It's been a long time since I've had a collision. this is the first time with my G37x. I have some passenger front corner damage. I found Crash Champions who is certified for Infiniti Automobiles as well as my insurance company USAA. I just dropped off the car for repair today and picked up a temporary rental. I chose the Lynnwood branch on 196th. We'll see how it goes. It's amazing a minor fender bender could cost $3,600+ to repair.



Recent Fender Bender

 

I also recommend shopping around at a few body shops as some will only repair with brand new parts out of Japan, which drive up the cost quickly. On a 10+ year old car, totaling is highly likely under this model.

It's good to know the value of the car beforehand (KBB, not what we think our cars are worth or what the market will bear), then get estimates from a "we do it the right way" shop, and another that specializes in cost effective body work. If the cost of the work is 70% or more of the KBB value, insurance may total and the title will be branded for life for what is essentially minor damage.

I learned this with my daughter's Prius that we bought from grandma (mint condition). Someone at school backed into her pulling out of a spot and creased the front fender and door (still drivable, just looked bad). One shop said 7-8K based on new door, fender, bracing, clips, etc. The other shop repaired a door (PDR) and replaced with a used fender, said the bracing wasn't damaged, then bought aftermarket clips, liner and accessories. Less than 4K and the car still looks brand new.

 

My car has less than 34k miles on it. I'm glad it wasn't totaled. It's astonishing how expensive body work has become.

 

It's amazing how expensive alot of things have become my friend. As long as the items aren't part of the consumer price index "basket of goods", they will continue to rise.

Meanwhile, we will try to believe Washington when they say inflation is being held to under 3%. Feels like a whole lot more when you are out in the world getting a car fixed, buying a burrito, painting the house, etc.

The issue with most body shops today is that most are reading from the same script. Insurance = high profit, no questions asked. You literally need to 'know a guy' if you want true body work done where things are being repaired vs replaced with brand new. The problem is that most cars depreciate quicky these days and when overlayed with inflated body shop costs, they total pretty easily.

I really think insurance needs to create classes of Salvage Titles, say A-C. Whether your car is rear-ended by an SUV at 60mph or conked in the parking lot by someone not paying attention, the same formula applies and the VIN will forever be associated with a branded title.

I see these Gs all the time on Reddit. Post normally starts with the word "Cooked"

 

Got a revised estimate yesterday. It is now at $4,272.
For similar damage on my G25x in 2017 the repair estimate was $2.086.

According to US Inflation Calculator Seattle's inflation rate since my last accident:

Year Inflation Rate
2017 3.00%
2018 3.21%
2019 2.54%
2020 1.71%
2021 4.49%
2022 8.89%
2023 5.99%
2024 3.68%

 

Did they explain what was “revised”?

 

Yes, I reviewed the revised estimate.

Generic replacement parts were not immediately available. This would increase time at the shop and rental vehicle costs as they were days away. They got authorization to use OEM Infiniti parts.

 

I guess if Insurance is paying and not totaling the car, why not use genuine OEM parts.

 

I picked up Lancelot from the body shop today. Crash Champions in Lynnwood did a great job.
I highly recommend!


1/4 panel and headlight assembly replaced, bumper repaired, new paint and blend.
Bumper is a bit dusty from driving home. Can't machine wash for 90 days. They also replaced the film auto bra.

 

Looks brand new! Appears they detailed the car as well.

I forget how good the front ends of these cars look new.

Don't machine wash your car, regardless.

 

Here's a better pic of the car. What looked like dust in the previous pic was actually the paint reflecting the image of the concrete underneath at the gas station.
Final tally was $5,656. The cost increase was for paint matching on the door. The trim bits around the window aren't reusable.