Not how I planned to spend my afternoon. [Archive]

paddlenbike

08-22-2013, 10:13 PM

I feel fine right now, we will see tomorrow or the next day though, that's usually when you start to feel it.

Here is a close up of the damage. Obviously the bumper is toast and the hatch has a dent. I had to drive off her car and you can clearly see missing paint where she went under the trailer hitch. The reason the hatch is dented is because her car crumpled so much it made contact with the hatch.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U6AkOtejFfk/UhbtODnsMYI/AAAAAAAAKvA/0x41hj5oErk/s800/DSC_0652r.jpg

The trailer hitch is sitting closer to the spare tire than I remember, but as you can see here, there are four giant bolts per side that don't appear to have shifted at all, so I dunno.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-46qDzQPIkv0/Uhbtdc4TIVI/AAAAAAAAKvc/yMFm2ENDp4A/s800/DSC_0654.JPG

YotaFun

08-23-2013, 06:21 AM

Glad your okay at least!
I shed a tear though when I saw the damage and in my mind I thought "Oh No, Not that 4Runner!"
Things can be fixed, she will be looking pretty again soon!

What was the drivers excuse for this one? Just curious, my guess would be they were texting and didn't realize traffic stopped...

Robinhood4x4

08-23-2013, 06:46 AM

Hopefully, the spare tire shifted back.

paddlenbike

08-23-2013, 07:46 AM

Glad your okay at least!
I shed a tear though when I saw the damage and in my mind I thought "Oh No, Not that 4Runner!"
Things can be fixed, she will be looking pretty again soon!

Ha!

As soon as I heard the skidding and could clearly see I was going to get taken out, my first thought was "well, goodbye 4Runner." It wouldn't be so bad if the hatch weren't dented.

What was the drivers excuse for this one? Just curious, my guess would be they were texting and didn't realize traffic stopped...

The CHP said there is no question that I am not at fault. I don't think she was texting but who knows.

Hopefully, the spare tire shifted back.

I'm thinking that probably is what happened. The impact pushing my truck forward could have made the spare tire slide back. I can't see any evidence that the trailer hitch itself moved. I will be getting repair estimates today. This is lame, but I really don't want a custom rear bumper. Custom front, yes.

4x4mike

08-23-2013, 08:35 AM

On the bright side you won't have to be driving around with the old water spotted bumper. I'm sure that was bugging you.

I was rear ended on the way to Sylvia's wedding in November while driving the Subaru. I was amazed at how little damage there was to the plastic bumper considering it was pushed from behind so hard. I was at about 50% brake pedal and was moved about 2 car lengths. Marin did more damage the other day in Rocklin than the car that hit did.

What was the drivers excuse for this one? Just curious, my guess would be they were texting and didn't realize traffic stopped...

That's a sketch piece of road right there. Bums on both sides, shadows, and a lot of cars flushing out of the city. I'm always watching my back through there even if it doesn't help.

Glad to hear you're okay.

paddlenbike

08-23-2013, 09:49 AM

I dropped it off this morning at a repair place. They will replace the bumper, work the steel on the hatch back into shape as best as possible and finish it off with as little filler as possible. I guess that's not so bad.

My hood has had some spots on it since I bought it, so they're going to spray my hood while it's there. Cost of that? $100.

Toyota apparently stopped making the black pearl emblems, so the guy is going to install new chrome ones and spray them black for me. I'm already out time having to deal with this, so the less I have to deal with to get it back to how it was, the better.

The guy who is doing the actual painting said that this generation 4Runner is one of his favorite vehicles and said he will make sure it is done perfectly. He may say that to everyone, but it did make me feel better.

My wife works for a biomechanical consulting firm, so within the week they will be evaluating the damage to both cars (based on photos) and calculate the forces involved in the accident. No intended uses for that info, other than "just because." They are currently finding out whether or not a 2000 4Runner has an EDR (Event Data Recorder).

slomatt

08-23-2013, 09:51 AM

Bummer, sorry to hear about that Ken. At least it there were no serious injuries, though I suspect you might have wanted to strangle the person who hit you. :)

- Matt

Seanz0rz

08-23-2013, 10:04 AM

I seriously doubt you have a EDR. That is something pretty much reserved for the last 4 or 5 years.

