Thread: Rear End Help

Hello proud GP owners,

I recently got rear ended on my way home from work while at a stop light. Unfortunately, the estimate was expensive enough to total out my car. I decided that I might as well keep my baby, and take the 15% hit off the check they cut to me...

I fashion myself as a pretty capable mechanic, but due to the very limited time I had to look at it before I deployed, I only really got to do an assessment of the actual damage. (The body shop only did a cursory examination, and since its a 98, they just wrote it off basically by putting their estimate just above the "total" threshold...)

After taking the bumper skin off, and the foam shock absorber, I could at least see the struts that hold the bumper in place. They are more or less completely buckled forward, and I can't tell if there are bolts behind the ruined metal, or if it is solely a weld...

Also, how can I pop the trunklid? I can insert the key, however it won't turn the lock. I suspect the metal curled around the lip of the trunk, but I would like to be as non-invasive as possible.

See pics below, amazing how little real damage was done since the car was going the speed limit when she hit me (55)...

Any help is appreciated...

Shameless bump for myself...

I certainly hope not, and when I put her on the lift she still looked straight and true... But we'll see.

The bumper still had some potential for shock absorption left, so it could have been worse.

As soon as I heard the biatch's tires screeching behind me, I punched the gas, and hit maybe 15 when she made contact. Impact was enough to knock the radar detector off the visor, but it has no vibrations while driving...

Originally Posted by gotboost3

damn that sucks i have no idea as far as how to help but good luck keep her alive!

Thanks. That's the goal. I imagine she'll never look as pretty as she once did, but if the body is good, I can at least make it up to her with some engine mods...

Originally Posted by boosting98

the quarter will be ur worst battle w/ it! before u do anything. i'd buy a different/non-damaged trunk. and mount that on first. TO SEE what is really off and what isn't!

That's what I figured. I can always just leave it for the cheap, widebody effect... Thx for the tip.

The quarter panales are buckled meaning strucural damage is present. I would not fix that car, but instead find another one, maybe even get a GTP, and part that one out, or use it for parts yourself. I am glad you were not injured, at least you have not indicated you were. If that car is rerended again, at those speeds, with the damage already done to the car, chances are occupants may not fare as well, which is my biggest concern. Still, sorry to see you car crashed, I hope they got a good ticket!

Dean

Originally Posted by QUICKSILVER462

The quarter panales are buckled meaning strucural damage is present. I would not fix that car, but instead find another one, maybe even get a GTP, and part that one out, or use it for parts yourself. I am glad you were not injured, at least you have not indicated you were. If that car is rerended again, at those speeds, with the damage already done to the car, chances are occupants may not fare as well, which is my biggest concern. Still, sorry to see you car crashed, I hope they got a good ticket!

Dean

That sucks, it was a GTP, and no injury to me. I have no idea what kind of ticket she got, but I'm sure it was decent. Her insurance definitely paid out well for it though (Made double what I paid for the car...) And I'm really not too concerned about the car itself. I have backups, though it was by far the best highway cruiser I had...