Oh the horror!

So after very minor damage to my 99 C4 I decided to have the entire car re-painted, as the minor rock chips and a few scattered door dings really bugged me. The insurance company told me I could take it to any shop I wanted. A co-worker (who was born in germany) operated a body shop and told me he would repaint the entire car as a favor to me for the price the insurance was going to payout. He is an avid vette enthusiast and I felt he held a proper respect for the project. What the hell was I thinking. I saw the car for the first time yesterday and I must say Awww (insert 4letter word of choice here) The bumper still had the dip in it where the Tahoe kissed the top side of it, the parts of the mirror that were black plastic are now painted and there are rock chips in the hood that are just sprayed over! this story really doesnt have a point other than a bit of ranting and a big beware for cutting any corners on body work.

CHARLIE DONT SURF!

Cutting corners always costs you more in the long run....hope everything works out for the best.

Time to trade it in on 02-04 c4.

Well your out nothing other than your deductible right? So just do it right this time and make like it never happened.

Does your buddy run a MAACO? Damn, that sucks!

That sucks man. I feel for you. What dissapointment.

the biggest problem I have with the entire thing is sure the paint had a few flaws but it was factory paint. I figured if it would look immaculate again I would be ok with a repaint. Now i have flaws and a repainted car. *waves bye bye to resale value*

I had my front repainted after the 02 facelift..and the glace was wrong, runner on one fender and big drip on front bumper....I just told them to redo the whole thing...and they did...so now the car looks perfect....bodyshops, doesn't matter how much they charge are always trying to get away with minor errors (in the hope nobody notices!!) They forget that Porsche drivers are "freaks" and want their baby to look perfect at all times!! So they have to learn the hardway and REDO the car!!

I hope that the fact your co-worker was born in Germany was not a factor in your decision to have him paint your car. I know several people born in Germany, and some who still live there, who don't care about Porsches, BMW's, MB's or whatever type of car.

Well I dont know how things are done over there in the US but in the UK the insurance dont pay out until you sign it off, and you sign that you are satisfied with the work carried out. In this case, I would tell my insurance that I am not satisfied. They would then tell them to redo it. And if still not satisfied, they would have the right to pull the vehicle from them without paying them and send it elsewhere.

When you go out of the dealer, the first day you get into your new car, it has the paint perfect. It's made by a robot. Everytime our car is being dented by the neighbour or someone who parks close to you, the paint is suffering almost like you . Then ,when you decide to repaint the door (i.e) you have to get care about it because there are not many real proffesionals on painting. Although it would paint very good, it will not be the same car... That's why it's a complex task to do for me. Including Porsche dealers... Sometimes the paint looks like a peach skin, sometimes the car is overpainted like yours... Looking for a car paint specialist, will cost time and money, but it will be one of the best invested money for your car. In many workshops , they do it very quickly, and a great paintwork with a great finish, need took your time... An example of a fine workshop http://www.ibrcompeticion.com/ARCHPORSCHE/P12.htm

im not clear of the relevance of your friends birthplace is to your story?

Lohr sorry to hear that happened... What a disappointment! That totally sucks!!! BTW: Is your German friend's name Dietrich? If so tell him the boys in blue are still looking for him here in Malibu

Holy crap ... that sucks big time. You shouldn't really pay them any $$$ for the paintjob until its redone upto acceptable standards. Just tell him its not upto Porsche Standard and show him how it needs to be finished (show him another factory finished car). Sounds like he bought cans from AutoZone and started painting in a dark alley right over the existing paint ... Honestly, for a paintjob, I'd be very nervious of trying someone new. Its so easy to screw up and the screwup is very visible ! I'd either put off the paint job till the "mod fund piggy bank" filled again or just not do it at all ! Good paint jobs are worth the $$$ (I redid my front recently). But don't worry. A new/better paint job should rescue you - its not irreversible damage.

Where are you located? Maybe somebody here can recommend a good shop. Any shop, given the proper time and motivation, can do a decent job with body work, but no paint. If the paint guy is not good, no matter what it'll never be good. You've got to look around at the other cars in the shop. What you're looking for are muscle cars and custom hot rods. Typically newish expensive cars go wherever the shop looks nice, but the old muscle cars and custom hot rods are at shops with good painters.

Eh, the only reason I note he is from germany is because he gave me the old "them german cars gots the special paint, in germany we does it like this" line. boy I took that bait, hook, line and sinker. What blows my mind is that every other vehicle I have seen him do has been spotless and perfect. What a total dissapointment.

Actually, it's very true that thos german cars have got special paint...it's also illegal in this country so nobody, german or not, can do it in the states. Luckily we have paints with different ingrediants that really are just as good (and can be much better) when done right.