YotaFun

08-23-2013, 10:40 AM

Sean is right on the money there, That scion should have one but I doubt the 4Runner does.

paddlenbike

08-23-2013, 10:56 AM

I don't expect that the 4Runner has an EDR, but my wife's office has a bunch of new equipment (including EDR recovery equipment) they are dying to use, so they are looking into it.

I received a call from the other insurance company and they have "assumed liability," i.e. there isn't any question that I am not at fault.

Now for my $25 rental car. The insurance company says I will get a "like vehicle." I don't think that means 'I will like it.' They define "like vehicle" as being the same number of doors and same number of tires." Okay, so I'm kidding about the last part, but they consider a 4-door compact car to be equivalent. Maybe I should treat it equivalent. :)

YotaFun

08-23-2013, 11:10 AM

Do it! I beat the ever living crap out of my rental car when I had to for two months when the truck was in the shop, but there was only so much you could do with a dodge caliber...

paddlenbike

08-23-2013, 12:44 PM

Toyota started using EDRs in 2002-2003.

Toyota
2003-2013 Toyota 4Runner
2013 Toyota 86
2008-2013 Toyota Alphard
2003-2012 Toyota Avalon
2002-2012 Toyota Camry
2005-2008 Toyota Camry/Solara
2003-2013 Toyota Corolla
2006-2013 Toyota Crown
2006 Toyota Echo
2003-2012 Toyota Echo/Yaris
2012-2013 Toyota EZ
2007-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser
2004-2013 Toyota Highlander
2003-2013 Toyota Land Cruiser
2003-2013 Toyota Matrix
2010-2013 Toyota Prius - includes plug-in
2004-2009 Toyota Prius
2004-2012 Toyota Rav4
2006-2013 Toyota Reiz
2005-2013 Toyota Sequoia
2004-2013 Toyota Sienna
2005-2013 Toyota Tacoma
2005-2013 Toyota Tundra
2011-2013 Toyota Zelas
2009-2013 Toyota Venza
2008-2013 Toyota Vios
2007-2014 Toyota Yaris

YotaFun

08-23-2013, 12:45 PM

Well Damn, my Camry has one...
I guess I should watch how I drive...

CJM

08-23-2013, 06:27 PM

Aw that sure sucks!

Wonder if having an actual hitch ball in there woulda helped? I always have mine on and got nailed by a honda civic once and it protected everything alot cause it nailed there radiator support area.

paddlenbike

08-23-2013, 08:42 PM

Not sure, but I bet I people behind me would be more careful if I had one of these:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/trailers-transportation/302496d1360527289-thieves-love-those-trailer-hitches-receiverhayspear.jpg

This might work too.
http://img0.etsystatic.com/012/0/6924339/il_570xN.441295446_101j.jpg

CJM

08-24-2013, 09:35 AM

Lol ^

Good Times

08-25-2013, 09:39 AM

Ken it's scary how your underside post accident looks so "almost brand spanking new"!! I mean look at that frame, it doesn't look like it's been outside much if any. Are you sure this is the same 4runner you've been driving around or do you have two that you drive and have just been secretly keeping the pristine one from us?

Glad it's only minor damages and no physical damages to you personally. Would suck if you had to go thru PT.

So you're just gonna go back to stock rear bumper and not jump the bandwagon and go aftermarket? just curious. :)

paddlenbike

08-25-2013, 11:37 AM

Ken it's scary how your underside post accident looks so "almost brand spanking new"!!

ya, ya, I was waiting for you guys to harass me. :) I've seen enough rusty Tacoma frame photos to know that getting under there every couple of years and touching up spots where rocks have scraped isn't a bad idea.

Glad it's only minor damages and no physical damages to you personally. Would suck if you had to go thru PT.

No kidding, I've done enough PT in the past few years!

So you're just gonna go back to stock rear bumper and not jump the bandwagon and go aftermarket? just curious. :)

I considered an aftermarket rear bumper but quite frankly the stock rear bumper has never held me back. What I need is an aftermarket front bumper.

The 4Runner goes in Monday for repair work to begin. That's after all the various insurance estimators are finished arguing.

paddlenbike

08-26-2013, 12:19 PM

The repair shop got truck torn down this morning and thankfully there was no hidden damage. They are replacing the rear bumper, left bumperette & bracket, left mudflap, the black bumper capper, repairing and respraying the hatch and they even included time to paint my emblems black again. (The Toyota black pearl emblems are no longer available from Toyota.)

