G8 GT More Pics! 56k warning.. NEW "MOD"!

[CMNTMXR57]

$917.21 off.

When will you guys listen to me!!!

These cars AREN'T cheap to do bodywork/repair on. And this was a pretty light amount damage all things considered! Imagine something more severe, including airbag deployment!

[gweg_b]

Ouch, that kind of hurts.

I'm now really tempted to put mine back into storage.

[J Wikoff]

To source the parts yourself, you'd save tons though. They paid $1200 for a wheel, $900 for the bumper cover, $750 fender, $106 for the grill emblem, $3500 in parts total. I bet I could get all the parts myself for half that, maybe even less. The rest was labor and paint.

[00Beast]

Wow, that's crazy money, lol. $1200 for a wheel from GM?!

[repinS]

$917.21 off.

When will you guys listen to me!!!

These cars AREN'T cheap to do bodywork/repair on. And this was a pretty light amount damage all things considered! Imagine something more severe, including airbag deployment!

I still don't think its that astronomical relative to other cars.

Most higher end imports (German, Japanese, etc) ring in about the same. So for a car from Australia, that's about right.

[00Beast]

I agree. Our Passat was $1900 for a bumper, headlight and some repainting, from a smaller-town dealership. In the twin cities they wanted over $2400, using "refurbished" parts. Not even sure where those would've come from, considering it was less than a year old on a brand new body style at the time...

[CMNTMXR57]

But those higher end cars, you're just paying the higher end "premium tax" to enjoy that vehicles' status. Parts "generally" are still pretty well available here in North America, as most are made in large qauntities, and sold in large qauntities throughout the world (not just North America).

That isn't the case here. You're talking about a limited production (by mass production standards), vehicle, were parts aren't easily accessible in GM's NASPO, as such, they have to come from Australia, which the parts there aren't in mass either (remember, the NA and export market vehicle production for Holden is more than their own production for Australia and New Zealand). So the price is reflective of the rarity, and then shipping to send across the pond. You're comparing apples and oranges.

Yes, I can source my own parts cheaper too (been in the Holden world for a long time now, longer than anyone here and I've seen it all), but most insurance companies won't allow for that, especially if there is/was air bag deployment. I know that's obviously NOT the case here. Most, if not all insurance companies will insist on NEW parts for electronics/sensors/actuators around safety equipment, sourced from the manufacturer wherever possible, for liability reasons (this just happened to a GTO owner when there was airbag deployment). As such, they have to pay that premium for those parts.

When everyone first started getting G8's, I warned you guys about this from day one that these cars aren't cheap when it comes to fixing in general (as they age), and then replacing body parts and fixing collision damages. Yet I still seem to be getting resistance on this front and the "well..., well..., well..." excuses and other mantra.

At the end of the day here, an insurance company just got billed more than $5k to repair what most would consider, more or less, cosmetic damages. As long as the insurance company is involved, this is what you're going to see and again, I am proven correct.

[J Wikoff]

Well... well.... well... relax a little, will ya? I've seen the bill, and I'm still cool with my car. It's always going to be insured, so collision costs won't be a huge deal to me. I'm not really resisting, just conveying that I don't care enough to worry about it.

[BonneMe]

Brand new OE aluminum hood was less than $600 for my car. The 2 year, rare model front bumper was much more...

[00Beast]

And Lane, I don't think anyone owning a G8 at this point is bemoaning this issue. I plan on having full coverage on mine. Yes it's expensive, but you gotta pay to play. If there was another good alternative, then maybe we'd bitch and go with that, but as we all know, there STILL isn't a good alternative to the G8. Taurus SHO doesn't hold a candle to it. There wasn't another car with that combo (RWD, 4 doors, V8, quality) for the money, and still isn't. 300C is a close second, but the f*cker is expensive, and it's a Chrysler product...

[gweg_b]

I rode in a new 300C this past weekend. Been a very long time since I drooled like that. . .

I do agree with Ed, in that fact for what I paid for my GT ($19.5K), I believe that is a hell of a bargain for this kind of performance (and rear leg room)! I took of friend of my dad's out for a ride a couple weekends ago, and the G8 scared the living crap out of him. This is also the same guy who used to ride with my dad in his 454 powered '69 Vette. So, I think that says something about the G8.

I also carry full insurance on the car, but the truth is, that still doesn't keep from worrying about the worst case scenario (or even light damage at this point). I love this car a lot, but the lack of parts in the future does have me a little concerned, and that's why I need to resolve my Bonneville's knock issues, so I can have a decent performance car that still has plenty of available parts, and keep the miles off the G8.

[J Wikoff]

Here's the all better shot.

[gweg_b]

Looking good!!

[00Beast]

Looks great John!

[J Wikoff]

With the exception of getting wax on the textured black plastic of the lower grills and the mirrors, they did a really good job.

[harofreak00]

They waxed the brand new paint?

[Zeik75]

Yeah I thought new paint had to sit and "cure" a bit before it could be polished or waxed? Does look great though, much better than some body work I have seen.

Also kinda curious here. Is it only body parts/cosmetic stuff that is hard to get? How about Engine, drivetrain, or suspension. And will anything get more common possibly with the Chevy SS? I haven't read much on it lately but it's supposed to be based off the G8 right?

[gweg_b]

I can't say 100%, since I don't know Holden as well as others (Lane for example). The G8 is a Commodore VE, where as the SS is the VF - in the same family, but different enough that parts probably will not easily swap (if at all).

Engine and transmission stuff should be fairly easy to replace since they are used in other GM vehicles (with maybe the exception of the heater hoses, as I know Lane has mentioned before). Body stuff seems to be the more expensive to replace, due the parts no longer being produced. I'm not too worried about suspension as there is a big aftermarket for it.

But again, others will know more about it than me.

[J Wikoff]

They waxed the brand new paint?

Well, now I'm not sure if they waxed any new paint. I can tell they at least waxed my mirror, as I had no wax residue on that black plastic before. But I can't tell if the residue on the lower grills is new or left over from my last hasteful job. The new paint is limited to the fender and bumper cover.

Anyone know a good way to remove it?

[olblueeyesbonne]

Some spray detailer and a microfiber cloth is what I find works best to remove leftover wax.
The detailer works in two ways:
1.Softens the wax and loosens it making it easier to wipe off.
2. Puts a little shine on at the same time.

Might need a tooth brush for tight areas though.

Also, I am hoping that what you are thinking is 'left over wax' is actually whatever cutter they used for buffing the new paint to get imperfections out. I'm guessing they would have buffed that side of the car also to bring out the paints shine to better match the new paint.