Camaro vs 345 sedan bumper match

[m3f_vmbray]

First, I'm happy because I didn't drive my coupe today and I wanted to but got pressed for time and drove the sedan (the window regulator blew up yesterday and it's getting warm here and no ac).


Somehow a guy in a camaro managed to rear end me after stopping at a light, pretty sure I saw him stop and then he frammed into me pretty hard right before I was going to turn. My diffuser ended up squarely under his car after being ripped off my car. Probably he saw me inch up to make sure the lane was clear past the large oak trees and didn't look up from his phone before mashing the go pedal. Sadly the sedan has never been hit other than door dings.





The metal under the trunk is a separate piece but is spot welded to the car and is not simple to replace. Anyone had experience with this sort of repair? Will they total the car for this? The trunk, metal below, bumper, and diffuser are affected, not sure what else if anything.


I'm going to get another beer.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

Hmm tough luck.

[m3f_cblock]

Oh man, sorry to see! Traffic where I live is horrid and I'm always fearful this is going to happen at some point.


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[m3f_Braymond141]

That's a bummer. Sorry to see that.

[m3f_MMMGP]

Damn, that sucks. Would not hurt to go get an estimate from a local body shop just to get an idea of what the repair will cost. If the repair cost is near the value of the car, then chances are the insurance company will total it.


If the repair is less the the value of the car, let's use $5k as an example and the insurance company cuts you a check for that amount, then you may be able to source a used trunk, bumper, and diffuser in factory color (black is common enough) and only have to pay a body shop to install and paint the below-trunk panel.


Once paid out, you'll be able to save cash on labor if you bring the car into the body shop with the trunk, rear bumper, lights, and trunk seal removed so the body shop can focus solely on the below-trunk panel repair.


Honestly, It'll never be perfect and you will have some lite paint lines where the below-trunk panel meets each rear quarter panel at the seam but you'll avoid totaling the car and if you get lucky on matching up some used parts, you will have some cash left over to fund other projects.


Fact is, a body shop will never be able to match the factory orange peel. The newly painted panel and peel is usually wet sanded and buffed out smooth making it easy to spot when comparing it against unpainted parts of the car.


Edit: hard to tell from the photo, but the trunk looks like it could be salvageable if you could live with small imperfections. Maybe even check with the dent-pro folks in your area. May be worth trying to keep original, could always buff out lite surface scratches if any are left over after the dent-pro magic.

[m3f_drtwofish]

Aw, crap man, I'm sorry to hear it. That blows, and driver distraction blows. Glad you're ok though.

[m3f_NolliM3]

That's really a bummer...good you're okay!

[m3f_vmbray]

Thanks guys. Yeah its sad considering the car has never been hit and all vins match. Oh well, stuff happens. My coupe would have upset me more but it has some rust below the trunk seal so it would have gotten fixed.


I had a long day and had left work, weather was amazing and was just putting along enjoying the car. It was pretty surreal when he hit me, just couldn't believe it.

Damn, that sucks. Would not hurt to go get an estimate from a local body shop just to get an idea of what the repair will cost. If the repair cost is near the value of the car, then chances are the insurance company will total it.


If the repair is less the the value of the car, let's use $5k as an example and the insurance company cuts you a check for that amount, then you may be able to source a used trunk, bumper, and diffuser in factory color (black is common enough) and only have to pay a body shop to install and paint the below-trunk panel.


Once paid out, you'll be able to save cash on labor if you bring the car into the body shop with the trunk, rear bumper, lights, and trunk seal removed so the body shop can focus solely on the below-trunk panel repair.


Honestly, It'll never be perfect and you will have some lite paint lines where the below-trunk panel meets each rear quarter panel at the seam but you'll avoid totaling the car and if you get lucky on matching up some used parts, you will have some cash left over to fund other projects.


Fact is, a body shop will never be able to match the factory orange peel. The newly painted panel and peel is usually wet sanded and buffed out smooth making it easy to spot when comparing it against unpainted parts of the car.


Edit: hard to tell from the photo, but the trunk looks like it could be salvageable if you could live with small imperfections. Maybe even check with the dent-pro folks in your area. May be worth trying to keep original, could always buff out lite surface scratches if any are left over after the dent-pro magic.

Good points, thanks for raking the time to write that - you made me feel better. It's definitely the cost of the metal repair that will determine the outcome and the trunk wasn't perfect so yes it might stay. It would be so ironic since I just got the first salvage title cleared after about $500 in inspection and tax etc. And I mean three days ago.


If they total it I'll just buy it back so either way I don't see how I'm gonna lose and also we have a new lawyer in the family and he just loves working with insurance companies. I already told the insurance lady I will kick and scream and I have a stack of receipts and a lawyer. Best defense is a good offense.


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[m3f_Radmobile]

Sorry to see this. Not a good way to start the weekend on your end.



Go to a super high quality shop and get an estimate. You'd be shocked at what numbers may get thrown around and you can quickly get into totaled territory. I know totaling a car isn't easy. But at least you can walk away from the headache and anger/upset. Or perhaps you can get insurance to write you a check for the highest estimate you receive then sell the car to someone who wants to track it (after-all it is a sedan so it's more rigid than the coupe). Take the insurance + sale money and upgrade.



When a tire tread hit my front end I was never more disengaged and 'over' the car. I swore that I can't go through that again. If something happens, I'd almost rather have insurance total the vehicle and walk away. Of course once it came back from repair it was better than before and I fell in love with the car all over again. But at this point, I'd rather use the opportunity to move on.