My wife's aunt backed out of a parking lot and failed to see her driving by causing a huge dent on the door and slightly on the quarter panel. The door still locks and fully functional. The car has 175k so trying to determine if this is worth while to fix. Should I buy a used door, pop the dents, or drive as is?

 

the paint transfer will come out.
but then you're left with a dented rear wheel well and door.

perhaps you should get some estimates from body shops and junk yards and insurance.
probably cheaper to pay the deductible for your insurance if the deductible is $500.

 

Unless it is your beater and you have a nicer vehicle, then I would fix it. Because if you drive it as is, it is like letting the world know you don't care or you don't have enough money to fix it.

 

Yeah. There is going to be a lot more needed than buffing

 

I think he knew that.

Opinion call, really. If it's not leaking air or water into the car, and the door opens and closes, it's purely a matter of your priorities and your wallet.

Sorry about that, not incidentally. That sucks.

 

I'm too much of a perfectionist if it was for me. I would not like it. I would either get it fixed, or get it fixed and sell it.

 

I'm like you, but that's us. It really does boil down to personal preference in this case. We don't know whether he has more essential needs crying out for his money. These are extremely tough times for many.

 

Thanks guys for the opinions. I let my wife read this and she's going to fix it for me. My deductible is $1k and since this accident occured within the family, I can't claim insurance on my wife's aunt. We called a shop and the estimate is $3K to fix, which is more than I am willing to pay. Luckily, my neighbor works for an auto body shop and is willing to fix it for $1,500. $500 for a new door, $1000 for installing new door and fixing rear quarter panel and new paint.

Although this car has a lot of miles, it still still a very nice ride and properly maintained. It sucks forking out $1,500 for something you're not at fault for, but such is life.

 

Hey at least you're keeping it up though. Always proud to see owners of older cars treating them like queens still

 

Why doesn't you wife make her aunt pay for it

 

cuz she doesnt want to take a hit...

oh wait.

 

if you give it, you gotta take it , it doesn't have to be an insurance claim either.. just have her pay OOP

 

her dignity paid for it and then some.

 

Whats one more hit. Aunt gonna be an aunt.

 

Why not get opinion of a good PDR shop? I cant tell how creased door is due to reflection but PDR should be less $$$ and less invasive.

 

I took you guys' advice and confronted the wife about the aunt. Guess what? I am getting half of her stimmy!! lol jk. the truth is they are not in a financial position to pay without sacrifices.

My neighbor said it is not worth putting in all of the labor to pop the dent out. He is going to order a new door from a junk yard.

 

Fixed!

 

Well done! How much?

 

Looks great. Your baby's back!

 

Nice

 

$1,500