Would evidence of prior bodywork/paintwork

[JulesMaximus]

I'm curious on this because I've been watching those auto shows on HDNet lately and they all seem to look for prior paintwork as a reason to pass on buying a used car.

I was just thinking of this while detailing my own car recently. Upon close inspection you can tell that the front and rear driver's side doors have been repainted.

Here is the conveyance in question

There were actually two incidents with this car involving body repair. The first was a douche in a lifted truck backing into my wife in this car in a parking lot. He damaged the driver's door and the driver's side rear door...said he didn't see her as he was backing out. His insurance paid for the repairs as well as a rental car. Damage was minor and it took less than a week to fix.

Next time my wife backed out of our driveway and scraped the bumper of a neighbor's car. She happened to damage the same doors again and this time both door skins were replaced and repainted. Our insurance paid for this, the neighbor's car was undamaged and the car was parked so they weren't even involved other than much apologizing on behalf of my wife.

You can tell there was body work on this car upon close inspection of those doors but otherwise the rest of the car is original.

 

[zerocool84]

Well I wouldn't say people would pass on it. If it's mechanically sound and been in some accidents and it's a good price, then I'm sure people will look to buy it but of course, if it's a good price.

 

[CRXican]

Door skins aren't so bad but anything front or rear is usually worse but yes I would pass.

Like you said, you can tell. I'm a car freak and if you can tell I can tell and I don't want your beat up ride.

 

[Jumpem]

Absolutely. There are always body damage free versions of the car.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: CRXican
Door skins aren't so bad but anything front or rear is usually worse but yes I would pass.

Like you said, you can tell. I'm a car freak and if you can tell I can tell and I don't want your beat up ride.

It's a 2003 Nissan Maxima SE. It has 76,000 miles on it, it has never been modded, all the maintenance records are there, and I'm the original owner.

BTW-I'm not selling it. 😛

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: CRXican
Door skins aren't so bad but anything front or rear is usually worse but yes I would pass.

Like you said, you can tell. I'm a car freak and if you can tell I can tell and I don't want your beat up ride.

Nopes you can't sometimes. My Mazda6 got hit on the passenger door and the body shop did such a good job that no matter how much I tried, I couldn't tell the difference. No one else could either.

 

[Sluggo]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
The first was a douche in a lifted truck backing into my wife in this car in a parking lot. He damaged the driver's door and the driver's side rear door...said he didn't see her as he was backing out.

Next time my wife backed out of our driveway and scraped the bumper of a neighbor's car. She happened to damage the same doors again and this time both door skins were replaced and repainted. Our insurance paid for this, the neighbor's car was undamaged and the car was parked so they weren't even involved other than much apologizing on behalf of my wife.

I wonder if the neighbors had similar disparaging remarks about the person who backed into their car as you had about the person who backed into yours.

 

[KentState]

That's the one nice thing about Georgia. You can file a diminished value claim if your car is in an accident to protect you when you go to sell it. My car was rear ended and I'm expecting to get around $5k to make up for when I go to sell it.

 

[herm0016]

depends on the car and damage, but if they wont admit to it when asked its a red flag. also, you should investigate further to see how significant the damage was/is

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Sluggo

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
The first was a douche in a lifted truck backing into my wife in this car in a parking lot. He damaged the driver's door and the driver's side rear door...said he didn't see her as he was backing out.

Next time my wife backed out of our driveway and scraped the bumper of a neighbor's car. She happened to damage the same doors again and this time both door skins were replaced and repainted. Our insurance paid for this, the neighbor's car was undamaged and the car was parked so they weren't even involved other than much apologizing on behalf of my wife.

I wonder if the neighbors had similar disparaging remarks about the person who backed into their car as you had about the person who backed into yours.

I already know the answer to your question, they didn't, because there was no damage to their car...or maybe you didn't read that part. Oh, and I actually know my neighbors and I like them and they like me, unlike the douche who backed into my car because he couldn't see anything within 20' of his truck as he looked out the rear window.

 

[thedarkwolf]

My miata was creased down the passenger side at some point. A new front fender, door, and some paint and you can't tell. Its when there has been frame damage that I care. A body panel doesn't hurt anything.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Here's a better pic.

