Follow-up to my vandalized STI

[Tarik]

A few weeks back, some low life degenerate decided to vandalize my new STI for no apparent reason (the original thread: http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/125765-my-new-sti-vandalized-need-advice.html). Below are photos of the damage.

I am also posting photos of the fix, which was incredibly well executed by Ultimate Coachworks in Culver City California. There was quite a bit of discussion about how to best handle the repainting required.

No level of detailing or correction was going to get this damage out. New paint was in order.

After a lot of discussions with Gary at Ultimate, we decided on a simplified but effective strategy to blend the new paint within the damaged panel, so as not to have to spray over perfectly original adjacent panels (the hood, the door, etc). More time than usual was also spent on color matching and getting the color/metallic finish, and spray technique right to do this properly. Most body shops will simply blend everything to hide a color matching discrepancy.

I am incredibly pleased with the results and recommend Ultimate to anyone looking to have the best possible work done.

This proves there are many ways to solve a problem, and that if you insist on an approach you really believe in, it can be done.



Before:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After:

 

[BigAl3]

glad to see everything is back in order :up . wouldn't you just love to catch the losers in the act? i would have to introduce this young fella to them LOL...

 

[Kean]

....glad to see the repair worked out well for you. I'm a fellow Subaru owner myself (currently an '08 Forester & '03 WRX).

 

[Flashtime]

Glad it worked out for ya! I see why he refinished the fender only; didn't realize

the fender - the bulge - wasn't on the same plane as the door. You're original pics

didn't show this. Anyhow, it looks great!

 

[602rwtq]

So they painted JUST the fender? On a silver car?



That took an absurb amount of color tinting. Spray out after spray out.



Very rare to find a shop willing to do that.

 

[Tarik]

602, absolutely. Ultimate Coachworks worked very closely with me to achieve this result. The amount of time spent on color matching was more than any normal shop would ever consider. I'm extremely particular, and after a couple washes and a detail, I can not find a single flaw in this craftsmanship.

The headlight assembly, front bumper and all sorts of trim were removed to assure the best result. Really an incredible job and a darn fine example of body work at it's absolute best.

I couldn't be more satisfied with the outcome.

Flashtime, no worries. The body panels on an STI are quite a mosh of odd planes. Lol.

Kean, good family, the Subaru one! Great cars.

Yeah, if I cought the lowlife doing this there's no saying I'd let him off easy.

Just hope it never happens again. This was the first time in 20 years of driving and almost as many cars. Some people are simply degenerates.

 

[MarcHarris]

good to see things turned out well. That was such a headbreaking thread, and those that don't appreciate cars shouldn't be allowed near them

 

[jopa489]

That really sucks man - I didn't catch your original thread the first time around. Things like that pain me to see happen to any car, never mind a very nice car.



Really glad it worked out for you, the damage could have been a lot worse. Car looks great!

 

[BoostedBalt]

Glad the car is good as new again. Ive had this happen to me before. I walked out to goto work one morning and had a big "L" keyed into the same fender as yours. Its infuriating to put it lightly.

 

[Tarik]

It's frustrating to say the least. I still look at those original photos and wonder why it would cross anyones mind to do something like that.

Really, what's the point other than to prove what an absolute coward you must be.