The first follow-up to my "OMG - Dealer Wrecked My '04" thread.
After 9 long weeks, the repairs to the 2004 were completed as of Friday. I picked the car up after work (actually cut out half an hour early).
As I'd feared, the car is now two different colors... I'm not sure what method the shop used to match the paint, but it looks like one of those color matching systems. From a specific angle and on flat surfaces, it's ok - anywhere else, it's noticably different and has lost the "pearl" effect in the OEM finish. It's really obvious on the quarter panel, where they painted the new piece but just swapped the vent. There's also more orange peel in the refinished panels.
However, the car runs and drives EXACTLY as it did when I dropped it off. There was no suspension or frame damage, and it even got four new tires and an alignment. Rock solid and stable, no shakes/wobbles/etc... an absolute blast to drive. After driving the Wrangler for the past couple of months (that has the aerodynamics of a wall and the power of a golf cart), it was pure bliss to be behind the wheel of my little supercharged exotic.
If we were keeping the car, I'd be up in arms. But... we're not! We're just biding time with it till the new one arrives within the next 8 weeks. While it may be two-tone, I'm going to enjoy every little mile until the arrival of the '05.
Ryan
After 9 long weeks, the repairs to the 2004 were completed as of Friday. I picked the car up after work (actually cut out half an hour early).
As I'd feared, the car is now two different colors... I'm not sure what method the shop used to match the paint, but it looks like one of those color matching systems. From a specific angle and on flat surfaces, it's ok - anywhere else, it's noticably different and has lost the "pearl" effect in the OEM finish. It's really obvious on the quarter panel, where they painted the new piece but just swapped the vent. There's also more orange peel in the refinished panels.
However, the car runs and drives EXACTLY as it did when I dropped it off. There was no suspension or frame damage, and it even got four new tires and an alignment. Rock solid and stable, no shakes/wobbles/etc... an absolute blast to drive. After driving the Wrangler for the past couple of months (that has the aerodynamics of a wall and the power of a golf cart), it was pure bliss to be behind the wheel of my little supercharged exotic.
If we were keeping the car, I'd be up in arms. But... we're not! We're just biding time with it till the new one arrives within the next 8 weeks. While it may be two-tone, I'm going to enjoy every little mile until the arrival of the '05.
Ryan
