Auto body guys: roof rack got ripped off of car...any idea how much replacement might cost?

[Entity]

My girlfriend just pulled into our carport, but unfortunately forgot to take the bike off of the Yakima rack before doing so. The pressure from hitting the roof busted up the bike pretty bad, and ripped the rack off of the Subaru - not just the Yakima rack, but also the rack that was on top of the car. I unfortunately don't have much of an idea for how the rack attaches to the car, etc. Does anyone have any idea for what we're looking at for a repair cost? I'll call insurance if it's well over $500, but otherwise it's probably easier just to have it fixed...

The car is a 1997 Subaru Outback Wagon, if it helps. I know this can't be that uncommon, because I've actually watched a few customers when I used to work at REI do the same thing. Oops.

Any sincere help would be, as always, much appreciated.

thanks,
Rob

 

[Blieb]

I would think the rack just slides into some rails on the roof.

Check it out in the daylight ...

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: Blieb
I would think the rack just slides into some rails on the roof.

Check it out in the daylight ...

The rails (on the right and left sides) broke.

Rob

 

[Viper GTS]

I hope it wasn't an expensive bike, I'd cry if that happened to even my low end i-Drive.

While I couldn't give an estimate on the car repairs, I'd bet money it will be over $500. You can accomplish $500 in damage with a runaway shopping cart, let alone ripping a bike rack off the roof.

Viper GTS

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
I hope it wasn't an expensive bike, I'd cry if that happened to even my low end i-Drive.

While I couldn't give an estimate on the car repairs, I'd bet money it will be over $500. You can accomplish $500 in damage with a runaway shopping cart, let alone ripping a bike rack off the roof.

Viper GTS

It was a Kona Jake the Snake. It's ok, because it's repairable - will need a new fork and possibly stem, as well as handlebars, but it'll most likely be around $200-300, which isn't horrible. It's the car damage that has me actually concerned; I'm not sure whether or not we should contact insurance.

Rob

 

[Entity]

Bump for hopefulness. The first estimate (a roof rack shop) said $650, but they made it sound like those were "high quality" parts. What about standard manufactured stuff?

Rob

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Did you say whether or not you have insurance?


I hope you do.... I would think this could be either a auto or an home owners/renters claim.



I suspect this happens quite often. My dad did it once while back with his touring bikes on his mini-van.

 

[Entity]

Have auto insurance (of course) which will cover the damage to the car, if necessary. $500 deductible, though, so it may be smarter just to pay it in cash. Just wondering...guess I'll have to give a body shop a call tomorrow.

thanks,
Rob

 

[thomsbrain]

if the rails for the yakima rack are still good, i'd just say screw the factory rack.

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
if the rails for the yakima rack are still good, i'd just say screw the factory rack.

The rails are actually physicall attached to the car, though. Not sure if I can really explain it...

http://www.4wdonline.com/Subaru/Outback/PiCs37/200108-Out.jpg

See the rails on the outsides of it? Those are what tore off. The Yakimas had crossbars which attached to those, so I still need the rails for the Yakima.

Rob

 

[AlienCraft]

Dude , I think you may hate it. If it mounts like my FOCUS does, there will be holes where the fasteners pulled through. That can't be cheap to repair right.

 

[Entity]

Taking it in to Maaco today. We'll see.

Rob

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft
Dude , I think you may hate it. If it mounts like my FOCUS does, there will be holes where the fasteners pulled through. That can't be cheap to repair right.

If it's super expensive, we'll just have insurance pay for it. They said it'd be covered, if we need to.

Rob

 

[MichaelD]

I read this thread yesterday, but didn't have anything useful to add to what's already been said.

That just sucks, Rob. I doubt it's gonna be cheap to repair CORRECTLY, unfortunately. The car is only 5 years old...I'd assume you want it back "the way it was" , right?

Good luck man.

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
I read this thread yesterday, but didn't have anything useful to add to what's already been said.

That just sucks, Rob. I doubt it's gonna be cheap to repair CORRECTLY, unfortunately. The car is only 5 years old...I'd assume you want it back "the way it was" , right?

Good luck man.

Thanks, Michael.

I'm just hoping that if we have to have insurance pay for it, they won't jack our rates up as a result. I've got six years driving with no tickets and no accidents (though one car did get stolen), and Kate has seven years driving; this, if it has to be reported, will be her only accident or ticket.

I guess everyone has an accident sometime; it was just our time. Our car looks bald without the snowboard and bike racks on it right now, though.

Rob

 

[Entity]

Bump for more advice. I've contacted a few body shops and one rack shop with no luck; each of them said they didn't do that type of repair. The same goes for the dealer.

Rob

 

[flot]

Dude, that sucks. But look on the bright side, maybe you've been looking for a new girlfriend anyway! ;-)

Try some car junkyards. Many (a surprising number) are networked and can search for car parts across the country. I'd say there's a decent chance you might be able to buy a used roof rack from one of them...

 

[Entity]

Bumpage again. Hitting the junkyards this week. :| Any auto body guys out there?

Rob

 

[Entity]

The rail on the left (what the Yakima is attached to) is what got broken.

Normal size version.

I'm guessing this means I need to rip the roof off to get to the part, since I don't see any way of attaching it other than from the underside.

Rob