Bounce

So my mom wants me to take her shopping...so I'm like ok why not, and get the irony in this...she wanted to recycle the old soda cans and bottles, cause they had been adding up at home, and i told her, "no mom, dont bring those in my car" cause naturally they would spill somewhere and get the car all sticky, and well, i dont even want to bring them, even if there were only 10-15 cans/bottles....


so we go in, and buy our groceries...come out put them in the car, and as i walk over i notice this cart near my car...and im like...ummmm ok whatever...I look at the door (driver's side) and i think my mind is playing tricks on me -- but no, no tricks...it was HORRIBLE a 2 inch inDENT on my BRAND NEW car...i was heartbroken (this might not affect many people, but i am 23, and i really busted my ass to get the car i.e. mommy and daddy dont pay for it, and I DO), so i am taking it kind of hard! -- so i got the police officer to come over and do a write up for my insurance....

but now i dont know what is going to happen -- will get into it all tomorrow, i mean i feel so bad driving the car now -- beautiful anthracite with a big dent in the door, so madd!! and it looks like if they popped the dent, there would be a crease in the paint! -- anyhow not only that but i parked the car SOOOO far away in the parking lot to avoid dumb people and thier doors slamming into my car -- i cant believe how ignorant people are

can anyone give me their advice on what you think my next course of action should be and what can i expect?

thanks guys!

hcekc

Look up one of those mobile dent/ding repair company. If the paint has not chipped or cracked, they will do wonders on a dent. Had several dents on our minivan and the guy took out all the dents, buffed it out and now it looks like new. You couldn't even tell that there was ever a dent. If it's only 1 panel/door, it'll cost about $150. Good luck.

PS. We drive our POS 92 Accord or minivan to go grocery/Costco/mall shopping. Never in our TL! Sad isn't it?

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

Talk to a shop about paintless dent removal. If not, it'll have to be repainted.

I don't know your deductible, but if it's less than the repair costs, then file it with your insurance company. FYI, painting a door panel should cost about 300 bucks or so. If the deductible is higher than the repair costs, then pay out of pocket.

Graffxman

OMG!
My heart goes out to you man!
Dam if that doesnt really suk, I been there and know your pain.

I so agree with the guys here, find a dent repair specialist, for the most part they will be able to work something close to the equivalnet of a miracle.

But, you know.. the sad part is having to go thru all that and spend the $$ just because other ppl either dont give a fuk, or do it on purpose cuz they're jealous of your ride.

TampaMike

Sorry to hear! That is awful. I know it usually take me 6 months or longer of paranoia that some clod is gonna damage my property.

It seems like me more we try to protect our beloved vehicle, the more idiots we attract. I went to see a film screening last night ("Jarhead"....amazing!) and parked way out away from the crowd. Well you can imagine, I come out from the film and there is my TL parked alone, with one idiot parked right on top of me. I could not open my driver door to get in! Fortunately there was no damage to my TL, but I was too eager to wait on this guy and share some 'love'. Considering I just watched a flick about trained killers....well you get the picture!

I have had very good success with paintless dent removal vendor in the past. I have been amazed at the quality of work and value. If the pain is not broken, give it a try. Depending on where the dent is and the access to remove it, it is likely to be a fraction of the cost of a full service autobody shop. I would even ask your dealer if there is someone they'd recommend. Most dealerships have a vendor they use to correct mishaps that too frequently happen on the new car lot.

Let us know how it comes out!

TL'n IT UP

My heart goes out to you I would have beat the sh!t out of the other car an eye for an eye. Hopefully you can get it fixed at minimal cost.

mn2trance

It just reminds me of that commercial where a car was parked by itself in a parking lot with plenty of spaces everywhere else, but some asshat had to park right NEXT to it. Should we buy a car cover disguised as a beater like they did in that KIA commercial?

And sorry to hear about your problem, dude. I'm sure we can all empathize with you regarding that problem caused by some careless idiot.

Bounce

Thanks guys...its good to know the TL family still has my back....well, i guess i am going to acura, then a body shop it seems like -- i really dont want to claim insurance cause i have really good rates and dont want them to be affected...i will let you know what happens :-(

crazymjb

Its not ignorant people, its those who cant afford nice stuff so they feel they need to take it out on others and treat there nice stuff like a waste of money. They have no respect for the fact that people generally deserve the money and toys they have, seeing as they usually work for them.

Does anyone have any experience with the home ding remover?

