Car repair despair
My car has a few scrapes and dings on it that I need to take care of in the next couple of months. Does anyone know of any good auto body repair places in the SF/Bay Area that do Volkswagens? I’m looking for fair prices, good service, honesty….you know, someone that isn’t going to rip me off. Any general advice about purchasing body repair services is appreciated as well. Feel free to email me or comment in the thread. Thanks!
Reader comments
judithAug 19, 2002 at 12:18PM
selecta auto body, on 24th between castro & noe, above the noe valley garage. andy is the main guy there, but everyone is very helpful and the work is very good. 415.282.2665
rolandAug 19, 2002 at 2:52PM
call up rich pera over at daland auto body in south city. AAA approved, incredible work, and really straight up on how to do the job right. 650 588 1764. he doesn't cut corners like some of the other hacks out there.
SteveAug 19, 2002 at 3:35PM
A decent place to search for this info is Cartalk's Mechan-X-Files, although I'm sure you'll get plenty of solid responses here.
Good luck.
AdamAug 19, 2002 at 3:45PM
You could just ditch the VW and snag this elky.
KarlAug 19, 2002 at 3:55PM
I used to work for a bodyshop and my aunt and uncle own one... call the dealer and find out what kind of paint VW factories use; possibly Glassurit, which is what BMWs are painted with. Personally, I'd go with a shop that uses Glassurit, because it's probably the best no matter what.
If the shop doesn't advertise but is constantly busy, that's a pretty good indication that they're good. My aunt and unk rarely advertise anything, and they constantly turn away jobs because they're landlocked and don't have the capacity to do many of them.
AdamAug 19, 2002 at 6:53PM
Just go down to your local
TomAug 19, 2002 at 6:58PM
Just go down to your local shopko and get yourself a few cans of spray paint in whatever color you need, then stop by a gas station on your way home pick a six pack of bud. Have yourself a nice little painting. If desired invite friends, if thats the case buy more beer.
Adam Z.Aug 19, 2002 at 7:30PM
Last time I had a ding in my door, I took a chance on one of those "paintless dent repair" places, figuring I didn't have much to lose. I called Dentco (www.dentcoinc.com)--there's probably a similar outfit in your area. I was astonished. A guy drove up to my house, removed the dent in about three minutes, with my car in my own driveway, and charged me nine dollars. I'm extremely picky about such things, and I swear you would never, ever know the door was not pristine. I've been recommenting them ever since. Just something to consider, assuming the damage is not major, with "creasing."
Cory DoctorowAug 19, 2002 at 8:47PM
Try Gigler's Auto at 19th at Shotwell. I don't know anything about them, except that they're next door to the EFF and we could grab some lunch.
J. Luke SeemannAug 20, 2002 at 6:47AM
You live in the City and own a car? I always thought S.F. was one of the last precious cities in which one is better off without one. Just sayin' is all. Chicago has turned me into quite the anti-car snob.
jkottkeAug 20, 2002 at 7:24PM
You live in the City and own a car? I always thought S.F. was one of the last precious cities in which one is better off without one.
You'd think that would be the case, but it's not. San Francisco is a car city without any parking. What makes it a car city is the bad public transportation. The MUNI trains only go to half of the city, doesn't run late (you're lucky to get one past midnight), and are pretty unreliable. BART isn't that convenient within the city and doesn't even go to the airport! And I'm not even going to talk about the buses...they're like insane asylums on wheels.
Plus, to get to other places in the Bay Area (the Valley, Marin, Sonoma, etc.), a car is essential. Hiking in the warm sun is 30 minutes away by car and really possible without one.
The two biggest problems that SF needs to address in order to be a real city: public transportation and the homeless, not necessarily in that order.
MCAug 20, 2002 at 9:42PM
I saw a tv ad for something like "Ding King", a suction dealy for pulling out small dents. Always wondered if they work.
Hear a great thing on NPR about repairing instruments with the "dent erasor", a powerful magnet and steel ball. Won't work on cars, but will with aluminum. Not much help, I know.
surf mocAug 21, 2002 at 1:45AM
fix it yourself
mikeAug 22, 2002 at 8:46AM
Plus, to get to other places in the Bay Area (the Valley, Marin, Sonoma, etc.), a car is essential.
Yes. Yes. But you don't have to own it. I just joined City Car Share and it rocks. It's cheap, stylin', they've got electric cars, and they come off more as socialists than hippies; always good.
Jason LeeAug 23, 2002 at 6:53PM
Great place for you in San Carlos. A+ Japanese Auto Repair, Inc. I have taken my car there for two years, they have very fair prices (I shopped around) and do great work. I would recommend anyone to them, many of my co-workers like their service too. They fix all mechanical stuff and they have a body shop next door and one across the street, right off of 101. Here is their site
http://pages.sbcglobal.net.japaneseauto
RobertoOct 08, 2002 at 12:11PM
I can to offer my profecionales knowledge like painter and automotive chapista of repair to be able to exert like repairer of collection cars or some company who asks for like profecional or professor to me for the education of the office. Ofresco all garantias corresponding on my profecionalidad.! Thank you very much!
greeting to you kindly:
ROBERT KAIRUZ
RobertoOct 08, 2002 at 12:11PM
I can to offer my profecionales knowledge like painter and automotive chapista of repair to be able to exert like repairer of collection cars or some company who asks for like profecional or professor to me for the education of the office. Ofresco all garantias corresponding on my profecionalidad.! Thank you very much!
greeting to you kindly:
ROBERT KAIRUZ
This thread is closed to new comments. Thanks to everyone who responded.