Even with these "wimpy" bumpers, the truck took a hell of a beating and came out with very little damage.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-poYH1SVsBeo/UhuoPJSodMI/AAAAAAAAKwA/AqZ8Az6eIwM/s800/20130826_115044.jpg

Seanz0rz

08-26-2013, 12:49 PM

Sounds like they got you covered.

I am not happy that the rear bumper bolts to the body instead of the frame. seems like it would end up causing more damage that way, but those brackets are designed to fold up to absorb the impact.

Bob98SR5

08-28-2013, 10:27 AM

Ken,

Did you wash the damaged parts before the body shop visit??!? :lol:

Reminds me that I need to remove my bumpers and treat the rust crap on the back side

paddlenbike

08-28-2013, 11:04 AM

Ken,

Did you wash the damaged parts before the body shop visit??!? :lol:

Just for you, Bob. :)

paddlenbike

08-29-2013, 12:58 PM

The repair shop invited me to come by today and take a peek at the 4Runner as they roll it into the booth for painting. They were telling me about the experiences they had with the various insurance companies involved. I have AAA, the at-fault party that hit me had Allstate. The Allstate has called me four or five times trying to get varying information for me. The story is the same every time, I was stopped in traffic and was rear-ended by their client. Even the person that hit me is admitting they are at fault.

So Allstate did their inspection of the 4Runner and they did not want to pay to have the bumper brackets replaced (one was bent) and did not want to pay for the damaged fender flare/mudflap. They came back a second and third time and on third visit they said my tail lights looked new and wanted to make sure they worked. The shop owner's response was "you better look for a different excuse because I don't know how you could ever miss THOSE brake lights!" Awesome.

AAA, yet again, has worked well for me. They haven't called me at all other than the initial contact, they are having everything replaced (including the brackets and mud flap) and gave the shop time to paint the emblems black like I had them. Overall, I'm glad the shop insisted on doing things the right way and didn't cater to Allstate's shenanigans.

In the paint booth, she goes.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LkUyKXGTu-c/Uh-mIUgnPFI/AAAAAAAAKwo/vbnpik5gIMs/s800/20130829_122650.jpg

Seanz0rz

08-29-2013, 01:06 PM

Wow, unfortunate that allstate is making you jump. I'd tell them to go talk to AAA and stop harassing you.

paddlenbike

08-29-2013, 01:12 PM

Wow, unfortunate that allstate is making you jump. I'd tell them to go talk to AAA and stop harassing you.

I actually just called AAA and they said I don't have to respond to any of Allstate's calls. Allstate has assumed liability, end of story.

BTW, I need side-lighting in my garage like they have in their booth. :)

YotaFun

08-29-2013, 02:07 PM

BTW, I need side-lighting in my garage like they have in their booth. :)

Just so you can detail it even more to make it continually look like it just rolled off the showroom floor :-P

paddlenbike

08-29-2013, 02:59 PM

Just so you can detail it even more to make it continually look like it just rolled off the showroom floor :-P

White paint hides a lot. I'm having them repaint the hood because it was in lousy shape, but it should look pretty good when I get it back.

Robinhood4x4

08-29-2013, 07:24 PM

BTW, I need side-lighting in my garage like they have in their booth. :)

I have 6 fluorescent lights hanging from my garage and I have seriously thought about side lighting.

CJM

08-30-2013, 04:37 PM

I have 2 4ft fluorescent shop lights in my garage about 7ft from the floor, they dont light up crap really. I think if I was to do it again id have to put in like 10 of them..

paddlenbike

08-30-2013, 06:46 PM

PG&E used to have really nice service bays for their utility trucks. They had a pit in the floor and lighting from underneath, the sides and the top. I wished I could have done some work on my own truck there before those pit service bays became illegal. I guess technically I should be going to my dad's and using his lift.

paddlenbike

09-03-2013, 10:13 AM

I have really missed having my 4Runner the last couple of weeks. I was supposed to pick up a rented ditchwitch for a friend (loaded onto a special trailer), but my buddy ended up paying to have it delivered. The weather over the weekend was perfect for a landscaping project at my house, but no dice with the rental car as I needed a trailer again to haul decomposed granite.

