VS Commodore Damage Photos: Repair or Sell for parts?

[rancid_b]

I need some advice. I have a 1995 vs commodore thats done about 148,000kms that is my first car but is currently in need of some attention due to a truck hitting me a few months ago. I need to know roughly how much I would have to spend to get the following things fixed (as cheaply as possible). If its over the value of the car (I think it would be approx $3500-4000) then I wont bother.

Here are the pictures of the body damage:







The body is still straight, there is no major structural damage. I have been to panel beaters and the quotes have been so broad ($500-$3000) I really have no idea who is just too cheap and who is a rip off artist.

In any case, if you can't tell from the pictures, the following needs to be done:

New rear bumper bar
Right rear side panel needs to beaten out/bogged and resprayed
Two small rear panels (left and right) need to be replaced/beaten back into shape
I purchased a new boot which needs to be fitted
I also purchased a new right tail light which i can easily fit.
Socket for tail light has been bent out of whack a little
Mechanically, the car needs a service, a new power steering pump, a transmission service and possibly repairs to the transmission and I think thats about it (roughly between $500-1000 work i would think).
Ohh and I need to reattach the rear view mirror as my girlfriend snapped if off doing her makeup

Good things:
It has a near new radiator, engine, fuel tank pump and sender unit, the breaks are all between 80-90% and the the tires are good. The interior is good, as is the paintwork everywhere but the damage (except for the front bumper which has a small scratch which i could probably fix with touch up paint). There is no visible rust.

So basically...I want estimates on what you think the panel work would cost and also opinions on whether I should I keep it, should I sell it as is, or should I repair it and then sell it? Any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated

[GH05T]

these cars are getting cheaper and cheaper, for instance im selling my mums for under 3k so you can pay a cheaper quote but might be disappointed with the result.
repairing it and selling it is not a good idea cos you will just loose out on money.

if the car has already had all the stuff u said replaced then i think its worth fixing up. 3-5k sounds about right for a quarter fix and back replacement.

not being fixed under insurance i take it. it would be close to an economical write off but i dont think its worth writing off

[Scooter79]

If the truck hit you then why aren't they paying for it?

[stocky]

get in the boot with a mallet and try straighten things up a bit before you decide what to do

[rancid_b]

these cars are getting cheaper and cheaper, for instance im selling my mums for under 3k so you can pay a cheaper quote but might be disappointed with the result.
repairing it and selling it is not a good idea cos you will just loose out on money.

if the car has already had all the stuff u said replaced then i think its worth fixing up. 3-5k sounds about right for a quarter fix and back replacement.

not being fixed under insurance i take it. it would be close to an economical write off but i dont think its worth writing off

No insurance sadly. Hit and run + I'm a P plater so comprehensive would have cost me $2500+ a year.

I think the major difference between this and other vs commodores out there is the relatively low k's. For instance, my car has done roughly half the k's your advertised car has, and has an engine which has done well under 100,000 kms and is absolutely mint. If it werent for the low ks and engine i wouldnt even be thinking about this...but as it stands now i am confused and sick of thinking about it

[rancid_b]

If the truck hit you then why aren't they paying for it?

See above. It was a hit and run in the car park out the back of my work...it was empty at the time except for delivery trucks going in and out...tried asking around the shops and nobody saw anything but they did hear a bang...by the time i was told someone had hit me, the truck was long gone

[lukieboy]

mate id keep her shes great under the hood so in my humble opinion ya bloody mad to kiss her good bye ya got a good car mate keep her as they say better the devil you know

[rancid_b]

mate id keep her shes great under the hood so in my humble opinion ya bloody mad to kiss her good bye ya got a good car mate keep her as they say better the devil you know

But mate, if I have to spend 2500 to get the body fixed, and another 1000 to get it right mechanically, thats $3500...I could sell this car for at least $500 as is (the engine alone was purchased for over $1000 a year ago and the radiator, cooling system, fuel pump and fuel sender unit were another $1000)...

For $4000 (the $3500 i would have spend on this one + the $500 i get for the old one) I could get another completely mint vs with roughly the same kms and not have to worry about buggering around with panel beaters and mechanics.

