over you a lifetime warranty. If a shop is only willing to offer a short, 6 mo. or 1 year warranty, there is a reason for that.

 

Personally, I'd skip the coffee shop & hit the library at Rice U.

 

i mean anyone not breaking in to it.