The car I ended up with is probably the best small car made, a 2013 Mazda 3 Skyactiv. It handles really, really well and over 700 miles of driving I'm getting 35 MPG. But the automatic transmission is pissing me off to no end. It's a 6-speed auto, which contrary to what you might think, is too many gears for a small engine. In order to get that top fuel economy, it shifts to 6th gear as quickly as it can. So now you have a 4 cylinder engine running at 1400 RPMs. Any needed change in speed on the freeway means it downshifts to 5th gear, sits there for a while and realizes that isn't low enough, then changes down a second gear. Now the RPMs are screaming when all you wanted to do was close the gap with the car ahead of you. It's actually embarassing to have people in the car with you.

Same goes for curvy roads...you come out of a corner in 6th gear and to accelerate after the corner it's downshifting two gears and screaming the engine just to pick up a tiny bit of speed. I locked it out of 6th gear for part of that drive, but now it won't downshift to 4th when it's needed for a hill. Urgh, I just can't drive an auto without getting legimately pissed off. There is no button to change shift timing, so you're pretty much stuck with it this way.

For anyone looking for a great little car, I highly recommend the Mazda 3 with the 6-speed manual transmission. It handles like a Miata, strong brakes, awesome mileage and reasonably comfortable for four people on a couple hour trip. The auto is the only thing I don't like about the car.

I will be happy to get the 4Runner back. It's actually a lot more fun to drive than anything I have driven recently.

Seanz0rz

09-03-2013, 10:18 AM

Bummer about the transmission. The 6spd in my Dad's Kia will downshift straight to 4th when you want to pass. Makes for a very good experience.

Good to hear about the 3 though. It is on our short list of cars, but we are still a couple of years out (student loans come first!)

Oh, and those service pits are still allowed as far as I know. They are, however, highly regulated. You must use explosion-proof lighting since most flammable vapors and gases are heavier than air, and will sink down into the pit. They also must have a drain, which can make it difficult to build in many settings. Typically, it is a better investment to pour the foundations for a hydraulic lift than to dig a service pit.

The house around the corner from us was built in the late 1800's and among other really cool features, has a barn with a service pit. When it came up for sale a few years ago, we checked it out. It was VERY creepy (silence of the lambs creepy) and the barn really needed to be flattened and rebuilt. The service pit was pretty long, but had no stairs that I could see. There were also some old tractor parts down in the pit as well as strewn about the barn. The new owners are rehabilitating the barn, and have replaced major structural components over the last few years. Maybe some day I will go ask to snap some pictures of it.

paddlenbike

09-03-2013, 10:31 AM

Sean, I'm sure the 3 with the manual is a wonderful car to drive. I will be driving my friend's manual 3 in the next couple of weeks, so I will report back. I think the only other car I would cross-shop is the Ford Focus. The latest Corolla was just unveiled yesterday, but I suspect it's as uninspiring as a Camry to drive, but who knows.

The 2014 Mazda 3:
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2014-mazda3-sedan1.jpg

YotaFun

09-03-2013, 10:51 AM

My Camry and most newer Toyota Autos operate the same way, even with mine being a 5spd, it gets to that gear and stays there, and when I go to pass or even catch up it only goes to 4th which is never enough then finally shifts into 3rd and goes like a bat out of hell.
I drove a manual version of my Camry one weekend and the difference in the two was huge, if I could have found my Camry in a manual at the time I would have chosen that over the Auto.

The new Corolla still has a 1.8l 4cyl with dual VVTi and just a slight boost in HP, I don't see anything special about it...

Sucks about the auto it is a sharp looking car though!

paddlenbike

09-03-2013, 11:22 AM

Sucks about the auto it is a sharp looking car though!

Avy, honestly, the issue is probably me and not the car. The Mazda shifted pretty similar to the other new cars on the market right now. In my opinion, the CVTs are terrible to drive, mostly because they are uninspiring (aka, Prius). I like the idea of the dual clutch gearbox but the one in the Ford Focus was rough and shifted too much. The VW Jetta TDI wagon with the DSG is probably the best auto trans I have driven, but it still shifts rougher than a torque converter car and the DSG transmission service is extremely expensive. Ultimately, the reliability issues of the car drove us away and not the transmission. A friend just bought a TDI/DSG Jetta and when he went to put a towing receiver on it to tow the ditchwitch I mentioned above, he discovered the DSG's have 0 pound towing limit, i.e., the trans is not rated for any towing. I think that says something about their longterm durability.

