Damaged rear quarter panel.... how should it be repaired?

[MichaelWithers]

I have sadly just had some idiot driver reverse into my beloved Audi A5 whilst it was parked up.

The damage isnt as bad as it could have been , I have a broken rear light , the rear bumper has bulged out and the rear quarter panel is dented. I am trying to work out if the repair company will just want to fill it , or if they will attempt to graft on a new quarter panel. I think if its the later it may well be a write off considering the car has 92,000 miles and is 10 years old. I know most insurance companies allow upto 50% of the value of the vehicle in repairs before it gets written off. Parkers puts the value of the car when repaired between £4500 and £6000. Considering my car is painted in Monza Silver I believe they will have to respray a big part of the car to ensure it doesn't look terrible. I can only imagine the repair will probably cost £2500 at a minimum so its probably a write off.

Does any one on here have any experience with this kind of damage - I am trying to get ahead of the likely outcome so I can make a fast and informed decision on whether or not to have it repaired.

Thanks in advance for your time!

carDamage.jpg

[Jeffreykins]

Sadly, it's more than likely totaled. Generally speaking auto body shops never fill damage, the goal is to get it as close to factory as possible and if they can't do that for a reasonable price they'll declare it a total loss. Since the damage isn't too bad, your best option if you'd like to keep the car is take the insurance payout and ask your insurance company how much they'll want for you to keep the car and fix the damage on your own terms. Keep in mind this action will brand the title of the car.

[MichaelWithers]

Thanks for the quick reply! I realised when I got it home and properly assessed it that the wheel arch slightly bulges out. I do love the car and its a shame to have it probably end in such a minor incident. I probably would have done another 20k in it and perhaps sold it on (family concerns emerging). The exhaust rattles at 1900 and there is a slightly dip in power at 2100 so I guess I should probably take the money and run. Only problem how much they might give me. I do wonder how much they would sell it for as a Cat D write off to me with the damage, I imagine the numbers would stack up to a loss for me unless I could repair it myself (which I cant)

[Jeffreykins]

Totally up to you. If there are mechanical issues in addition it may be worth it to get rid of it, but it definitely depends on the insurance offer. If it's too low, it's worth keeping and getting it repaired by an off-duty bodyman or someone that can do it on the cheap. Body shops and the like always source brand new parts and often go through the dealer so their prices get inflated very quickly. Good luck!