Random Car Stuff
It pays to have a good buddy that WORKS in the car industry. Case in point: Kevin. Since he spends his days trying to break cars at NUMMI, I recruited him to help me breathe new life back into my car. (Or some other appropriately cheesy metaphor.)
I trawl craigslist pretty regularly looking for replacement bumpers in my car color. Unfortunately, Crystal Blue Metallic was only made for 99 and 00 Preludes, and it was a rare color at that. However, I DID manage to locate a ricer down in Monterey who had put a body kit on his car, and thus still had the original rear bumper. I bought that for $100, and an aftermarket front bumper for $50 (still primered). He tossed in $30 of free parts.
The weekend before last, Kevin and I sat down and pulled off my cracked rear bumper to find absolutely NO damage underneath. We slapped on the new bumper and it blended just right. There's a small fit issue, but I can live with it. If I'm rear-ended in the future I'll have it redone properly. Even at $100, I consider it an expensive reprimand on shenanigans while driving.
I'm going to put on the front bumper next weekend and test its fit. If it looks good, then I'll probably go and have the replacement part painted, and Kevin and I can install that, too. I figure it will cost about $300 for paint (ouch). So the total repair will cost $450, which is still less than our insurance deductible, and I don't have to deal with rate hikes. Plus, I can sell the extra parts. I also sold another rear bumper I had bought (in white) and made a profit. This will bring my net cost under $400.
Drive safely, kids.
Incidentally, I parked my car at my mom's house a couple of weeks ago. My parents both saw the car and...... didn't notice anything. Didn't say a word. WTF?!?! Maybe I can delay the repair a bit longer.
Oh, and when I was car-shopping on craigslist, I frequently saw car ads that were overpriced or written by total idiots. I finally got pissed off and ranted about them. My post got flagged... for Best of Craigslist! That's right, I'm an internet rock star!!! BOOYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
I trawl craigslist pretty regularly looking for replacement bumpers in my car color. Unfortunately, Crystal Blue Metallic was only made for 99 and 00 Preludes, and it was a rare color at that. However, I DID manage to locate a ricer down in Monterey who had put a body kit on his car, and thus still had the original rear bumper. I bought that for $100, and an aftermarket front bumper for $50 (still primered). He tossed in $30 of free parts.
The weekend before last, Kevin and I sat down and pulled off my cracked rear bumper to find absolutely NO damage underneath. We slapped on the new bumper and it blended just right. There's a small fit issue, but I can live with it. If I'm rear-ended in the future I'll have it redone properly. Even at $100, I consider it an expensive reprimand on shenanigans while driving.
I'm going to put on the front bumper next weekend and test its fit. If it looks good, then I'll probably go and have the replacement part painted, and Kevin and I can install that, too. I figure it will cost about $300 for paint (ouch). So the total repair will cost $450, which is still less than our insurance deductible, and I don't have to deal with rate hikes. Plus, I can sell the extra parts. I also sold another rear bumper I had bought (in white) and made a profit. This will bring my net cost under $400.
Drive safely, kids.
Incidentally, I parked my car at my mom's house a couple of weeks ago. My parents both saw the car and...... didn't notice anything. Didn't say a word. WTF?!?! Maybe I can delay the repair a bit longer.
Oh, and when I was car-shopping on craigslist, I frequently saw car ads that were overpriced or written by total idiots. I finally got pissed off and ranted about them. My post got flagged... for Best of Craigslist! That's right, I'm an internet rock star!!! BOOYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!