$1600?1 Is it worth it to get the body work done?

[MissMea]

So basically my brother-in-law borrowed my 02 sunfire for 2 months and put almost 6000 kms on it. During the time he had it he cracked both the front and back bumper. The front isn't bad just a couple line cracks on the lip but the back bumper now has a huge chunk on the driver side(where the mud-flap attaches) missing. Any quotes I am getting for the parts, paint, and install is around $1600.
So is it worth it to put that much money into the body, or do I get a body kit for the same price and slowly build the car? It has almost 210,000 kms on it already and I use it as a daily driver for myself, my kids and my job but it was seen by a mechanic after I bought it and there is little underbody rust and mechanically it is sound. We just replaced the stock water-pump.

Thoughts, opinions?

 

[melsg5]

why would you start sinking any money into a car with 210K on it? I assume you have no collision coverage?

 

[manic mechanic]

i would not . its got too many miles on it.........i think you got your moneys worth though.

 

[Richw7]

210,000 kms is about 131,000 miles which isn't bad for a 10 year old car - 13,000/year. I don't know if $1600 is too much to put into a reliable car but I would get more estimates - I think Maaco is running their sale now and for what you are talking about, they should be able to do a decent job.

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[MissMea]

Macco was one the first people I got quotes from. Tried getting even used parts but because it's a sedan, not as common.
I talked to my insurance and because the car isn't even worth that much according to black book value, they write it off and/or my premiums go up because it was my BIL's fault for hitting a snowbank and running over something which did the damage to the back bumper.
If we did put the money into the body work, I would definetly look at putting the money into a engine replacement or rebuild in a couple years. Everything else on the car is mechanically sound.

 

[2000SunfireGT]

i'd keep it. put the money into it and do an engine/tranny rebuild on it.

 

[ericv1984]

1600 to replace and paint TWO bumpers? eBay has bumpers for around 250 with free shipping for a front bumper that comes pre-painted to match your car, cant find a pre-painted rear bumper though. Just buy that and install it yourself.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PAIN...rQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_2007wt_939

 

[Richw7]

Better yet - have your BIL buy them and install them!

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[MissMea]

What is involved in installing it ourselves? The part tech at GM told me I wouldnt be able to do it myself.

 

[ericv1984]

What is involved in installing it ourselves? The part tech at GM told me I wouldnt be able to do it myself.

The part tech is an idiot and just wants money.

I'd tell you the steps my repair book says but the book only goes up to a 2000. Just go to any auto parts store and buy a chiltons or haynes manual for your car and it will tell you how to install them.

 

[manic mechanic]

i'd keep it. put the money into it and do an engine/tranny rebuild on it.

where can you buy a master rebuild kit? im finding parts and pieces through several sources? where can i get .030 overs at? im planning on punching mine out, port a polish the head , maybe go forced injection , but im not sure. anyone got a recommendation for rods on a 2.2? i cant find any good ones.?

 

[granny racer]

What is involved in installing it ourselves? The part tech at GM told me I wouldnt be able to do it myself.

I hate it when people say this. they act like car maintenance is rocket science just to suck more money out of you.

i bet rocket science isnt even as hard as people make out to be.

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[Toogoofy]

Funny you say that. I used to work for Disney when Fast Pass came out and people couldn't look at the picture to see how the ticket went in. I made the statement to the guy "This isn't rocket science ya know" He started laughing and I was like wow, that wasn't even a good joke and he said. Actually, I am a rocket scientist I work at the JPL for NASA. Open mouth insert foot! I don't say that anymore needless to say!