My 914 was hit... (pictures), Advice wanted... draft letter to Mr. Buttmunch (not Zois) Options

[Rusty]

I posted on Pelican... my car was "dented" when the place I was renting decided to have the garage door fixed.

Below is a draft letter to Mister Buttmunch. Aside from arranging a contract for Mr. Buttmunch, am I missing anything in the letter?

Mr. B****y,

The damage is extensive. Please call the police and file a report, if you have not already done so. Once the report is complete, I would appreciate it scanned into an Adobe PDF file. Any competent print shop can do so, and I'll be happy to reimburse the cost to you.

They hit the car hard enough for the chrome bumper plug to fall out (the hole the lawrence3 photo, lower left). Aside from paint, there are several issues: First is structural. The metal panel that was struck is perpendicular to the rear trunk floor where the transmission mounts. That will need to be checked by a body shop very familiar with this model car.

Next, the decklid (rear trunk lid) may need to be replaced. Picture 4 shows that it is misaligned. I can't tell if the entire lid is warped. The lid hinges and mounting points need to be checked. The bumper top is unrepairable. Impossible to know if the chrome bumper is intact without disassembly - damage to the top mounting surface is possible, as the rubber top is bolted to the top of the chrome unit.

Please invite the adjuster. I will be interested in his comments. You may print this for him if you like.

I will try to arrange to have someone with a high resolution digital camera come visit to take pictures. I will let you know when they will able to visit.

Thank you.

[rhodyguy]

htf does repairing a door evolve into backing into a car with a truck. looks like a reciever hitch tattoo to me. wait till they see a bill for $4k. the pooping will be huge. is that one of those early bumpers? old, OLD, AA cat- $1062 new (if you can find one), $570 used (iycfo), $650 repro (iycfo). can i have the used/defective chrome plug?

k

[Rusty]

htf does repairing a door evolve into backing into a car with a truck. looks like a reciever hitch tattoo to me. wait till they see a bill for $4k. the pooping will be huge. is that one of those early bumpers? old, OLD, AA cat- $1062 new (if you can find one), $570 used (iycfo), $650 repro (iycfo). can i have the used/defective chrome plug?

k

They had to push the cars out of the garage. Before I stored the cars, I fogged the cylinders with oil and disabled the ignitions in several places. Nothing most of *us* couldn't troubleshoot quickly, but your average teenage joyrider wasn't going to get the car started.

I dunno where the plug went. Some minimum wage handiman probably thought it was funny that "the guy with the Porsche got his." I suspect the plug is long gone, but you can have it. Damn... we're all buzzards here, huh? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

It wasn't the ultra-rare early (sharp-angled) bumper. I'd be in tears.

This all started when I got the below email on the 11th. What a prick.

We completed the replacement of the garage door yesterday, and moved the Porsches in and out without a problem. The bad news is that when we raised the door, it appears that there is a dent on the 914 just above the rear bumper on the drivers side. I need to know if there was a dent there before the problem with the door. I took pictures and am contacting the insurance company again. I will contact an auto body place to get an estimate if you desire.

Apparently "without a problem" has been redefined to encompass "dented the f*ck out of your prized possession". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

I haven't yet heard an apology. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flipa.gif)

-Rusty (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smoke.gif)