so sorry to hear about the damage-its always tough to swallow.

 

Sorry to hear about your damages, Larry. Hope they will get fixed properly and back in full health!

 

That's ****ty

 

Thanks guys --I didn't sleep well . The supportive words on the thread have cheered me up and when I really think about yesterday it really was such a nice day before all this.
I think once the car is in the shop at least i won't have to look at it and that will help the emotional healing . But i think of any car that i ever had and once any paint goes on it .. I never look at it the same .

 

I agree . The roads here are just awful . All this money has been spent on open tolls to generate revenue but i feel that inspection of old cars and more stringent driving instruction and test requirements would help .

It's not uncommon to see old pickup trucks with junk and tools open on the platform or old cars with parts hanging off them. Plus there's construction everywhere which compounds the issue . Plus even those who have nice vehicles sometimes attach a boat to them . In fact one time I had a boat in front of me blow a tire on the tow and was wagging like a dogs tail .

Add to this that since Miami is an international city people are here from everwhere and since the rules are different in other places the driving styles are not uniform even though the same rules apply to everyone . Plus there are some drivers who never had a car until they were 30 or 40 years old. It's as if they have the experience of a teen driver but the reflexes of a middle aged person.

The saddest part is that for the most part the roads themselves are actually very nice . They are smooth and well maintained. There are cameras everywhere yet there are so many drivers who lack efficiency that its hard to enforce .Plus the amount of drivers on the roads with multiple citiations and previous violtations could keep judges and courts open full time and if they suspend the driver .. some of them still drive . They simply don't care .

I honestly think that if the rules of cars and driving were strict the unemployment rate would climb . Many of these cars would not be on the road .

 

I know how you feel, i'm exactly the same way after an accident. It's like your mourning your car.

THe week i bought my first pcar, on a highway, I hit a hay bail that fell off the truck in front of me. three lanes of cars hit that thing.

 

Well -this is where I am with it as of now.
At least there's no structural damage.

So it's just a matter of dents and a painted door .

I called up my dent specialist . It's sunday and he was at a World Cup party but he took my call and will come over to my house first thing in the AM totry and remove the dents . This way only the scratch on the door will remain when it goes to the shop.

At the shop the door will be looked at for paint .

Pictures , recepts will be sent to the insurance and then we'll see .

 

i am the the same way, once my car is damaged i feel violated, my CTT got egged and now i am considering trading it and i love my CTT

 

+100...reading through these posts I was seeing if someone brought these points up.

Larry, super glad you and your GF are fine...seriously!

Now do you still think the track or AutoX is more dangerous?:

 

I thought of asking this especially coming off a great DE this past friday where my group had 2 GT3's (one a 2010), a GT2 and a couple of turbos.

But thought the better of it due to the fact that we have discussed it so much.

The truth is that at any time at any place something unfortunate can happen to a car.

 

Well, fortunately white is easy to match ;-). They simply paint the whole door too, so there won't be any fade issues, which are the worst. Craziest thing would be to replace the entire door panel. Easy enough to do with a front fender, but I'm not sure a door would be that easy. Looks like you can get most of the way there with a dent puller. Not tragic, fortunately. Up here in NY, I'm really concious of that road garbage. BIggest problem is blownout truck tires, they seem to be everywhere...

 

This came shooting from the side . The biggest dent is in the middle of the car (driver's door) . Even with a tire it can get flung from another lane .

Tomorrow is a big day because I am hoping that my dent guy can pop the two dents leaving just a door paint . If anyone can do it .. he's the best.

No matter what the repair outcome --I am trying to think positive
1) we weren't hurt.
2) no structural damage .. just dent and scratch
3) the worst is on the same panel
4) if it hadn't been this car .. it would have been the Turbo . I bought the car to be more of a DD for the Turbo and then just pampered both of them out of my own tendency to make my cars nice. Taking the hit for the Turbo brings a whole new level of respect for this 997S in my mind. As much as i can't look at the car the same in one aspect there's another aspect that wants to be sure that every possible effort to fix it to highest level is accomplished .

 

honestly... you need to relax about this. Not trying to be mean, but really, the damage is tiny compared to what it could have been.

Hard to tell from pictures alone, but it really looks like 2-3 repair hours, detrim the door, paint, and blend. Depending on who's writing the estimate, though, it could be anywhere between $500-$1500, though. Just depends on how inflated it gets for "exotic tax".

Good luck with the repairs, and I'm sure it'll be fine when it's done

 

I agree that it's small and not significant . It's not the damage or the random event but how somrthing as small as flying debris can change a perception in an instant.
One thing we all know is when one goes to trade in a car a painted panel diminishes the value. So it's not just my perception that has changed.

Most people (including me) when they buy a car they imagine the happiest parts of owning the car instead of getting a ding.
To me --owning a great car . means thinking about the whole experience.

Even when a happy or great event (like the day one buys the car) happens it's nice to think about it . internalize it, adapt to it , and store it .

These are expensive cars and even though they are just items they do bring me a lot of happiness .

Even with a ding .

 

That's the important part is to be happy with the car. I can't tell you how many customers I've seen who seem like their life is ruined because their car has a dent in it (usually its the guy driving the expensive car that can barely afford. BMW, MB, Audi, Porsche, Lexus, Ford; it doesn't really matter the brand). Unfortunately, I'm usually the guy it gets taken out on, because I work for the insurance company. I'm just trying to screw you and make you settle for a sub-standard repair so I can save money, right? Wrong, I want you in and out of my life as fast as possible, that means the right repair, the first time.

BTW, if suddenly realize you can't stand to look at the car anymore, I'll take it off your hands for you