• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

To fix or sell ... hmmm

rnovember

rnovember

New member
I just crunched the rear quarter panel on my '02 Grand Prix. Turning a sharp corner, I smacked into a concrete column in a parking garage ... sonofa ... yet my fault for driving like a cowboy :th_depressed:

Estimates vary to fix, though about $1000 seems to be the cheapest I got so far. After 161,000km (100 000 miles), the car itself has a few dings and scratches and needs some new paint; other than that, it's been well maintained with no rust on the body. I do get a check engine light (code P0128 - coolant temp below thermostat regulating temp) all the time but that's not a big issue right now.

So my dilemma is this: a) get the bodywork done, b) get the bodywork done and the whole car repainted for about $2000, c) live with the damage, maybe try to pull out the dent the best I can myself, or d) trade it in for next to nothing and buy something else.

I just have two more payments left on my GP and I really like her. So having said that I'm leaning towards option b (hey, it would be like brand new), though sometimes option c seems more economical.

Any thoughts would be appreciated ...
 


Hey, we all do stupid sh*t from time to time. It happens. $1000 sounds about right. See if they would be willing to work w/ you on the price if you want them to paint the whole car. Some shops may cut you a break this way.

Personally I would get the damage repaired and have it painted. Like you said, new car. Being rust free and only 2 payments from being yours I wouldn't give up just yet. Cheaper than buying another ride and starting over on the payments.

And the code is most likely due to a bad coolant temp sensor. Located in the LIM near the thermostat neck. I'd change that soon as you are loosing fuel mileage if it's reading cold IIRC.

Just my .02
 
Thanks for the input! I think I'm gonna try to pull out the creases myself and bondo the rest. On closer inspection the damage is not as bad as I first thought. I've done some minor bodywork before and I'm not too bad at it. And if the car is still running good at the end of the year I may just get it re-painted professionally.


Bad coolant temp sensor? I think I'll try my hand at replacing that as well. Again, thanks ...
 
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