[Andrew426]

Dont **** about with panel beaters and mechanics then. I wrecked the same panel on my VR a couple months ago (backed into a stupid low retaining wall) and have been quoted $60 for the panel and $100 for a new bumper from my local holden wreckers (still too bloody much). The panel is easy enough to get off once you remove the taillight, just a cuople of spot welds that need drilling out. Then you can weld/rivet/glue/liquidnails the new panel in (its not structural, and doesnt matter if it gets water in it as its open at the bottom) and fit the bumper yourself. Painting is one you cant really skimp on, but if you can track down another car the same colour to get the parts off it wont be an issue.

Basically what Im saying is, a panelbeater will charge you $2500 to bend the panel back and bog up the difference, when for less than $250 you can replace it with factory steel that wont sag, split or crack as bog often does.

EDIT: Didnt notice the dent above the fuel filler. Try lying in the boot and kicking it a bit to straighten it out - it looks like the kind that might just pop back into place.

[rancid_b]

Dont **** about with panel beaters and mechanics then. I wrecked the same panel on my VR a couple months ago (backed into a stupid low retaining wall) and have been quoted $60 for the panel and $100 for a new bumper from my local holden wreckers (still too bloody much). The panel is easy enough to get off once you remove the taillight, just a cuople of spot welds that need drilling out. Then you can weld/rivet/glue/liquidnails the new panel in (its not structural, and doesnt matter if it gets water in it as its open at the bottom) and fit the bumper yourself. Painting is one you cant really skimp on, but if you can track down another car the same colour to get the parts off it wont be an issue.

Basically what Im saying is, a panelbeater will charge you $2500 to bend the panel back and bog up the difference, when for less than $250 you can replace it with factory steel that wont sag, split or crack as bog often does.

EDIT: Didnt notice the dent above the fuel filler. Try lying in the boot and kicking it a bit to straighten it out - it looks like the kind that might just pop back into place.

I've tried a hammer and i couldnt quite get the leverage to hit the right spots hard enough as its behind another layer of metal in the boot... Also i tried a plunger to suction it out...didnt work.

As for welding on another panel...i am completely useless when it comes to cars other than electronics and basic maintenance. I wouldnt have the first clue how to weld or anything. Also the tools would probably cost me a fair bit. And I would want it to look ok and i know that if i did it myself, with no prior experience, i would be bound to muck up.

[faroogoo]

Mallet wont do much keeping the dent out,the steels been stretched so it really needs to be heated/shrink/tightened up.

Otherwise it will probably eventually pop back in again.

[BxTom]

If the car has a genuine 148k why has the steering pump gone, had a replacement engine and why does the transmission need repairs (other than a service)? I would be querying the true mileage of this car.

Tom.

[666vt]

If the car has a genuine 148k why has the steering pump gone, had a replacement engine and why does the transmission need repairs (other than a service)? I would be querying the true mileage of this car.

Tom.

i was just thinking the same thing...

[rancid_b]

If the car has a genuine 148k why has the steering pump gone, had a replacement engine and why does the transmission need repairs (other than a service)? I would be querying the true mileage of this car.

Tom.

The replacement engine was because the previous owner of about 3 years neglected to change the oil or have it serviced This... combined with the fact that he also rarely changed the water resulted in me getting a car with very few kms for quite cheap. Especially considering the owner before him was a local council who had kept the car well serviced and the log book up to date up to 100,000kms in 2004. It was just in the 100,000kms-130,000kms or from 2004-2007 that the car took a thrashing. This owner then traded it in to a dealer who is one my dads friends, who put in the new motor and fixed all the parts except the power steering pump and cooling system (as neither had gone at the time)

Many parts had to be replaced as a result of the neglect before and after i purchased the car (ie the radiator cracked within a month of me owning it, the radiator pipes were dried out and cracked and the thermostat was fried).

The transmission doesnt really need repairs, i just think it needs a service...so did the mechanic last time i got it serviced. I'm probably just being a bit of a dramatic whinger and picking the car apart.

As for the power steering pump, my mechanic (a commodore specialist) said that it was quite a common problem in the VS series and that it often happened quite early...even as early as 100,000kms. In any case its blown twice now so i think its some other problem.

[TA 91 WA]

I've got damage to the fuel side quarter panel as well and still after 3 months, do not know what to do hey. I haven't asked around for quotes because Albany has stuff all to offer, but from what I've read here ($500 - $3000), I am going to do it myself.

I know it's off topic but it puts a bit of light as to what I have to do as well.

Cheers.

[rancid_b]

Yeah well the randomness of the quotes continues...2 quotes today:

$1000-$1200 from Surrey Panelcare - big, professional shop, but the guy said you should be able to get someone who will do it alot cheaper...however, out of the proper places i've been to he is by far the cheapest.

