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| Well I learned something today; it helps to reserve a trailer. I�ve been trying to buy a local trailer, but the seller is not �ready�, so I went to the nearest U-haul to pick up a trailer. I should have called. |
| Sure, they push a dolly, uh no thanks ! Back home to make a few calls. Located trailer, $50/day + tax, plus $8 insurance ($62). How many days rental is buying a $1,200 trailer worth ? Yes, about 19 days. Sure a nicer trailer costs more, but things are already getting more complicated. |
| I foresee at least 4 �rental� days. To body shop and back (2), to alignment shop and back (2), if I want to run in the Track Event in Vegas (Oh YEA !), it would be wise to trailer in, after all the car�s been in hibernation for years, then that might be 6-7 days additional use right there. Now we are talking 11/19ths cost of a cheap trailer. Hmmm. No room in budget for ownership, so I go against my instincts and rent a trailer. |
| I measured my ground clearance, and compared that to the first U-haul trailer. Too Low ! Ah, come on, not my car. Yep. A trough was added to the inside edge to keep �idiots� from driving off the rails. Buying one is beginning to look better. OK, locate next trailer place. Next trailer will be fine. |
| I line up several shops for quotes. My �list� is 10-12 or so shops that roughly qualify, then I narrowed it down after visiting once. I�ve been checking out shops on and off for months now. Here we go� |
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| I went in order of least likely to hire them to most likely. The first shop was a surprise. I put them as least likely, as they are known for being expensive. The first shop is �M2�, local, friend had work done there 2-3 years ago, and they seem to do a lot of cars. I talked to them when my car was first hit. Since then, they have changed ownership, and by the frown the assistant gave me, this was no longer �the place�. A gruff voice from an open office said, �We no longer do complete cars.� Well then, sorry I even bothered to stop by, I said to myself, pulling away. |
| Crossing this off my short list, I then stopped by a shop, oddly just down the street, that I�ve seen for years. It�s gone thru several owners/operators. Once it had a �cheaper/decent� reputation, it�s now connected somehow to insurance companies, because they are not �allowed� to take on any outside work. Lots of business too. Well it was a long shot. |
| The next shop was all smiles upon first contact. After I asked some questions, their attitude changed, defensive actually. Could it be a REALLY bad day ? If they are like this at the start, what are they like when�.. well perish the thought. Needless to say, I won�t mention their name. (Like the sound of an old-fashioned barber�) NEXT ! |
| This next guy has always been known for good work, I know I can�t afford him, so I agreed to take the car by�.just to show him. He is a famous custom hot-rod guy. Driving away from his shop, located near San Francisco, I had now racked up near 100 miles. The next shop was back down south. |
| As I rolled in, the lot was full, a good sign. However, like before, the person I talked to seemed to change a little �now that a car was in front of him�. I guess he is not as hungry for the job as I thought. Again, a shop not worth mentioning. I left it on the trailer, and drove to my �hunch�. |
| A �hunch� or gut feeling really. What ever you want to call it. This shop is in San Jose, just off the freeway. As I pulled in, I noticed it seemed like a busy shop for a one-man operation (and a helper or two). Three types of work I could see; the long-term project, the ready project (like mine), and the typical insurance work. This is the place that just finished last month another PCNC member�s car. Did the truck of another member, who�s known him for a while. The value of references is apparent. |
| I tell him that I am looking for a �fair� paint job, describing to him the same thing I�ve told others. We review my car, going over everything, (with my video camera running), and I confirm my budget. (Same thing I said over the phone to everyone.) |
| We talk about the additional bodywork necessary, separate from the paint job, and then he quoted his price, which was what I considered in my fair range. We came to an agreement, and I rolled my car off the trailer. |
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| The problem is the schedule. Can he complete the job in the agreed time ? If not, I go again, without my car, to Vegas. My car has actually never been to Vegas. Perish the thought. I must Think Positive. More details to follow tomorrow, 3/21.. |
| I spent some time the previous night getting the car ready to transport, and hopefully land where it will get painted. This took a while, as I was taking my time, reviewing the car (the 1,000th time) and making a checklist. |