Well some of you may remember earlier in the year I posted the story of my car getting damaged by some one running over the top of it and creasing the bonnet and denting the roof panel.

Well I have ummed and arrghed on whether or not to put the damage on the insurance or to plump for the repairs done myself.

The paint on the car is in general not the best and looks at ods more when I have spent a day 3 stage polishing it, so...

I had Wentane/Cleveland body and repair to give me a quote for a respray and the damaged panels repaired, plus a previous botch repair on the LH rear wing to be sorted.

I have a qoute for £1670.00 all in for what is basically a full respray of the entire car with all the trim removed and then refitted.

Plus a loan car (punto I would imagine).

What does everyone think of the cost, I have only got thsi one quote from been told that Wentane are good at the repairs plus I already go there for servicing and I guess will be able to keep the corrrosion warranty valid etc.

I personally wouldn't spend that money on a 5 year old car but if you're only paying the excess then that's a different matter.

You certainly feel a lot better when you car is 100% again. I recently had to fork out £199 to fix the damage some moron with a shopping trolley did

I think that if you love the car that much and its running fine then why not a respray ..after all we have mechanical work carried out so body maintenance is basically the same ..I can recollect many years ago saying to my Dad who had a 4year old jag XJ6 and was needing some repair work done to it " if you don't get that body repaired sooner than later you will be part Xing the car because of rust " he was a stickler for the mechanics of the car but if you haven't got a body you haven't got a car I said to him thank god he listened ..now with regards to the fact the car is 5yrs old I will always say "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't "

Cheers Guys, as 2 of the more prolific posters on the forum I do like reading your thoughts.

Its such a huge wedge all in one go on what seems to be such a cosmetic thing, but keeping the oily bits right witha scratched and dented rusting body just means to the untrained eye the car is bashed about and uncared for... which is 1000 times away from the truth.

I think I will get a few more quotes and just make my self feel less stressed about it. then get the work done and be able to post some dazing pics of the amazing finish that the car could have.

I ran the price you were quoted for an all over respray to my local garage (excellent guys) and they reckoned that whilst it wasn't extortion it's not the cheapest price either for a fix up and standard respray - in other words you might get a better price.
I have toyed with respraying my Stilo completely (long story) and the same garage reckoned on a grand all in.... but that's a 3 door and 'trick' paint

Why not just do it through your insurers? Will you loose no claims

I would try and get it sorted, as you said youll only pay the excess with the insurance company!

Argonought said:

You certainly feel a lot better when you car is 100% again. I recently had to fork out £199 to fix the damage some moron with a shopping trolley did

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I quite agree I collected my car last night from the garage after some repairs to the front wing after some numpty drove into it, and it feels good driving her again! Its only been 4 days but it seems like ages!

If you've got plans on keeping the car a while then why not spend to money to make her look spanky again..........if you envision not keeping the car long term then i wouldnt bother