I live in South Florida in the palm beach county area. I'm considering taking my car to a body shop for some work but I have never had a prior experience at a body shop and don't want to get taken for a "ride", if you know what I mean .

Please keep in mind that I only want the body work done, NO PAINT.

Apparently the previous owners wife backed into the rear quarter panel with her SUV. It pushed the rear down a small bit and bowed it outwards, and it is starting to rust.





This is just a comparison of the other side. As you can see the left side above the rear tail light is pushed down and bends outward. Another home fix or one for the pros?



This is just a small door ding in the left side rear door. Can I fix it myself? or should I leave it to an expert?







Anyone have experience with body work repairs? If so, can you provide a ball park estimate of how much this could cost me (WITHOUT PAINT)? I would greatly appreciate it. Please keep in mind that I am looking for an estimate only to fix the dents/rust. NO PAINTING

EDIT: Just found fenders on ebay for 80$ a piece, 160$ for left and right fenders brand new fenders sounds better than paying someone to repair rusty old ones right?

 

I'd try and take it to a place if you can get it paid for, since you have so much going on. Just one thing: Keep an eye on your car when you're there, even if you have to sit outside the garage. I had my car in and the moron who drove it back to the waiting area (they wouldn't let me drive it out of the garage) sat there playing with the gears while I was looking at him. Apparently he didn't realize that I was the owner. I went and told him to get the fu@* out of my car.

 

$1200-$1600.00 bring it to a pro.

Not trying to be an *** but it's not worth it, you have an 02 lancer the money you spend you won't get it back.

 

No "***" taken, is that estimate with paint or without?

I really like my lancer, I think the body on it looks the best of all the lancers models, and I have some major plans for it. It's definitely worth it to me, especially because I cannot afford a beautiful evo.

Anyone here who doesn't have lots of money and a fine *** evo please help. I need some advice from someone with smaller pockets apparently.

BTW -
^ very useful post right here.

Oh yea and one more thing, I don't want a shop to paint the car, just repair the body work. I am going to do all the painting myself after all dents and rust is repaired.

EDIT: Just found fenders on ebay for 80$ a piece, 160$ for left and right fenders brand new fenders sounds better than paying someone to repair rusty old ones right?

 

with paint
GL

 

So how much do you think it would cost to fix the rear quarter panel by the tail light and the minor door ding in the rear left passenger door, without paint of course ?

 

why don't u bring it to a body shop for body labor estimate only? It's free.

 

+1^

Take an afternoon and setup some times with a few local shops and get quotes.