Advice on what to do (bodyshop)

[AndyC]

Update February 8th 2023

Not a lot of progress in my opinion anyway. I got sent some pictures today that to me looks like 20 minutes of work has been done in 4 weeks. (since the last photos above of the sills, post number 116)

From these latest pictures it looks to me like all he has done in 4 weeks is offer up the new sill and put some tack welds on to hold it in place. Passenger side sill is cut off but new one not put on yet.

Being held hostage to this guys horrifically slow pace is absolute torture. 16 months and counting.

 

[BazGF8]

Bit more than 20mins work but I agree you’d expect more than that done I’m that time frame

 

[ben1973]

It's getting there.... I know that it's slow and frustrating Andy, but eyes on the prize Andy- you'll have your beautiful car done and back on the road soon.
Deep breaths..
Deep,deep breaths.

 

[AndyC]

Update March 6th 2023

Both sills are done and in primer. The next step is moving on to general bodywork, a few tiny rust spots, stone guard the underneath then the re-spray.
It's getting there but extremely slowly.

 

[KENC]

Hopefully he remembers to drill the holes in cills for side skirts

 

[BazGF8]

Hopefully he remembers to drill the holes in cills for side skirts

Aye I agree

 

[AndyC]

Hopefully he remembers to drill the holes in cills for side skirts

The L'aunsport WRC side skirts I have don't use the same mounting points as the OEM skirts so I told him not to drill out the factory holes to prevent the new sills from rotting. The factory holes were left open when the L'aunsport skirts were fitted which contributed to the sills rusting because water got in.

Anyway, this is what I'm dealing with since January...

January 21st WhatsApp message asking for update on car
NO REPLY

January 30th WhatsApp message asking for update on car
NO REPLY

February 3rd WhatsApp message asking for any pictures of progress made
NO REPLY

Message from Feb 3rd only read on Feb 7th although last active time shows WhatsApp activity each day (deliberately ignoring my messages?)

February 7th reply was "one of the lads was sick but we're working on it right now. I'll message you when finished"

February 8th sent pictures as per post number 121 above.

February 28th WhatsApp message asking if sills were finished
NO REPLY

March 6th because I had no reply I dropped to the garage (90 minute round trip) and noticed the sills were finished. He wasn't there himself so later that day I sent a WhatsApp message asking what is the next step in the process
NO REPLY

March 10th WhatsApp message again asking what is the next step in the process and what is he moving onto next on the car
NO REPLY and as of today March 13th this message is still unread although last active on WhatsApp today.

Again maybe I'm expecting too much but to me this is a disgraceful way to treat a customer.

(sorry for the long post where I complain but I'm documenting all this incase I go legal)

 

[KevinCork]

The L'aunsport WRC side skirts I have don't use the same mounting points as the OEM skirts so I told him not to drill out the factory holes to prevent the new sills from rotting. The factory holes were left open when the L'aunsport skirts were fitted which contributed to the sills rusting because water got in.















Anyway, this is what I'm dealing with since January...















January 21st WhatsApp message asking for update on car







NO REPLY















January 30th WhatsApp message asking for update on car







NO REPLY















February 3rd WhatsApp message asking for any pictures of progress made







NO REPLY















Message from Feb 3rd only read on Feb 7th although last active time shows WhatsApp activity each day (deliberately ignoring my messages?)















February 7th reply was "one of the lads was sick but we're working on it right now. I'll message you when finished"















February 8th sent pictures as per post number 121 above.















February 28th WhatsApp message asking if sills were finished







NO REPLY















March 6th because I had no reply I dropped to the garage (90 minute round trip) and noticed the sills were finished. He wasn't there himself so later that day I sent a WhatsApp message asking what is the next step in the process







NO REPLY















March 10th WhatsApp message again asking what is the next step in the process and what is he moving onto next on the car







NO REPLY and as of today March 13th this message is still unread although last active on WhatsApp today.














Again maybe I'm expecting too much but to me this is a disgraceful way to treat a customer.















(sorry for the long post where I complain 'm documenting all this incase I go legal)







He's a disgrace Andy I wonder would he like to be treated this way himself

 

[AndyC]

Update April 4th. I got sent some pictures today of latest progress.

We are getting there, slowly but surely. However there are a few snags i.e. rust 1) top left corner of boot opening picture 7 and 2) very bottom rear left panel behind the rear bumper, picture 4

I can't help but wonder if he hadn't of let my car sit out the back of his yard for 10 months would this rust be as bad.

 

[scoobysub]

Would advise checking under the rear screen as it’s very common for them to go there and not be seen .
It can be inspected with the glass still in place . In the boot the cross member under the screen has holes in it so have it inspected

 

[BazGF8]

I wouldn’t be quick to say it was his fault as the car was outside before this project started ,Very common to rust there and looks minimal to be fair , don’t be worried to much about it just get him to put new metal in

 

[scoobysub]

It’s common to go under the boot rubber where the metal meets and is joined and it’s usually a lot worse so it’s very isolated

 

[clodex]

It’s common to go under the boot rubber where the metal meets and is joined and it’s usually a lot worse so it’s very isolated

Can confirm, my 02 WRX had the same problem, just in more spots

 

[KENC]

One positive thing to come out of all this Andy is you won’t have a load of lads annoying you with messages looking for his number

 

[KevinCork]

One positive thing to come out of all this Andy is you won’t have a load of lads annoying you with messages looking for his number

 

[AndyC]

One positive thing to come out of all this Andy is you won’t have a load of lads annoying you with messages looking for his number

HAHA definitely.

 

[Adam-r]

I reckon the guy knew how much work was in that car. And like any good man, was reluctant to get stuck in until he was ready to go all in on it.

It's a heap of work, a bad crash repair with a mini restoration on top with rust repair on a Subaru Impreza STI.
So it also has to look good, perform well at high speeds and last a long time as they are expensive these days....it sucks to take so long but at least he has the longer evenings now to tip away at it.

It's coming on nicely

 

[AndyC]

Very true Adam. I'm happy with the work that has been done so far. It's just been very very slow and I never expected my car to still be there 18 months later. But the main thing is, and I stressed this to the guy right from the very beginning, it has to be done right with no shortcuts and no expense spared.
He has a MK2 Escort thats been there 2 years already and a MK2 Golf thats been there 4 years!

I'll be dropping up to the bodyshop later this week so hopefully more progress pictures later this week.

 

[AndyC]

UPDATE APRIL 28th

1) Bonnet, boot lid, both doors, both wings are in primer.
2) Rear window removed thankfully intact. That was a huge relief. However thats where the pesky rust is (picture 1)

Next jobs
1) prep and primer the Spoiler, bonnet vents, side skirts front bumper and rear bumper.
2) primer rest of car once rust areas cut out and new panels welded in.

 

[BazGF8]

That’s the job