 

[herm0016]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

I already know the answer to your question, they didn't, because there was no damage to their car...or maybe you didn't read that part. Oh, and I actually know my neighbors and I like them and they like me, unlike the douche who backed into my car because he couldn't see anything within 20' of his truck as he looked out the rear window.

you blame the truck and not the driver? really???? a good driver is a good driver, no matter the vehicle. same with a bad driver.

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I'm curious on this because I've been watching those auto shows on HDNet lately and they all seem to look for prior paintwork as a reason to pass on buying a used car.

Of course the shows on HDNet are highlighting collector cars, and collectors tend to want all-original collectible cars. 2003 Maxima SE's need not apply 😉

To answer your question, "it depends". If the seller was up front about it, and it was minor body damage, it wouldn't bother me much. If they were shady and said it was never in an accident, then I'd pass.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: herm0016

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

I already know the answer to your question, they didn't, because there was no damage to their car...or maybe you didn't read that part. Oh, and I actually know my neighbors and I like them and they like me, unlike the douche who backed into my car because he couldn't see anything within 20' of his truck as he looked out the rear window.

you blame the truck and not the driver? really???? a good driver is a good driver, no matter the vehicle. same with a bad driver.

No, not really. I didn't call the truck a douche, I was called the driver a douche. The truck was part of the problem though, the guy couldn't see her because his truck was lifted...at least that's what he stated after he backed into her.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: SearchMaster

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I'm curious on this because I've been watching those auto shows on HDNet lately and they all seem to look for prior paintwork as a reason to pass on buying a used car.

Of course the shows on HDNet are highlighting collector cars, and collectors tend to want all-original collectible cars. 2003 Maxima SE's need not apply 😉

To answer your question, "it depends". If the seller was up front about it, and it was minor body damage, it wouldn't bother me much. If they were shady and said it was never in an accident, then I'd pass.

No, I've been watching shows like Wheeler Dealer. They focus on everyday cars (in the UK of course). It's a kind of interesting show because they take older cars that were somewhat interesting like an older MR2 or a Porsche 944 or an Alfa Romeo, spend a little money and a lot of labor on refreshening it and then sell it for a small profit.

They sometimes do a segment called spot the lemon where they take ordinary people and see if they can spot a lemon (this is the segment where they look for previous accident damage on a vehicle that looks like it might be a good deal).

 

[lastig21]

The car would have to be at a SIGNIFICANT discount for me to consider it, and I would still have it inspected. I trade cars in more often then I should, and have dealt with the hassle of explaining new paint at trade-in time.

Like was posted earlier, there are plenty of cars with no body work. No reason to worry with one that has.

 

[Mojoed]

I don't care at all as long as it's been repaired properly. I have never been burned by buying a car which had accident damage repaired. I seem to be in the minority though, and I am a car noob! Why wouldn't anyone want to buy a repaired car if it was done properly? New parts are better than old un-wrecked parts, right? Serious question.

 

[halik]

Yes,
previous body work lowers resale value, so if the seller isn't willing to drop the price once you find out it had body work done, walk away.


My current car has high end respray after someone backed into one of the doors. No problems with it, but the price reflected it.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: CRXican
Door skins aren't so bad but anything front or rear is usually worse but yes I would pass.

Like you said, you can tell. I'm a car freak and if you can tell I can tell and I don't want your beat up ride.

Nopes you can't sometimes. My Mazda6 got hit on the passenger door and the body shop did such a good job that no matter how much I tried, I couldn't tell the difference. No one else could either.

Wrong-o. Paint thickness gauge will tell you right away.

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: CRXican
Door skins aren't so bad but anything front or rear is usually worse but yes I would pass.

Like you said, you can tell. I'm a car freak and if you can tell I can tell and I don't want your beat up ride.

Nopes you can't sometimes. My Mazda6 got hit on the passenger door and the body shop did such a good job that no matter how much I tried, I couldn't tell the difference. No one else could either.

Wrong-o. Paint thickness gauge will tell you right away.

Well I'm sure a microscope would tell you right away too but how would you know where to look?