My turn... CRASH!!

Not my fault but crash non the less. The idiot that came across two lanes on a well marked two lane right turn lane was driving a PRIUS! STOP, a ONE week old PRIUS. STOP STOP, he was talking to his passenger. STOP STOP STOP, they were talking about how expensive gas is so they took out my Prosche. Anyway the real message; Does anyone have any experience with the AutoGallery in Woodland Hills, CA body shop?? I live in Thousand Oaks and will travel to get good work done by an expert that really understands this breed. Any suggestions? Yes of course the insurance company will not total the car................................ so I will be burried in this car of no value. eric

I just saw the quote in your sig. I know you can put a price on what's not fun. Driving a Prius to save money and crashing into a Porsche. Sorry to hear about that. Makes my neck hurt looking through the pictures. .

As has been posted here many times, when dealing with the other driver's insurance company, don't forget to claim diminished value for your car. With a high-end car like a P-car, even after a great repair job, it's just not worth what it was before the accident. You can be compensated for this if you fight for it.

Thanks Jorgen for the idea. I am working with www.autoloss.com that was one of my first thoughts. Any experience with this?? eric

That really sucks, get every dime you can. You can now start calling the Toyota's a "prece of ****" or "Prius" for short. I really dis-like the car and the drivers. Fuel effiencent, maybe, but still using fuel to go slow as a snail. My2cents.

wow - sorry that happened. Idiots. So far I am 2 for 2 on really bad threads today. If they do not improve, I am gonna bag it until tomorrow. Good luck.

LOL Joe, maybe I should have waited till tomorrow to post. But heck, it happened 5-3 so I waited this long already. Seems the insurance companies cannot seem to focus on what really happened just what people are saying. Today they finally sent a person to look at the crash scene. It is a very odd turn lane and was never intended for two lanes. However, we have AMGEN around the corner and the employees - thousands of them - have turned my street into an expressway so they took an onramp that was designed about 40 years ago (when there was MUCH less traffic) and turned it into a two lane entry. Hey thats OK we are just stuffing 10 pounds into a 5 pound sack. Isn't that the way the world works today? eric

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No, but I recommend Precision Auto Body. I've used their Reseda location, but they have one in Thousand Oaks too. They're top notch. http://www.precisionautobody.org/

Thanks Paul, I heard that Precision went away in TO but I will check tomorrow. Thanks, eric

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Absolutely go after the diminished value claim again the other drivers insurer.

That absolutely sucks. No question...the driver must die!

That sucks.... I hate the Prius!! sonofabitch!

Damned Prius drivers! They camp in the left lane too! Good luck with the repair. They might have to cut and weld since I believe that panel is one whole piece along the a-pillar.

Huge bummer, Eric. However - you didn't get hurt and the car will be repaired. Can we assume the Pry-*** driver got ticketed? Take 'em to the cleaners and get the best financial settlement you can, then drive the heck out of your P-car once it's repaired. Glad to hear you are OK.

http://arroyoauto.com/

I wanna see the pic of the black-eye you gave the prius driver.

I just went through this in October. My heart goes out to you. If it helps: My step sons car was totalled on Monday, and my 996 was rear ended that Sunday, both by red pick-up trucks! With 2 wrecks, 3 insurance companies, and a couple of injuries, I couldn't do it all by myself. I hired a lawyer and it's the best thing I did! The phone calls stopped. We sought the medical help needed. My car was repaired in 7 days (I had a rental car supplied by the insurance company). I just met the attorney 3 months later and signed some settlement paperwork. I took the opportunity to get a new front bumper and some touch-up work done so it would look better than when I went in. I'm glad your OK and it will get better.

These are a couple of shops that were recommended to me nearly 10 years ago, that worked on high end autos. I didn't end up using them, as the money was coming out of my pocket, and they were out of my price range,but I was impressed with the collection of cars they were working on. The shops my have changed hands since then or they my not sill have the quality reputations they once had, but it may still be worth checking them out. Golden Hammer Auto Body 2231 Butler Ave Los Angeles, CA 90064, United States [phone removed] & Braces Auto Body & Paint Inc 13326 Beach Ave Marina Del Rey, CA 90292, United States [phone removed]

I hate Prius and their drivers

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+100. Style over substance. Shallow morons. If they wanted to buy a truly efficient car they'd buy a diesel. Sorry to see your cars get damaged like that. Make 'em pay.

