Clemson Sports Car Club

So I was driving home this afternoon from Road Atlanta on 85, riding beside a truck on the left, when suddenly something hit my car. Something big and something going much slower than 70mph. I think that a retread came off the trailer or was thrown up in the air as the trailer ran over it, but as you can see, whatever it was did a lot of damage for rubber. Also, there's no rubber marks anywhere that I saw. Either way, I'm ok and the car's at a shop in Spartanburg (this happened in Gaffney) and my insurance will cover it. When my mom picked me up we drove back by where it happened and all's I saw was retread; anyone think a piece of rubber could do this much damage?

Looking at the second picture, and noting no rubber marks. no way in hell a piece of retread did that. Was it a flat bead or enclosed truck?

So you didn't get a glimpse of what it was? Maybe a strap or chain from a trailer, looks like it was hit with something long.

I saw a black shape the instant before it hit. Not enough time to identify it. Those a-pillars are pretty massive; they blocked the view of whatever it was.

And it definitely wasn't a flatbed.

that sucks!
whatever did that was metal for sure.

repairing an a-pillar can't be fun.

(08-09-2010 08:25 PM)dave99rt Wrote: [ -> ]repairing an a-pillar can't be fun.

Is it even possible? I was under the impression that damage like that basically totals the vehicle due to the extreme expense to repair.

I don't have firsthand experience in this, just what I've heard.

Sorry this happened but glad it hit the A-pillar and not the windshield (I imagine it would have easily gone through the glass and toward you).

Yeah, that thing is totalled.

Scorke

I'm afraid it might be. The guy from the repair shop left a message saying to call back, that he had an estimate, before my mom and I even got home. :/

doing an estimate for body damage like that takes about 1-2 minutes.

So, the guy told me that he could cut that piece out and replace it and that it didn't look like there was any damage to the unibody underneath. The cost he gave me was about 15% of the KBB value, so unless they find more damage there's no way it's going to be totaled. My question is, does it sound safe to just cut that out and replace it with something? I have no idea what he'd replace it with, besides a chunk cut out of another body panel.

thats a structural member of the car. Take it elsewhere. There is no way in hell you should accept them cutting into the structural cage of the car as feasible.

also retreads weigh 30+ lbs, if your moving at 70 mph thats a LOT of force.

That's what I was thinking as well, Luke, but the guy I talked to said that it's a separate panel and that he doesn't think there's any damage to the unibody underneath. Everything I've found about the shop (Image Collision Repair in Spartanburg) says that it's a great place.

They might be replacing the fascia panel - the actual structure and strength is the several layers of metal underneath

a second opinion never hurts though

Yeah that looks pretty rough. I would get another estimate, can you still drive the car?

well image collision repair is a good shop, but id get a second opinion on that. talk to another shop or possibly someone at a honda dealer (one of the service techs.. they usually at least would know if it is a separate pannel) we had out civic repair there though when my dad backed it into the boat and they did a great job, but then again thats not repairing a c-pillar. we were referred there by our family mechanic though

oh, and when you go to get your car, makesure to stop by thai taste just down the street, its freakin awesome.
id say get the meat combination fried rice... you'll be in heaven