Would you buy a brand new car that had repaired hail damage?

LeeH · 02-23-2011, 07:34 AM

Thinking about getting a new Mazda3 to replace my wife's 2004. Found one that is exactly what she wants, but it had hail damage a few weeks ago. Sticker on the car is just under $20K. I can buy it for $14,900. After taxes & fees it right at $17K out the door.

Unfortunately it's about an hour away from me, so it's not just a quick trip to take a look. Sales guy says he can't see any signs the car ever had damage. Anybody here have any experience with hail damaged cars? Supposedly the repair won't appear on a Carfax in the future.

sc_rufctr · 02-23-2011, 07:40 AM

That is a significant saving but as you know hail damage is often a reason a car is written off by the insurance companies.

The fact that this car wasn't written off and instead repaired probably means the hail damage was only slight or limited to one area of the car.
And if it's been repaired properly then it shouldn't be any different to a factory fresh paint job.

I would go for it. Hey why not?

Check with the dealer because it may come with a 10 year paint warranty from the repairer anyway.

BeyGon · 02-23-2011, 07:40 AM

It's just a driver, I would do it, not if it was a Porsche or something nice though.

stomachmonkey · 02-23-2011, 07:42 AM

Mythbusters proved a dimpled car gets better gas mileage.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Nope. The paint will fail in short order. Probably has bondo up the ying-yang too. Forget it. Pass.

LeeH · 02-23-2011, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Nope. The paint will fail in short order. Probably has bondo up the ying-yang too. Forget it. Pass.

It was all done with paintless dent removal.

stomachmonkey · 02-23-2011, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeH

It was all done with paintless dent removal.

My brother has a paintless guy who has kept Moms Spyder pristine.

What these guys can do is amazing.

HarryD · 02-23-2011, 08:08 AM

If I could verify it was done by a Paintless guy or they cut the dimpled parts and glued new factory ones in (ala factory assembly methods), I would not worry. I would want to be sure the title is not "branded" as well.

Last winter, I met a guy from Oklahoma who was visiting. He did aPaintless dent removal. I asked him why they were hard to find in the NW. He told me that there is not enough "volume" business here like there is in tornado/hurricane alley. He would like to move here, but their Bread and Butter business is storm damage repairs.

JJ 911SC · JJ 911SC's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeH

... Supposedly the repair won't appear on a Carfax in the future.

I would not bet on that...

North Coast Cab · North Coast Cab's Garage

If it was a dentless repair I would buy it.
My entire town had major hail damage last fall. My truck along with a bunch of other cars all had the repair done by a dent repair specialist. Allstate actually brought in two specialists to work at their company owned shpe for six weeks. $3800 and my truck has never looked better.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeH

It was all done with paintless dent removal.

Most dealers use paintless, its much quicker and cheaper...

If they are willing to price it accordingly, I'd buy it no doubt...

Tim Hancock · 02-23-2011, 08:22 AM

I would wonder if any interior panel connectors or seals were damaged if removed to gain access to the back side of the panels. Living up north where road salt is used, I would also wonder if the back side of panels received any scratches from the tools used to rub the dents out from the back side. Would not worry if it was just a used car to begin with, but on a new car, I would worry about it starting to rust earlier than it normally would.

Not saying not to buy it... just stating what some of my concerns might be.

stomachmonkey · 02-23-2011, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

I would wonder if any interior panel connectors or seals were damaged if removed to gain access to the back side of the panels. Living up north where road salt is used, I would also wonder if the back side of panels received any scratches from the tools used to rub the dents out from the back side. Would not worry if it was just a used car to begin with, but on a new car, I would worry about it starting to rust earlier than it normally would.

Not saying not to buy it... just stating what some of my concerns might be.

Not sure I'd worry too much about that.

You ever see the sheet metal on these things?

It's so thin and soft you could probably pop a dent out from the backside with just your thumb.

Dantilla · 02-23-2011, 08:41 AM

For a 25% discount, I'd jump on it.

Is the $14,900 price negotiable any further?

kaisen · 02-23-2011, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeH

Thinking about getting a new Mazda3 to replace my wife's 2004. Found one that is exactly what she wants, but it had hail damage a few weeks ago. Sticker on the car is just under $20K. I can buy it for $14,900. After taxes & fees it right at $17K out the door.

Unfortunately it's about an hour away from me, so it's not just a quick trip to take a look. Sales guy says he can't see any signs the car ever had damage. Anybody here have any experience with hail damaged cars? Supposedly the repair won't appear on a Carfax in the future.

I've had more experience than I care to remember. I've had several hundred (thousands?) of new and used cars damaged by hail and repaired. You can typically save $1000 to $2000 over a non-damaged unit, and you can very rarely tell that they were previously damaged. Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) is a godsend. The guys that chase hail and fix entire dealerships worth of inventory are incredibly experienced. They're magicians. I wouldn't worry about it. There's no CarFax or title stamp. Just save money, don't worry, be happy, and move on.

onlycafe · 02-23-2011, 11:14 AM

be certain about the warrenty/title.
then offer them 15k out the door.

LeeH · 02-23-2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlycafe

be certain about the warrenty/title.
then offer them 15k out the door.

I'll probably run it up to the dealer on Friday and take a look at this car. Any negotiations will likely be on what they'll give on trade for her '04. I usually sell cars myself, but if they will put a reasonable figure on the trade I'll probably trade and go forward with the deal.

ODDJOB UNO · ODDJOB UNO's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeH

It was all done with paintless dent removal.

lee zillions got nailed here earlier this year. 1800 high buck cars at penske alone! let alone take a drive down frank lloyd wright and those dealers.

buddies neighbor does the dent removals. he picked up some such 8 series beemer for dirt cheap brand new. took all the dents out and flipped it and made bucks.

why the hell not?

Joeaksa · 02-25-2011, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Nope. The paint will fail in short order. Probably has bondo up the ying-yang too. Forget it. Pass.

If the paint was not really old, then the chances of its failing are not very high. Friend of mine does paintless dent removal and he guarantee's his work and paint's quality for two years.

Joeaksa · 02-25-2011, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaisen

There's no CarFax or title stamp. Just save money, don't worry, be happy, and move on.

Yes and no. My pickup was totaled by Farmers in the same hail storm that Lee is talking about. Arizona makes you get a salvage title when doing so. If you do not take it in for a inspection ($50) at the DMV once you get the salvage title it cannot be driven again.

The truck now has a "salvage/repaired" title on it and I could care less. With the cash they gave me for the truck its already halfway repaired and am happy with it.