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We've been looking for a diesel sedan here in CA and it's really fricken hard to find one. Oh and yes they are shallow, or mostly ignorant, they buy into the fad of being a green neck. Without really thinking the concept out thoughly.

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Yeah, I know, diesels have had a bad rap over here in the US and sadly the auto manufacturers (even US ones) haven't brought the great diesel cars that they have in Europe over here. It's a real shame, as they're great cars. As for the fad comment - an observation that tends to give credence to them buying into a fad/image is the fact that they buy a Prius, when there are many other hybrid models out there - if that's not a case of wanting the latest Louis Vitton bag, then I don't what is. Honda has a hard time selling their hybrid models because the Prius is so popular.

Sorry to see that beauty being damaged... I WON'T recommend Auto Gallery Porsche to anyone I know, quality of work and customer service are both way below average. I can send you PM if you want to know the story, they wasted my time and money. I am also looking for a good shop to fix what they have done poorly on my car...

Sorry about your accident, maybe you can have something else painted or added (GT2 lid?) while it's in the shop. Both of these places are excellent: http://www.bhautobodygroup.com/ http://www.3cmotoring.com/

Eric, that sucks! I am assuming you are OK? Push for diminished value. Keep us posted.

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My friend flipped his STI a couple years ago and golden hammer did such a good job fixing it, you can't even tell.

The Prius owner should be forced to buy your car and drive it for an entire year.

i hope the prius' crappiness carries into the strength of the passenger cell so that it collapses on the drivers on impact.

Eric, I'm sorry to see what hapened to your beautiful car. I hope you and your wife are ok. Good luck on the repair.

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Are you trawling for another project car?

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Mark is NOT getting this car!! Even if he does want his exhaust back. Hmmmm, maybe I should throw a carret out there for him. Now follow my thinking here. I tell him that I really don't want a repaired car so he can have it but I need him to just repair it first. Then after it is repaired by the best restorer around (Mark) I reluctently back out of the deal 2 days before he is supposed to receive title because my ailing grandmother told me on her death bed that this Porsche is the best car I have ever owned and the only one she really loved. She goes on to plead between gasps for air that I promise her I will never sell this car and that I will keep it in memory of her. Do you think this will work to get Mark to fix it for me?? DON'T tell Mark I am doing this. Just our little secret - what do you think? eric

Chris, contacted Arroyo and sent pix will hear from them on Tues. Thanks for the lead will keep you informed - eric ElTorr, Good job getting thru your domino demon effect. Thank you for the encouragement and inspiration. Will keep smiling, at least my wife was NOT in the car at that time. eric Aron, thanks for the leads. I will contact Golden next week. eric Michael, thanks for the link. eric Creative3 Thanks so much for the heads up about Gallery. I too have not heard good things but at that point they seemed to be the most experienced that I knew about. HOWEVER, now with the great response from the board members..... I can go hunting. eric JMLA, will check out your leads too next week, eric TIM>>>> WOW, thanks for checking in! Will really push for the diminished value factor. Do you still have old BLUE?? eric JC3D, Thanks for the endorsement of Golden will contact Tues. eric RIAD: LOL!! V2Rocket, it was pretty bent up but driveable - darn it! eric Mark, Hello Mark and thanks for your thoughts. Hey, I really don't want a repaired car in the family. Do you think you would want it for repair? Your friend, eric......

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Yeah, old BLUE is still here.... for one more week! Excuse me while I go cry for a little while. I'll be back later.....

Wellardmac, I would love to have another project car. I really enjoy buying them and rebuilding them....I just seem to have a problem parting with them. Eric, you have a great sense of humor...especially for someone who just had their Porsche pummeled by a Prius. I wish I knew how to do bodywork. I know it is a little far away from Thousand Oaks, but I do know of a paint/body shop that does incredible work. Brian Moore Restoration in Rancho Cordova does Pebble Beach winning work. I recommended Brian to a fellow Rennlister a couple months ago (David Borden). He was very pleased with the work on his silver 996tt clone. Brian is surprisingly, very affordable. I would be happy to help you with a ride to or from the airport. Here is a link to a little car show that he organizes http://www.nielloconcoursatserrano.com/index2.html

