Chips Away or Body Shop?

[icarlisle]

Hello all,

I can't find the right GT at the right price so I've decided to keep my 156 a bit longer and spend some money on some TLC for it.

One thing I'd like to do is get all the stone chips, vandal scratches, car park dings etc tidied up, but am not sure whether it would be best (and cheapest) to use a mobile Chips Away type company or a full body shop.

Anyone done this and can let me have some info?

Cheers,
Ian

[zulu ferret]

Depends on the depth of the damage, and whether the metal is stretched or not. They are pretty cool with some of their repairs.: Needs a good well trained operator to effect a decent repair, and he should be able to assess if it is beyond a cosmetic, relatively, easy fix.:

[AlfaLincs]

I think that chips away will come and give you a no obligation estimate..but I'd check with them. I suppose it depends on how many scratches and dings you have. Bear in mind that their repair is a chip by chip repair, whereas a body shop will want to do an area respray.

In differing situations I can imagine either being more suitable, so get some quotes I'd say, then give it some thought.

AlfaLincs

[icarlisle]

Originally Posted by AlfaLincs

I think that chips away will come and give you a no obligation estimate..but I'd check with them. I suppose it depends on how many scratches and dings you have. Bear in mind that their repair is a chip by chip repair, whereas a body shop will want to do an area respray.

In differing situations I can imagine either being more suitable, so get some quotes I'd say, then give it some thought.

AlfaLincs

Thanks both. I'll try Chips Away and bodyshops and see who works out best. I emailed a firm called Colourfix in York last week, but they haven't replied, so I don't think I'll bother with them!

Ian

[GTS]

Can't recommend Chips away highly enough. My local one gave me a no obligation estimate and then did a superb ( and reasonable ) job fixing a few odd sratches and scrapes on my GT.

I suppose the only problem might be is that they are a franchise operation so there might be some variation in quality between different franchisees. But to be fair, I can't recall ever hearing any criticism of them on any forum etc.

[vish]

Hi GTS. Could you give me the number of the guy who did the work on your car? I need a couple of small dents taken out, and would like to get a quote.

Cheers

I've had a lot of stone chips done by a Chips Away equivalent (actually a small body shop) and am about to have the bonnet and two front wings resprayed to get rid of all the stone chips (of which there are lots). The company that does all my small paint and dent reapirs said that for anything like an area respray (you'd need that to remove lots of chips on a bonnet for example), it's best to use a body shop. Cost of a complete front end respray on my 156 GTA will be about 700 quid.

Cheers,

Nigel

[GTS]

Yes I can, but I haven't got his card with me here at work and I won't be back online till monday, but i'll try to rememer to post then.

[Alfie GTV]

Depends on the colour.I had two scuffs on each side of by bumper (black).Been there since i had the car.A quick clean of the area, flat back with a bit of wet & dry.Once smooth i scotched the area pencil'ed on some base paint then covered with 2k clearcoat,followed by a bit of fade out thinner.Took all of 10 min to spray.Left it for 24h then a quick flat with 2000 W&D and a polish, it was as good as new Some companys like chip's away will do smart repairs like this.You can do it with Red as long as the paint has'nt faded too much.If it's silver take it to the bodyshopIf lot's of stone chips it will be panel spray and poss surrounding area depending on colour.