Seanz0rz

09-03-2013, 11:32 AM

paddlenbike

09-03-2013, 11:44 AM

CVTs are awful. Every time I have driven one, even the Mini, I felt like leaping from the moving vehicle.

I haven't had the pleasure of driving any of the dual clutch transmissions, but I don't mind hard shifts, especially in something that is suppose to be sporty. I suspect some better rev matching on the ECM side could solve some of that.

I am leaning towards a manual for my next vehicle, even though it will be a commuter car. Ultimately, I think we will end up with an auto.

I think an auto is fine for commuting; it is the backroads where I am mostly frustrated by them. They can't look ahead at the road and pre-determine the gear like you can, so it's never in the right gear and you loose interest in making your drive fun. Something is wrong when a lifted 4100 lb SUV is more fun to drive on a backroad than a new, small car.

Sean, regardless of the transmission, the Mazda 3 should be on your list. On the plus side, the auto in the Mazda does downshift a gear when you apply the brake.

CJM

09-03-2013, 07:44 PM

Ya know its funny, the gears in the T100 are so low it almost acts like a stick depending on how you drive it. Smash the pedal down cruising 40mph to merge onto the hwy and it downshifts from 3rd to 2nd and screams to 4k then shifts back up. Driving along roads you let off the engine brakes nicely and you smash it down bingo back to screaming along.

At work I drive a newer 2500HD silverado, 1st and 2nd are very low and long and in highway traffic you smash the pedal it shifts down 2 gears and flys.

Seanz0rz

09-03-2013, 08:02 PM

Marc, my 4runner is similar. I can pretty much get the trans to cooperate by modulating the skinny pedal.

paddlenbike

09-03-2013, 08:27 PM

Marc, my 4runner is similar. I can pretty much get the trans to cooperate by modulating the skinny pedal.

I remember Jeremy Clarkson (TopGear) complaining about the seven and eight speed transmissions in the new Lexus and Mercedes cars having "too many gears and too many gear changes." Our Acura is a 5-speed auto and the shifts are predictable and it pretty much responds as you would expect. The Mazda's 50 hp deficit and extra cog simply means it has to shift more, and a LOT more at that. I think that's the issue.

CJM

09-04-2013, 08:11 AM

Marc, my 4runner is similar. I can pretty much get the trans to cooperate by modulating the skinny pedal.

Exactly Sean! For some reason I think for me its the really high gears (4.30s) and the 32" tires that make it work.

At work like I said first two gears are so low its insane lol.I havent driven a newer car really, I think both my moms and dads hyundais have 5 or 6sp trans.

Seanz0rz

09-04-2013, 08:24 AM

paddlenbike

09-04-2013, 08:39 AM

I have 4.10 and 33" tires, so I am a bit on the opposite spectrum as you, but the mashin' down of the skinny pedal works well. I wish I had more power (alot more power...) but I think going to 4.56 would solve half of that problem, and an SC would take care of the other half. or just switch to the 4.0 v6 someday.

Sean, I don't think I would re-gear, a supercharger will fix the power problem and the gearing will help maintain the fuel economy. The manual transmission 4Runners turn 400 RPMs more (at 72 MPH) than an auto and it costs 2 mpg. We figured that out on a recent trip that you can read about here (http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/140040-four-3rd-gens-caravanning-mileage-results.html).

Edit--and btw, a 4.0 V6 makes 236 hp, a SC 3.4 makes 270 hp with nothing or 290+ with fuel mods.

Seanz0rz

09-04-2013, 12:37 PM

Problem is my engine and trans has 200k on them. while it still has much life left in it, a SC would shorten it greatly, and likely destroy the transmission very quickly, even with the modded valve body at this age.

My reason for a 4.0 is not just more power, but better fuel economy and an engine/transmission that is at least half as old.

paddlenbike

09-07-2013, 10:36 PM

Finally got the 4Runner back on Friday, I just hadn't had a chance to post-up. It came out really good, not perfect, but close enough for a 14 year old truck.