BUMP and UPDATE, Well it is going on two months and the car is still broken. Mostly because I refuse to have anything done to it until we all agree about what really happened. That wrecked car is my only evidence for reconstructive purposes. It looks like we are getting pretty close to a resolve. My internet insurance company and the other internet insurance company have been mincing words and stories for awhile now. But last week I got a call from my ether-net adjuster person that never has seen a real wreck up close in her whole life. But the good news is that in college they taught her about what a real accident/wreck/crash looked like so I have to say she is pretty darn book smart now. Anyway, she informs me that my internet insurance company has found that I am NOT at fault. HURRAY for my side. I guess the other internet insurance company has been listening to the jibberish from Mr. PreAss just a little too long and they have decided to find him (at least) at PARTIAL fault. Now they are offering to settle with my talking internet and TV icon. Well, according to my internet insurance companies highly educated adjuster person, their offer is in essence a concession that I am not at fault and that they are taking (again at least) partial responsibility - WOW! Now this little declaration leads me to green pastures. Evidently in the fine state of California (pronounciation optional) once someone is found to be at fault for an accident the other person can pursue them for things like diminished value and so-forth. I have hired a famous appraisal and litigation company out of Ojai that I have done some business with in the past and now, I think the fun will begin. It looks like my little silver bundle of compromised joy is about to be sent to the cutter. I have settled on a company called Auto Collison Center in my home town. They are proud of the fact that they have the factory jigs and a suitable frame table to do the most precision work possible on my rapidly depreciating once honorable and distinguished Mark of German engineering. It almost seems like throwing good money after bad - but of course my internet insurance company certainly knows what is best for me and my soon-to-be rejuvenated hi-profile forgein sports car. I can't wait to get the love of my life back into my safe and warm garage so I can quickly trade it in for another example of fine German workmanship for someone else to use as a target! More as it happens. eric

It's been many years, but was happy with Weslake AutoBody. I'm in Colorado now, so don't even know they still exist. I used to work near Amgen in TO and know exactly what you're talking about.

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Right, thanks for the recommendation but I did go with the Collision Center in TO. I had some pretty strong encouragement from some guys here that I know in the business and they did a good job of convencing me that they had the right plate and jig for the job. In fact, just this morning I went over there and signed off on the work order to start the ripping and tearing. Someone told me they used to be called, "Rip and Tear Automotive" .... really don't know if that is true. LOL I really do appreciate the feedback although. I love the tight community we have working for us here at RENN. eric

Update, the car was fixed by the Collision Center in Thousand Oaks. Had some pursuasive "adjustments" in the paint finish to "work out" with them but finally all is well. BTW, It took about 1 month longer than expected. One interesting note is that the car actually dove BETTER when I got it back than I can remember it ever driving before. ??

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That's because it's not your car. Check the mileage!! Only kidding - glad it's back. Can you post pics of the 'finished' product?

Glad it finally worked out!

Gee, have not taken pix of that car in awhile now. OK, will get some tomorrow and post. Thanks for the best wishes, eric

glad you got the car back.... that took awhile!

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Only you would say that Phil - I love it! Glad that the car is back - can't wait to see the picks. I can imagine that it felt really good to get in the drivers seat again.

Yes, I'd also love to see the apint job, nad hear what they actually did for the repairs.

Glad to hear you got the car back. I had a similar story last Sept. I agree that the car drives well now, after good repairs. I am now left with a car that has a Carfax record of frame damage. Diminished value adjuster estimates over $6k lost. Farmers insurance has basically blown me off (his insurance). Now I'm getting ready to send my final demand letter to the at fault party.

Eric, Glad you finally got her back! You have been without that P-car about as long as I've been without mine. The only difference is that I have been able to drive my Accord to "fill the gap."

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Med, Look at the bright side, with the way prices are dropping, your diminished value gap is probably down to $864 now. Seriously, I hope you get some, if not all, of the diminished value back. BTW - let us know when you get the check so we can start modding your car!!!

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OK, WHERE SHOULD WE START? HERE'S MY LIST: 1. PASSPORT 9500IX 2. SPRINTBOOSTER (i they ever get around to making one for a 996) 3. SPIN-ON OIL FILTER MOD

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since the most common result from most inexpensive engine & ecu mods is "improved throttle response" anyway, these sprintbooster guys are pretty smart. $329 strikes me as a large sum of money for the electronic equivalent of a shorter throttle cable, but hey whatever, they seem popular enough. I'm just curious to see if anyone actually likes it in their 997. Also, have you ever asked them why they don't offer for 996?