$1800 from a dinky planel shop i can't even remember the name on cantebury rd - the guy said he wont be able to do it until well into the new year...was also a bit of an a-hole about the fact I don't have comprehensive insurance.

I think I am going to take it to the bigger place. Anyone heard of Surrey Panelcare??? Its part of the accident solutions group.

[666vt]

hope it all goes well for you buddy, if it was my car i'd sell it and get a new one.. but thats just me

[StockoVRWagz]

Maybe go and buy a VS with a shagged motor and a good body and juse your old one as a donor car, sell the bits you dont want and youll have a good car for f-all cash. hopefully.

[System]

i had to do the same thing for my VR motor wise. First the trans went so spent a grand gettin a new one installed, that was a year ago. Then about 6 months ago, the motor blew a piston and rod (the car has done about 300,000 do it was due) so had a second hand motor thrown in for 1200 (this one has done about 170,000 so still half of its life left ). Both went as said b4, a year apart- at the time of both jobs, it was either spend about a grand to get her runnin like new, or *insert large amount of moneys* for a whole new car. I still have her now, and runnin like a dream.... but the diff is now clunkin abit hahaha :P

[rancid_b]

Maybe go and buy a VS with a shagged motor and a good body and juse your old one as a donor car, sell the bits you dont want and youll have a good car for f-all cash. hopefully.

Would be great if i knew anything about transplanting the major components of a car

I am so confused.

[GH05T]

pay someone some cash to do it for you, may end up cheeper than bodywork

[rancid_b]

I decided its my first car and i'm going to give it the respect it deserves!

1. I booked into my local mechanics for a comprehensive service, transmission service, aswell as the power steering. Should be around $600 max he said and he will do it same day. He also said he will assess the car and tell me if its worth doing up and give me a list of reasonably priced panel beaters
2. I am buying a decent stereo system today as I was currently running the stock radio/cassette with one of those cassette to headphone converters so i could plug the car stereo into the headphone jack of my mp3 player. I've allocated $150 for the head unit and will update the speakers later. I am also buying a panel beaters dent puller as i think i can get the dent above the fuel tank out.
3. I am going to buy the strip garnish light for the boot (which was cracked) for $10, a rear view mirror for $20 and a mint second hand rear bumper for $50 (will need to be repainted though as it is blue) today.
4. I'm allocating $1000 for panel work but am unsure of who to go to yet.

Total cost: approx $1850

However I should have a solid 148,000km vs after all that... worth probably in the region of $3000. If I sold it now, judging from ebay, I would barely get $1000. So I guess its worth doing just based on that.

[joe_rolls_commo]

I got similar damage on my car, namely the dent above the fuel tank & a ding'ed-up panel unter that tail light.

I've looked around & the cheapest option I've come up with, is to buy a new rear quarter panel from a wrecker (175) and get some of those little panels under the tail lights ($50) while your at it.

Then pull the rear bar off, back seat out along with the trim on inside of the rear-quarter window, then drop it off to a wrecker who'll do the job for cash and tell him not to paint it. Just do the job yourself with some spray cans. Might wanna have a go at fixing up the bar while you got it off.

Then with all the money you saved, go buy a hockey-mask, an ice-pic and start the man-hunt for wanker that jobbed your ride. A private detctive should be able to sourse the dogs home adress for a couple hunjy.

Alternatively ... I'll do the job for a grand, plus expenses.

[greenfoam]

I'd skip the service, surely you can change oils yourself and then spend that money on getting a good paint free dent fixer man to straighten out your panels

[rancid_b]

I'd skip the service, surely you can change oils yourself and then spend that money on getting a good paint free dent fixer man to straighten out your panels

The service is mainly to diagnose problems that would stop me from getting the major work done. As for changing oils and all that...nobody taught me basic car maintenance when I was growing up so I am pretty much clueless besides filing the tank, topping up the radiator, checking tire pressure and the oil.

Joe, as for the rear quarter panel job...the actual rear quarter panel probably isnt stuffed enough to bother putting a new one one. Its more the panel under the light thats ugly. Also, as above, i wouldnt know how to remove the seats and trim without damaging them. I once removed the door trim and i messed up putting it back together the first two times i tried (couldnt get it sitting right). And as for spray painting, i know that will look crap and i've read that unless you have experience (which I don't) it can turn out absolutely shyte.