The hood has had some spots on it since I bought it in 2005, so I went ahead and had them respray the hood while it was in the booth. They only charged $100, and it looks fantastic.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UJB7j8GpBBU/UiwILz_6mMI/AAAAAAAAKxc/0eK4USQuLS8/s1000/DSC_0669.JPG

The rear hatch is perfectly straight and all of the replacement bumper pieces are OEM Toyota.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-tNUon2QV3Nc/UiwIMR-iI9I/AAAAAAAAKxw/7zerflWqpgg/s800/DSC_0672.JPG

I was pretty excited about the new Toyota black bumper cap as mine was pretty faded.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GQ5sqNhADgE/UiwIMb2SBaI/AAAAAAAAKxs/Oqe-2Fi4ND8/s800/DSC_0674r.jpg

They also painted the badges black like I had them, only they're gloss black and look better than the dull plasti-dip I had used.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-b7wVtXvf0u0/UiwIMw_SHUI/AAAAAAAAKx4/yVlAASdMnPA/s800/DSC_0676.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2f67GTl8zdQ/UiwILZZ_ZmI/AAAAAAAAKxU/89vRsUT7AKM/s800/DSC_0673r.jpg

The truck was in great shape before the accident, but it's back to looking good again and it's great to have it back.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Pf81syI7Fb8/UiwIMy8EbUI/AAAAAAAAKx8/g30dGjr8mqI/s800/DSC_0678r.jpg

YotaFun

09-08-2013, 05:34 AM

:jawdropped: did you just roll that off the showroom floor???

That looks awesome, gald you have yours back!

4x4mike

09-08-2013, 07:02 AM

Great. I didn't know those bumper caps we're supposed to be gray.

Seanz0rz

09-08-2013, 09:48 AM

Looks great ken! Glad it's all taken care of. How's the neck and back?

paddlenbike

09-08-2013, 01:04 PM

Looks great ken! Glad it's all taken care of. How's the neck and back?

I don't want to jinx myself by saying this, but so far so good.

A lot of new cars have paint choices that cost $500 over the cost of basic paint colors. I think I read that Toyota's Imperial Jade Mica is a 5 stage paint. Did Toyota charge extra for that? White, red and black do not have a clearcoat and when the shop painted mine they told me the hood and hatch would be more durable now because it's dual stage with paint and clearcoat. I wonder why Toyota didn't clearcoat white if clearcoat was such a good thing?

4x4mike

09-08-2013, 05:56 PM

You mentioned it wasn't perfect which I read to mean it wasn't as good as it was but what's wrong with it? Is it body work or just the fact 13 year old stuff was removed and reinstalled.

paddlenbike

09-08-2013, 06:19 PM

You mentioned it wasn't perfect which I read to mean it wasn't as good as it was but what's wrong with it? Is it body work or just the fact 13 year old stuff was removed and reinstalled.

Nothing that anyone but myself would likely notice. There's a rough spot on top of the hatch near the wind deflector, but you only notice it if you're up there. There's also a very slight paint drip right on an edge of the hatch, but it's not very noticeable. The paint was perfect before, but when you consider the hood has been repainted and the bumper and bumper cap are all new, it makes up for it.

Bob98SR5

09-08-2013, 10:11 PM

Nothing that anyone but myself would likely notice. There's a rough spot on top of the hatch near the wind deflector, but you only notice it if you're up there. There's also a very slight paint drip right on an edge of the hatch, but it's not very noticeable. The paint was perfect before, but when you consider the hood has been repainted and the bumper and bumper cap are all new, it makes up for it.

ken,

looks great! your body shop dude was much more gracious than my bmw body shop. i asked how much they'd charge to spray the other side and they wanted $900. not even a bottle of touch up paint which other shops have given me when they're done.

paddlenbike

09-09-2013, 08:07 AM

ken,

looks great! your body shop dude was much more gracious than my bmw body shop. i asked how much they'd charge to spray the other side and they wanted $900. not even a bottle of touch up paint which other shops have given me when they're done.

I didn't think about getting touch up paint, but then again, it's just Toyota 056 Natural White--the cheap Duplicolor touch up paint sold at automotive parts stores seems to match perfectly.

I was really pleased about the price of the hood painting. I was thinking to myself that if they quoted less than $600, I would have it done. When they said $100 I couldn't believe it. Turned around and spent that money (and then some) on a nice camera lens. :)