Hey, I am going to post some pix tonight but you guys have to PROMISE NOT to EVER refer to this time in my life again. Also, no posting of these pix anywhere else. I will post them so you can see the GOOD side of the repair - in other words - how well it was repaired. The guy that actually did the sheep metal work RESTORES Porsches in his spare time. The work is excellent but the process looks gruesome. Later, eric

Ok, but first I gotta tell you that the car actually drives better than before the accident. Sounds crazy but true. To get you all on the same page, I am running X-73 suspension (see my install post) I am running a cold air package MKII exhaust mod and Hankook tires - all of this was on the car before the accident. You will see detailed pix and the hand/finger is pointing to the original factory scribe marks put on for fender alignment. Also notice all of the factory matched spot welds. This baby went back together perfectly without a silly mm of error. I don't have pix of the paint before the re-do and I don't have current pix after the re-do because it was raining out here today but they will be coming. I will be happy to answer any questions you might have. eric

OK more - did not want to overload that post??

BTW, RR lower control arm and upright had to be replaced also.

WOW... what a job!! great pics for the ole scrap book ehh...listed on page "things I never want to do again" looks like a real nice job, post the finals!

Eric,--glad to see things getting 'straightened' out. What a nightmare,--and they hit you in the worst, most expensive part of the car!

Like the scrapbook idea! Yea I am real happy with the repairs but you're right the fact will always be the same for me. Dan, are you a member of PCASB? I seem to remember seeing your car before. Did you ever see my slant? eric

Wow, that's a pretty amazing repair and lining everything up. Some nice welding going on there. Several years ago I did some rust repair cutting & welding on my Bug, so this level of work is pretty mind-blowing.... It's nice to have that documentation, enjoy the ride.

Eric, Wow! I can only describe that as fascinating and gruesome at the same time. The skeleton/fram of the car looks cool. Almost terminator like. But ouch! To see your baby ripped apart like that.

Wow, what a job that was. The pics are great, glad it's all done and you are happy with it.

Eric, awesome pics. I'm glad she came out of the surgery better than ever!

You guys are great! Thanks for the comments and kudos. I am surprised and happy at the same time - surprised that they can actually turn out something as good as this if the put their mind to it and HAPPY that it is what it is in spite of everything. I had a diminished value report done and it came out to around 7K but even tho my ins co found me NOT AT FAULT the PRE-*** driver still will not admit guilt so his ins co will not entertain the claim. I am still trying though so I will let you know if anything changes. I am still trying to whip off some current pix but have not found the time yet. Tim, pix will be coming I promise! eric

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Eric, I am hurt that you would think the we would bring this up again! What kind of guys do you think we.....uhmm, wait a second... <Tim pauses to reflect> Well, I may have revisited Phil's famous "little green 3/4 circle" event a time or two.... OK, at least 10 times.... and dredged up his sulfated battery episode at least a dozen times..... and have, on numerous occasions, given Ed a hard time about buying GT2 parts.... and.... <Tim stops the reflecting> Well Eric, on second thought, point well taken. OK, I promise never to mention your Prius incident again. Seriously, it really looks like the guy did an excellent job on your car. No..... I mean the repair guy, not the Prius guy! OOPS! Eric, I swear, it just slipped out!

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Awe, we took care of that for you already.....That electric car is one mean mother to get out once it gets going

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Eric, FYI. Remember that in California your right to "Be made whole" in this situation supercedes everything else, INCLUDING your insurance company's right to "Subrogation". Meaning that you don't have to sign off on anything until you are made whole. His insurance company and yours will feed you BS all day long, but NONE of it will be based on actual law. They just want to convince you to quietly go away. Hopefully your diminished value guy can help you with draft letters to the insurance co. and ultimately the pre-*** driver if it doesn't get resolved. PM me if you want more info.

Again, sorry guys but I have just not had any time to take some fresh pix. I am heading out of town for a week but when things slow down I will get some current pix up. Thanks again - especially to Tim for not bringing this up again...... and again....... and again....... and........ eriiiiccckkk