N_Jay wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 8:45 pm
It could have been done on the cheap, but they would have a good supply of used replacement parts so little need to force something to fit, or fix something 1/2 way.
You never know how good previous work is until you take it apart.
Based upon my experience, (I did mention that I've been working on 928s (other peoples 928s) for more than 20 year right?) the average repair - in this context - is pretty "lazy."
I have seen 928s were the repair bill listed parts "behind the curtain" that were charged to insurance that were not replaced (and still broken.)
N_Jay wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 8:45 pm
the twisting the unibody is unlikely.
That is the one good thing I saw (for small values of "saw") in the picture: the hit looked square.
On the other hand I can send you pictures of work done to several 928s where on the outside they look very square after repair but underneath are they are trapezoidal.
N_Jay wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 8:45 pm
What are the expensive tidbits under the bumper to look at?
Radiator, AC condenser, Fans?????
Heat exchangers, fan assemblies, the headlight assemblies, and the coolant and refrigerant lines.
These however are usually replaced when damaged. Because they won't work otherwise. Light assemblies are an exception here: they can still shine light but be broken.
What gets short shrift are brackets, braces, harnesses, etc. It's easy to charge for a new harness but make (poor) repairs instead. It's easy to just not worry about properly fastening all the new expensive bits to broken mount points.
Who's going to pull the bumper cover upon delivery to check? And, if they did, how would they know something's not right unless they were pretty expert in what's under the covers? And, you think the guys that fix that stuff in an autobody shop are pretty expert in what's under the cover on any particular car?
Last, once the car's out of the shop for more than 5 seconds, the shop can say that the damage must have occurred after delivery.
One very easy thing to do is to look very, very carefully at hood gaps and then at the hood latch tongue and receiver assemblies. I've seen latch assemblies offset to the left or right to "move" the hood to cover up a front end that's that's not straight, but looks straight with the hood closed.
N_Jay wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 8:45 pm
With most everything mechanical at the back end, I am figuring there is little chance of serious engine or trans damage.
Seems likely.
I'd pull the bumper cover and look for obvious signs of poor repair: zip ties, holes that obviously should have fasteners, bent brackets, spliced harnesses, loose dangling things, busted plastic, etc. Make sure the headlight assembles don't move when wiggled. They are notorious for having their plastic mount points broken in accidents such that, while still "working" they are secured by one bolt and will fly out when on-track. And why not keep the $2000 the insurance company gives you for a new light when the owner will never notice?
It should take less than one hour to R&R the front cover so as to see what's going on in their. (That is - for a shop that's done it before.) First time? If you have directions? Two hours tops.
N_Jay wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 8:45 pm
So, thinking if not wrecked it is worth $32k to $35k and repaired it is $10k to $12K less.
What would a fully running but ugly 2012 Cayman be worth as a starter to build a track car? I figure even if I have to take it that route in a few years I am still ahead of the game.
No idea. I have no idea what anything's worth just a good idea of what it costs to fix them and mostly only 928s.
Hanlon’s Razor: Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.
Heinlein’s Corollary: Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.
The Reddit Conjecture: Sufficiently advanced stupidity is indistinguishable from malice.
Worf’s Razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which is adequately explained by laziness.
Worf’s Identity: Sufficiently advanced laziness is indistinguishable from stupidity
Worf's Law: Once you've mitigated risk from stupidity and laziness in your endeavors, failure is usually the result of insufficient imagination.
My 928 Inspection Guide