A kia doesnt need a POS car cover, it already is one(I know what you mean, looks like a beater).

Take some before/after pics so we can get an idea of how good a job they do.

hcekc

Geez you ask for advice, but are not taking any of it. Acura and a body shop are going to rape you! Go to a mobile dent removal oufit. Generally they do not have a shop, so no overhead = cheap. They operate out of their vehicles (van mostly) and they come to you (home or office or wherever). You will save money with these guys. Try this first and have them come out and take a look at your car a give you a quote. Worth a shot.

subinf

i had two dents taken out of my car by the painless people. i actually went through acura with it and in lieu of some minor warranty work they paid for the dents to be taken out. they did a really good job...i dont think i have any pictures of them but one was right above the gas tank lid on the crease and the other was on the passenger side fender, about the size of a silver dollar....you cant tell there were dents there anymore. they did a really good job on it.

SergeyM

Forget about Acura or any other body shop. You do not want any paint on your new car. Dentwizard.com or any other similar place can work miracles. I had 2 dents removed from my Acura and one from my BMW. I assume that the paint is not broken though.

Bplayer

I think there is a law that says the emotional paint felt over some misfortune is inversely proportional to the pride one has for their car.

Let's face it, for every person that is passionate about their car, there are at least thousands of people who couldn't care less, and we have to share the road with them. This includes every kid under the age of 16 who sits in the back seat of a car and just pushes open the door as quickly as possible to get out. Bang goes the dent to your side panel. Then there are the malicious group who cast their spell based on envy, spite, or just because you looked at them the wrong way.

In reality spending money on a nice car is about one of the dumbest and most uneconomical things we do. We can only hope that our bubble never bursts, but it usually does, sooner or later.

Graffxman

How right you are!
Theres no such thing as enduring ownership without minor, or major damage at some point. In fact, the sooner it happens you'll get it over with.

Bounce

alrite guys, i am going to check out dentwizard and such -- i am in connecticut, if anyone knows anyone around here -- all the places i talked to today told me "we have a guy that comes out and does the job for us" -- which means they are probably taking comission off it and such

hcekc

Report back on the results. Good luck.

TampaMike

Okie Dokes Graffx...

I'l take my sledgehammer to your shiny new TL to save you from the paranoia of your 1st ding! It's OK pal, I don't mind...what are friends for? You will THANK me!

invincible569

That happened to me last week as I was trying to park away from others just so I can care for my car. Then some old beat up mini pickup parks about 3-4"away my car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS SO PISSED! This was at work. First thoughts in my head was to go vandalize his car and kick in his doors or something. Thats how pissed I was. There were plenty of other parking spots around for his ugly ass rusted truck to park. But then I was thinking.. if i did do something to his car, then he would of known it was me and i would of had to worry about my car. I had to let it go. Now I park far away from where this truck usually parks. I wish I knew who this guy was so I can give him a piece of my mind.

Oh and I checked all around and there were no problems. If there were, it would of been a different story!

Hybrid

Check out the paintless dent removal to get their opinion, but realize that if the metal is "creased" or the dent is sharp (like a screwdriver made made the dent), it isn't going to get the dent out completely. And of course if the paint is cracked or chipped, dent repair won't fix that. The original post implied that it might be creased. However, it seems like most shopping car dents wouldn't be the "sharp" kind.

A good body shop can blend the paint so you can't tell it was repaired. A cheap job won't use blending and will just fix the dent then repaint the whole panel, and you'll be able to see a paint mismatch.

Graffxman

Yes indeed Tampa!

PLEASE do!
I cant stand the paranoia anymore, its killin me!



Oh, and ….

What piece of your mind were you gonna give him?
How would the story be any different?

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

sorry to hear that man... i parked on a street in chinatown last year and i came back to a long ass scratch across the whole driver's side... it wasn't the first and i know that it won't be the last time that will happen to me... sorry man....

kaister

sorry to hear that Bounce...

people who are ignorant really pisses me off. i don't have patience for them, PERIOD! i too have a dent on my read passenger door attributed to a shopping cart which some a$$hole let loose. the impact was right at the point of where TL has their creased body line along the side doors. so this dent like yours, if popped back wouldn't do much good. #$@#$%@#$%

the only way to ensure, or instead, to minimize dents from shopping carts, other car doors, etc..., is to part further. it's a price i have to pay..., to stay dent free (at least try, anyway)....