A&Q about Lotus
Q:
If you own an Elise, chances are (at least by the number of posts on this topic) you've at least looked at a Toyota FJ Cruiser. Although at different ends of the spectrum, they are both totally cool. I have an Elise. My wife has an FJ. Watch out. As you may know, those Toyotas have a terrible blind spot, a fact my wife knows all too well. She has already backed into our Titan pickup once. Now she backed into my Elise.
Long story short, $1500. At least I'm getting some nifty carbon fiber replacement mirrors out of the deal. Never like the OEM ones anyway.
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$1500 seems like a deal for that amount of damage. Is that the deductible or the actual cost? Sorry about the accident...
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sucks. But mow she owes ya!
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Originally Posted by Surferjer
sucks. But mow she owes ya!
No kidding. I'm thinking the "Honey Do" list is about to get a big reset.
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Originally Posted by Dave
$1500 seems like a deal for that amount of damage. Is that the deductible or the actual cost? Sorry about the accident...
That's the whole amount for the repair of the fender. I ordered the park light and will do it myself, $59. I'm ordering two carbon fiber replacement rear view mirrors that are not part of the deal and will do that myself.
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Please tell me that was a joke about backing into a Titan pickup 'cos of a blind spot?
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Hated. My wife back into a Benz I had one time with a Montero. What a nightmare with the body shop. Ultimately had to sand the entire car to the metal and repaint b/f they got it right the 3rd time. I feel your pain.
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that seems like an awfully big crack to try to repair? Hope that works out for you. You sound like a much more understanding husband than me, I'd have to leave the house for a few days.
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Originally Posted by LozLotus
Please tell me that was a joke about backing into a Titan pickup 'cos of a blind spot?
That's the most hilarious thing I've heard yet. Thanks for giving me a laugh.
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Originally Posted by pixlpush
that seems like an awfully big crack to try to repair? Hope that works out for you. You sound like a much more understanding husband than me, I'd have to leave the house for a few days.
I'd be interested to hear if anyone thinks this isn't repairable to a high standard because I know nothing about fiberglass. I'm having insurance pay so I want it done right.
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My parents once ran into each other. I thought it was hilarious---how does that happen!?
As an adult I can better understand how that happened all those year ago!
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Dude that's tragic, I'm gonna give you the opp for lots of points for defending wifey here but omigod, a Titan? Those things have their own zipcode...
;-)
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I would replace the whole clam myself.
Fiberglass can be repaired, but I only trust repairs on large semi-flat spots.
That edge on the fender...nah.
Screw the CF mirrors and go for the CF front clam (with exposed stripes).
Either get the wife some kind of backup monitor or do what I did...get her a sports car (Porsche Boxster) and get rid of the monstrosity.
Just a couple thoughts. Wish you luck with it.
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I think a new clam would be the best way to go, that is too close to the edge.
And a new rear view camera system for the wife's car. Audiovox makes a real nice one that hides the screen in the rear view mirror. It is pretty awesome.
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What's even funnier is that her FJ has back up sensors. My car is so small that apparently (according to her) the sensors didn't go off.
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I'd wanna get the clam off first to see what got crunched below the surface. Also, even small cracks on the surface of our clams can radiate big time underneath, only to appear after a few months of driving and vibrating the shell. That crisp edge along the top of the fender is the one place I wouldn't want to try to repair. As for the FJ crushing your other cars, do what I did: make her park on the street ]
Tom
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You're clam is likely history. Trying to repair that top split will probably result in headache down the road, as someone already mentioned. The side impact area probably has a great deal of broken fibers and cracked plastic underneath. I also suspect, by the panel alignment, that the clam mounting points on that side, and maybe elsewhere, are broken. That could affect future crash-worthiness.
You would have to take the clam off to repair it, in any case. The labor at a body shop to do just that will likely exceed $1500.
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My wife would really like an FJ, I think I will cross it off the list....
Jim
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Thanks for all the input guys. I've called the repair shop and I am demanding that the clam be taken off for a better look. May be a lot more expensive than the $1500 I posted. Glad to have the advice of everyone on the board. The only good news is autocrossing season just ended here and I just had my last track day of the year one week before that happened. I guess I'll just have to slug through with my good 'ol M3.
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Looks repairable to me. I have personally repaired fiberglass many times. It's fairly easy to get excellent results. How many Vettes have been repaired in the last 40 years? Bondo on top of sheet metal is more likely to crack down the road.
Patch it up and keep driving. Who knows you may ding it again.
I wish a got commission on all the clams that have been purchased.