Did a little paint repair on the wifes 4runner today.

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Rez90

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Long story short my wife's truck got hit in the parking lot of the grocery store by a 78 year old woman who forgot how to park.

We got a check in the mail today for $600 from her insurance company. I figured i'd break out the flex and give it the old college try.

Befores
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Afters
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I think ima keep that $600 :)
 
It's definitely an improvement but there was some serious damage there. I'd be concerned about how much clearcoat was removed from using the Flex and how much clear is left. Since the money's not coming out of your pocket, I'd use the $600 and get the spot properly sanded, primed, painted and recleared.
 
StoneRaizer said:
It's definitely an improvement but there was some serious damage there. I'd be concerned about how much clearcoat was removed from using the Flex and how much clear is left. Since the money's not coming out of your pocket, I'd use the $600 and get the spot properly sanded, primed, painted and recleared.
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I hear what you're saying and I appreciate the advise....but I'm planning on trading in the vehicle over the next year. Unless you're closer than 2 feet from the paint....you can't tell there's any damage.

I'm gonna ride it out and hopefully not get whacked when I trade up. Worst case I'll spend the $600 like you mentioned....best case the car goes in for trade a little dirty and no one notices. :xyxthumbs:
 
Rez90 said:
I hear what you're saying and I appreciate the advise....but I'm planning on trading in the vehicle over the next year. Unless you're closer than 2 feet from the paint....you can't tell there's any damage.

I'm gonna ride it out and hopefully not get whacked when I trade up. Worst case I'll spend the $600 like you mentioned....best case the car goes in for trade a little dirty and no one notices. :xyxthumbs:
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Yes, but if the insurance cut you a check, that means if anyone pulls a Carfax or equivalent on the VIN, then it will show that there was a payout for some form of damage.
 
That looks real good to me. I wish I could do that to the rear bumper of my 09 Toyota Avalon. But, paint was scraped off the corner of the bumper, plus additional cracks in the adjoining paint. Going into the body shop next week for repair, $525.00. No insurance claims here since I carry $1000.00 deductible.
 
Rez90 said:
I hear what you're saying and I appreciate the advise....but I'm planning on trading in the vehicle over the next year. Unless you're closer than 2 feet from the paint....you can't tell there's any damage.

I'm gonna ride it out and hopefully not get whacked when I trade up. Worst case I'll spend the $600 like you mentioned....best case the car goes in for trade a little dirty and no one notices. :xyxthumbs:
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Drive through muddy puddles before you trade
 
in the end, it is your choice which way to go. since you will probably get hosed anyway when you sell or trade it i think keeping the money makes great sense. 600 would get you a nice mid price steamer or maybe one of the swissvax if you think that way. enjoy the windfall. the repair looks fine and since insurance is a gamble just consider this on a win for you
 
My insurance co requires that the shop and me sign a document stating that the car has been repaired. I assume that if you don''t get it fixed they lower the value of the car should it get totaled. Also if it were hit in the same area they would not compensate you in full. I suppose if you fixed it yourself they would want to inspect or see photos.
 
maximus20895 said:
I'm not sure keeping the money is ethical at all..
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different insurance companies handle claims in different ways. Some insurance companies send the money to a shop only to ensure the repair is done and some send the money to the customer so they are made "Whole" again. When they choose to do with the money is their choice.

Just because i have the ability to fix it myself doesn't make it unethical. I think of it as an excellent way to justify the ROI on the polishers and products that i've spent so much money on over the past few years.
 
I see nothing unethical about this at all, they cut him a check for damages and he chose to fix it himself. Who's to say how much his time is worth?

I've been in the same situation where someone backed in to me, their insurance company cut me a check and I was able to buff almost all of it out so you can't tell anything happened.

Would it have been unethical if they gave him the $600 and he found someone to do it for $300 yet kept the other $300? I think not.
 
Wow, excellent job!

When you trade it in, do a quick detail on the 4Runner to showcase the shine, then do a little burnout in mud or something so it's only dirty around that area while the rest of it looks good ;) Nobody will never notice
 
maximus20895 said:
I'm not sure keeping the money is ethical at all..
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Why..you pay the insurance bill every month.they pay you back some for a claim you submit..Its his $600 bucks to do what he pleases with..he paid for the coverage to get it.
 
I don't know. I guess if I give someone money for something I expect them to pay for that.

Kinda like how I give money to student through federal aid helping them for college and if they do not use that money for college and instead by a TV I would get upset.
 
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