Spydie is Rear-ended

Miss V,
Simple solution, but you'll have to do their thinking for them. Go back and kick them in the knee (again)and tell them to put a stop payment on their check and either wire the money or re-cut a new check. If you're really in a hurry, then offer to reimburse them the $20.00 wire fee from your own pocket. From my experiences with body shops, they probably forgot to send the money and are just lying to you to put you off until they "remember to send the money" Chances are, they don't have the money to send.

They probably work on a shoe string budget, they are waiting for someone to pay them for work so they have enough money to send to Thunder Ranch as they won't collect from your insurance until the jobs is completed. While your car is sitting at their shop, it's probably being abused, left outside in the weather and who knows what else.

Kick some butt and tell them if that won't do the job, you'll inform your insurance company and take your car elsewhere, "GET TOUGH" Make me proud!!!!!

Auto body shops are a kin to used car salesman. In other words, you can't trust them.

Larry and Vicki,

The problem is probably somewhere between the two extremes of honesty and dishonesty. Most body shops are independent entities who, as Larry indicated, don't have a lot of cash laying around. Most of their work is local and the local parts suppliers they deal with "carry" them until they can collect for the job and pay the tab for the parts.

Even $1,000 out of the till could seriously damage payday for some fender beater and your parts are going to cost a great deal more than that. Truth is, they probably didn't realize what they were getting into with your Spyder. Yeah, they should have checked it out ahead of time, but now they have your car and you don't.

I would suggest that you ask them if there is a problem paying for the parts and if the answer is "Yes," then perhaps you need to speak with your insurance company about paying TR for the parts and paying the body shop for the work.

I was in a similar situation with my 912 years ago...Needed the entire front end sheet metal...Hood, both fenders, headlamps and valance plus various trim pieces...I was using a local mom and pop body shop that simply couldn't afford the up-front costs of the parts (Neither could I) and Tweeks wasn't about to ship the parts without payment. My insurance company paid Tweeks separately for the parts and settled with the body shop later. I was back on the road in no time.

Just a suggestion.

TMc

The body shop guy said he over-nighted a second check to TR after stopping payment on the first one. Do I believe that?? I don't know. This body shop is only for high end and exotic cars; they seem to be reputable. Actually, they supposedly are the best. I emailed Tom at TR to get his take on this thing, but never heard back from him. Meanwhile, the summer fades away. . .v v

But just think of it these terms.

In your "fake real Spyder" you have cold air conditioning whereas in in your " real fake Spyder" you have hot humid air blowing against your golden locks. (well, sort of golden)

LJ--They are real fake golden locks, if you know what I mean. Or as I heard recently, the curtains don't match the carpet. ha
Well, the check supposedly got to TR, but ya know, I haven't heard from Tom yet and I emailed him a long time ago. Beck would have been right on the horn (even before I bought a car from them). The parts were crated up this weekend or so they told me at the body shop, and they're just waiting to be put on a truck. The insurance guy said at this rate, he'll spend more on my rental car than on the repairs to Spydie! Repair costs were almost $7,000. v

Miss V (with the mis-matched curtains and carpet)

I called TR today (8-9-04), spoke to Tom's wife, she's waiting for the Body Shop's check to clear, (should be today), your parts should ship out on Wednesday or Thursday of this week.

Question: Now that the rules have been read, would Vicki's curtain/carpet comments have gotten her a timeout on Spyderclub?

Daniel,
I don't know for sure but, after an exhaustive test of my reading comprehension skills, I'd say "No"

Hey, it took a very long time for Guido to be timed-out, so I figure I'm good for a bunch more off-color (oops; pun not intentional) remarks. v

Drapes and carpet? What is this? HGTV?

Terry--no,

Terry--oops my fingers slipped! HGTV sounds like a sexually transmitted disease. What is it really? v

Vicki:
I think he is referring to Home(House) and Garden TV. ;>) It's on cable.

v, I was more interested in your "bonnet" than the curtains and carpet!!! Seriously hope they get your car fixed soon and to your satisfaction. I'm interested in the total costs because this seems to be the most common wreck for our cars. Yours is about the fourth one I know about,all pretty much the same scenario. Good Luck, and keep us informed.

The other Terry got it right...House and Garden TV netwrok. I was just screwing around, but Vikki, if Guido were still here, he'd request a photo of your drapes and carpet. I still can't get over the time he requested a photo of "just" your cleavage!

TMc

Nick--the insurance claim agent said the repairs would costs about $7000, but now I'm not sure if he meant just parts or parts and labor. See the picture of Spydie's butt sitting and waiting.

Terry--actually, I did try to upload my cleavage for Guido to see, but the file was too large. ha
v v

Am I seeing things or is that a 904 front end on the left side of the picture just behind that red step looking thing?

Heiko -

I see what you see but I don't think it's a 904. There appears to be no wheel well where one should be if it were a 904 and no fender panel rolling under what I think you see as the headlight "tunnel." I'm thinking it's a hood for a nine series Porsche...Perhaps an early model 911?

