Car Repair options (Advise needed)

Tyce · Post by **Tyce** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 1:17 am

As people know my poor beloved CC needs a face lift as I was in an accident over Easter. I need some advise about repairs..

My insurance company has offer to get the damaged repaired through their approved repairer which means I get a replacement car in the meantime.

I told my insurance company that I'd rather get the work done by a Peugeot garage, thinking that they do all the repairs inhouse.

I found out today that every Peugeot dealer I have been to about the repairs outsource the work anyway! So what is the difference who does the work?

Apparently my Front wing, Door and bottom seal need replacing.. the engineer said that the back rear panel could be fixed withour replacing.. and his advise was not to replace it as the dent could be easily pushed out.. he said that it would be much harder to replace the rear panel as it is welded on and the CC roof mechanism is behind it..

I need advise about which repair option I should go with? I want the work to be the best possible.. I rather not have filler! and I don't want to see ripples in the panelspaintwork. Any advise about this issue would be welcomed.

Thanks,
Tyce

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 2:54 am

Tyce, in my experience, I have found there is a difference to who you sanction to carry out your repairs- I learnt it the hard way.

Over the years I have had some repair work to my Rover carried out through a local main dealership without incident.

More recently, I had repairs carried out by a Direct Line "authorized repairer" after a hit and run driver smashed into the back of my Rover coupe. I didn't want the hassle of obtaining 2 main dealer quotes when the insurance adverts shows a bright shiny valeted car being delivered back to your address.

The reality, however, turned out to be a very different story.

My car came back with a fresh new dent with marks to the front wing, courtesy of the "authorised repairer".

The car also came back dirty (should have been cleaned) with only half the repairs being effected- and those repairs made were of "shoddy workmanship".

I was told this by the second Direct Line "authorised repairer" enlisted in order to try to sort out the first mess.

It transpired that the second repairer wasn't much better than the first.

I complained about the substandard work carried out by both "garages" and asked Direct Line that they be taken off their "authorised list" to save the anguish of other drivers but heard nothing.

When I sought new insurance, it was on the strict understanding that any repairs to the Peugeot would be carried out through a maindealer after submitting two suitable quotes.

I reasoned that the big insurance companies probably enlist the local garages within your area that submit the most competitive quote (which would probably be on the low side, but accepted in order to secure a large amount of work). In such circumstances, they may not always carry out the best repair.

Since I have had repairs effected through main dealers without any problems I will return to the main dealerships in future in the hope that any repairs would be of a suitable standard even if this is farmed out (hopefully they will have a local reputation to protect).

I'm sure that there are people perfectly happy with repair work carried out by Direct Line etc. Because of my experiences, however, I will always definitely insist in future that work be carried out through main dealerships of my choice rather than some insurance companies authorised repairer. It would appear (though Direct Line hadn't mentioned it) that you can insist upon this, provided you have more than one quote.

Of course the standard of repair varies from dealership to dealership and from garage to garage but you pays your moneys and takes your choice - and as you rightly say its usually based on yours or someone elses experiences.

You'll probably feel like you've spun the roulette wheel anyway whichever choice you make, but I hope that some of these ramblings are of help. I'm sure other members can help you with their experiences.

Robbie

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: robbie on 2002-04-05 08:09 ]</font>

lizolinni · Post by **lizolinni** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 9:39 am

Hi Tyce
I think I would go for the main dealer as well. At least when you go and pick it up. If it is not to your satisfaction you can just keep the courtsey car and refuse to accept it until it is right. Hope you get your baby back soon
Liz

col · Post by **col** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 10:22 am

Hello

Usually i would say just go to a garage which has been recommended to you by a friend, as thats the only way to know if the craftmanship is any good. But in the case of the CC, i would give it to a Pug dealer with its own bodyshop. I think the CC is still a new car and 3rd party bodyshops could mess up the job. At least at a Pug dealer you have their repair warranty and hire car!!!

col

Rachel. · Post by **Rachel.** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 11:16 am

Think its luck of the draw. I did an incredible amount of damage to my old 206 LX, virtually wiped out the front of the car. It went to my insurance company's authorised repairer and it came back perfect. Took it to the Peugeot dealership to check over, they couldn't tell it had been crashed.

However, it was a body shop attached to a main dealer (not Peugeot though) I'd be more reluctant about taking it to a local unconnected body shop.

Good luck whatever you choose.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 3:27 pm

TYCE go with the pug main dealer

sag · Post by **sag** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 6:15 pm

see......lots of us moan about peugeot dealers, but when it really comes down to it, we wouldnt take our fab 206cc anywhere else for a repair....would we !

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 7:20 pm

Sag, you've found us out - better the devil you know, eh?

Robbie

Rachel. · Post by **Rachel.** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 7:38 pm

But I thought the problem was that as even Peugeot sub contract rather than doing the work themselves, how can you be sure that they'll do a better job than a random body shop?

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 7:47 pm

Yep, the only thread of hope I would cling to is that a local Peugeot dealer might worry about their own reputation if a sub-contractor bodges the job. Hopefully they might also give it the once over afterwards.

(Rachel, left a message for you in the exterior stuff section).

Robbie.

Pauline · Post by **Pauline** » Sat Apr 06, 2002 4:53 pm

Tyce, I'd go for the "dent easily pushed out..." option and if it's cr@p, get them to do it properly. They might be suggesting it to save a few quid but I doubt it as they know they'd only get it thrown back at them if it's really duff. And the option of cutting off the old one and welding on a new one... hmmmmmm... seems scarey to me. BUT!

Would it be the only panel not replaced? If so, once they've replaced the other panels, would it still match coloursise?

Just giving you my thoughts for you to mull over and help you make a decision. Hope it helps. Pauline

PS BTW, I had Direct Line fix my last car and it looked like they did a fantastic job... I was hit HARD up the bum when stationary at a red light. It was raining and the guy behind was in an automatic, his feet were wet & slipped of the brake onto the accelerator - aaaagh. So I had a new boot and rear panels. But afterwards, it was always really noisy at speed so I'm not sure that the main passenger compartment wasn't bent and the doors didn't fit properly...??? But I'm no expert. I just make sure I wipe me feet when it's been raining - helps keep the mats clean too

Tyce · Post by **Tyce** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 9:24 pm

Thanks to everyone that has posted their throughts and recommendation to this subject.

I'll probably go with the Dealership and get the repairs done by them although its not onsite - but are Peugeot approved as the guy side.

I had Supaguard put on the car so that will need to be put on.. but the quote I had back didn't say anything about that..

The whole passenger side of the car will be resprayed and I guess I can get AA to possibly check the work carried out.

The rear panel I would not like to replace will possible as its part of the car and cannot be taken off unless its cut and the rewelded. The damage to that part is very slight!

I'll have to ask about a courtesy car too while the work is being carried out as the dealership is in the next town.

At the same time I can get them to do the recall work too I guess.. kill two bird with one visit!..

By the way my insurance company is Admiral and they didn't hide the fact that I could get the work done by someone other than their approved garages.

Can anyone tell me which dealer actually does carry out the bodywork themselves? coz all the dealers I rang subcontract the work to a local peugeot approved repairer.

Tyce.

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 9:40 pm

Tyce, if you are at all unsure about the standard of work, the money spent on an AA report seems like a good idea.

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 10:10 pm

obviously my dealer is nowhere near you but they have their own bodyshop.

when i think about, there's another peugeot dealer 2 miles from where i live, its not that big but they also have a bodyshop.

derek