My TL (97 3.2) got caught outside at my in law's house last week during a pretty bad hail storm. There is damage, but I haven't seen it yet as I had to go to my parent's in Oregon to take care of some family matters. My wife just decided to let her sister drive it back to our home town yesterday before I had a chance to look at it.

The body was pristine, but the paint was only so-so. I have $750 deductible, and will do my best to get this fixed. I'll try to post up some pics when we get home with the damage. My wife insists that the damage isn't that bad and we really shouldn't waste a claim getting it fixed. I'm insisting that it does get fixed.

I asked her how it feel to have someone take a ball pin hammer to her Pilot and just say, "not that bad, let's not worry about fixing it"?

Paintless dent repair in our area tends to run $50-$75/per.

This car WILL be repaired.

 

I've seen some astonishing paintless dent removal on hail damaged cars before. I'd say the hood probably has to be replaced and possibly the trunk. the rest should pop out.

 

Very nice to know. I'll post pics when I get home next week. We'll see then what the damage is and what it'll take to get her back in form.

 

Sorry to hear this happen to you. I hope everything turns out for the best!

 

50-75/panel doesnt apply to hail

 

^ Why not?

~Cheers~

 

Update. The car has been totaled by my insurance company. Now to work out the details. It is nearly impossible to get pictures of the damage since they are rather small. The entire car is effected, and would almost have to be entirely reskinned.

If it wasn't getting to where its nearly impossible to find a good body, I would go that route, but I seriously haven't made up my mind what to do with this situation. Keep the car minus salvage? The adjuster said there would be close to 40% salvage fee on that choice. Or, give it up and buy a newer TL and make car payments.

 

Another 1Gen off to the salvage yard. I've accepted surrendering the car for $5300. I'll miss it terribly.

FWIW, one of the body shop owners I had look at it said that very few cars ever made were safer than this model of TL.

Now, off to lurk and learn in the CL forums. Picking up an '03 CL-S /6MT tomorrow.

 

Another one. Why don't you buy it back?

CL-s 6MT sounds like fun...

 

The salvage fee was going to be 40%. I could have negotiated that down, but they would reduce the settlement offer accordingly, either way it would not have been near enough to repair the damage. Then, of course, the better half of the relationship wanted me driving a newer car. It will be in the Denver auction by next week, and I hope somebody gets it to drive and not scrap.