TMc

I think it's a hood panel leaning up against something else.

And then I look again and I don't know what the hell it is...And why would TR have a nine series hood? Forget it...I don't know what I'm talking about.

TMc

Miss V,,

Have your parts arrived yet????

I was looking at all the messages on this topic and seems like they go until August sometime, then revert back to June.?? Is anyone else seeing that?

Anyway, parts arrived Wednesday evening. The clip looks really good. I took my new license plate over there today and got to see Spydie after a full 2 months. She was sitting there covered (thank you), sitting head-to-head with a brand new Bentley ($300,000) owned by one of the Titans football players. It was smashed up pretty bad in the rear and side. The guy there said the two cars were great for business! Maybe that's why they've taken so long! I want my uncomfortable, impractical car back!! v

Sorry, I fixed it, the thread is back to the right order now.
-=theron

Miss V,

It's your fault that this thread was all messed up.

I e-mailed Theron to tell him about the problem with the posts being out of order, he said that this thread was the first to hit 100 replies and suspected that had something to do with the problem.

So, had you not started this thread, it wouldn't have happened, thus making you directly responsible.

Go punish yourself.

Vicki,

Yes, this thread is really screwed up re: dates and times

Glad to hear that you got your parts, hope the auto body shop gets your car fixed soon!

Or, charge them for using your car as an advertisement. I'd say about 100 bucks a day should do it!!!!

Thank you theron for fixing the thread that I so callously started. Maybe I should take on your nickname "ididthat". Your nickname always reminds me of that football player whose name on his jersey was "HEHATEME". Never understood that.

Anyway, LJ, I am punishing myself already. I am at work trying to catch up! Will be here tomorrow too. Hope that will be enough punishment for the grievous thing that I did.

I hope to have some pictures of the fix up, which better begin Monday. There is a British Car Show in B'ham on my birthday--September 11th. I told the guy it has to be ready by then. Does anyone think that's possible?
v

I watched a TV show where a team of guys totally restored a piece of crap car in one week, Tell your body shop guys to watch the show and get some tips. (If they can't complete the job in 3 weeks, something is seriously wrong)

I have another friend whos birthday is also 9-11, hard day to forget.

Vicki-

Where in B'ham is the car show going to be? The reason I ask is that if you get the opportunity and haven't yet been, Barber Motorsports Park has a museum with the largest collection of motorcycles in the U.S. and a huge number of British and other competition cars...Lots of Lotus cars. If you have the time, it's worth the drive.

TMc

Terry--I'm not sure where the show is, but I'll ask Dave. Seems like he said there is an autocross on Sunday. Lots of Lotuses I think he said. When I find out I'll get back.

LJ--I'm going to bug those guys at the body shop until it's done. The only problem seemed to be a separate under-piece that they are going to have to glass onto the clip. The wheel-wells were attached, but not this other piece. I hope to have pictures of their putting it back together. v

See the picture. Spydie is getting fixed finally. I think the car next to mine is that $300,000 Bentley owned by the Titans player. (They squeeked out a win this weekend againt Buffalo, if anyone is interested or has fantasy teams going into the draft.)

Anyway, TMc--the car show and autocross are at the Barber track and parking lot. Dan Guerney is going to be there. Dave said he used to drive for Carroll Shelby. Why don't you come over? We'll probably stay in Birmingham and drive over. Let's meet! v

Vicki -

I'm headed to the beach that weekend so won't be attending. My son lives within a few miles of the Barber Complex and will probably be over there.

You spoke of Dan Gurney...One of my favorite photos of him is one done by Jesse Alexander at Le Mans. Gurney is in a Cobra Coupe going down the Mulsaine straight. Has one hand up shielding his eyes from the sun...You can see his leather driving gloves and Rolex...Cotton shirt...No NOMEX or anything like that...An awesome photo.

Alexander also did a few Sypder photos...You can see them at www.jessealexander.com

TMc

TMc--here's the Lotus schedule if your son is interested. Most everyone is staying at the Wynfrey. We'll be staying in town.
www.lotuscarclub.org/LOG/LOG24/schedule.html
v v

A couple more pictures. It will be finished by end of next week. I hope. v

Woohoo! I'm glad you're almost back with your Spyder.

A few more pictures I got Friday. v

Vicki,

I like the title of the first photo above.

Hi Vicki:

Nice to see that there is progress on your 550 repair. I am gladf you are okay. I told my wife that we would come up to visit Nashville once you get the car back on the road, she said okay. I will let you know within the next month or so.

Juan

Juan--come down anytime. We'll go for a cruise. Bring your Cobra!

I think the car will be ready soon. The paint had to be slightly tweaked I suppose because the other undamaged part of the car is over 6 months old and has been exposed to weather and frequent dry wash. See pix. v

A cruise around the Nashville area sounds like a plan. If you could map out a route maybe you in your 550 and your boyfriend in his Cobra and us in ours could be fun. All I would need is a place where we could leave our car overnight if we end up staying at a hotel overnight.

Let me know when you get your car back okay?

Juan

It might happen today! See pix from this morning. v