I dont think this post fits in eiher "car shine and care" or "body kits and exterior appearance". So here is where I am putting it.

My 2-week old car got hit in the parking lot and I have a major dent as a result. See https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/foot-long-dent-my-2-week-old-rx-8-a-82208/ for pics. Scroll down on the same page for more pics.

Anyway I have 3 choices:
1. Get it repaired professionally - remove dents, paint and paint match (cost $1100)
2. Have a new door panel installed, paint and paint matched (cost $1600)
3. Take a course at a auto-training school where people get to work on their own cars. They also have their own dust-free paint booth and are supposedly pretty well equipped. I can fix the dents or replace panel, put whatever base coats I safely can and then leave the final top coat work and paint matching work to the experts. Cost ($400 for course + door panel if replacing + top coat work from third party).

I have 0 experience at doing any body work or paint work. Also people have told me that the door is made of aluminum and it will be hard to repair and not compromise structural strength. Given all this, should I go ahead with taking the course and fixing most of it myself ? Comments from people who have done body work are most appreciated.

My insurance deductible is $1000 and I could not catch the culprit yet - thats why I am going to all these lengths.

Thanks,
Bodi

 

how long is the course?.. I would assume it would take a while, and your car would be left with that damage for a while.

 

11 weeks - with 4 hours per week.
http://www.assabetafterdark.com/4dcg...lassDetail.htm

Bodi

 

Doesn't this come under your "uninsured motorist" coverage at much lower (if any) deductible??

 

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of "How to Paint Your Car", by Dennis W. Parks. Read through that and you will quickly get the motivation to have a professional do the work. To do a professional job requires years of experience.

 

In the state of Massachusetts, USA, uninsured and underinsured coverage is only for bodily injury and not car damage.

I will try and get the book and read it. This project is under expert supervision tho - someone who has restored cars for 30 years. And I will leave the painting to the professionals. I want to fix the dents and or replace the panel and apply some filler/base coats or whatever I can do with the least amount of risk.

Bodi

 

Good luck! With supervision from someone like that you should be OK and you'll learn a little something to boot. Wish I had such an opportunity. I bought the book and almost immediately realized that the process was way too complex and expensive for me. Try half.com for the book.

I have a 2nd gen RX-7 that I would like to do some painting on, but after reading the book I have decided to not tackle such a project on my own.

 

You don't want to do it yourself, supervised or not

What about a used one? Maybe the same color even. It might not match, but if it did you be saved from a ton of work. Switching the window gear, etc. in a new one can be a real pain.

 

You mean find some car that was totaled and with an intact driver side rear door and then just replace that door? That is a good idea too. Although it might be hard to find one.

I dont understand what you mean by switching the window gear. You mean taking off all the trim, and putting it back on to get access to the panel from the rear?

Bodi