Has My Car Been in the Body Shop Before?
Happy New Year! Well, we made it through another one, huh? Let’s see…we’re a few weeks in now. That means, essentially, that the year is still “new” enough to legitimately wish someone a “Happy New Year”, but enough days have passed that the majority of us have already thrown all resolutions right out the window. You know, since all New Year’s resolutions seem to get broken so quickly maybe next year we should resolve to exercise less and eat more junk food. Who knows, it could work.
All right, I suppose I have to congratulate the Panthers and the Patriots in winning their conference championships. Please note that I don’t necessarily want to, but I have to. I would rather be congratulating the Eagles, but clearly that just isn’t going to happen. Instead, the Eagles get the dubious honor of losing three straight conference championships for the first time since the Cowboys held the record with their 1980-83 streak. Remind me again why I continue to watch football…
Anyway, well you all have been just going about your business, enjoying the whole 2005 vibe, we here at CustomAutoTrim.com have been burning the midnight oil getting some new deals cooking up for you on the site.
TIP SHACK
This month, one of our subscribers asked:
I’m looking to buy a used vehicle. How can I tell if a car I’m interested in has been in a body shop or had major repairs done?
That’s a great question, and something that’s very important to know about any vehicle before you purchase it. The first thing to do is to go to either end of the car and squat down at the corner, such as by the tail light, and look straight down the body of the car—down the quarter panel, the doors, and right up the fender. Notice the shine or reflections that you’re getting off of the paint? That’s where you want to start. Are there sections shinier than others? Are there any ripples at all? These could be indications of poorly done body work. Next, feel the paint all the way around the car. All of the painted surfaces should feel the same. Feel the bumpers, as well. Are there any spots on the car that are a little rougher? If so, then you have good reason to be suspicious. If a car has a pinstripe, look along it to see whether a body shop painted part of a body panel. One trick a painter will use to save work is to mask off part of a panel and only re-do a nearby area that was most significantly affected by work. If that’s the case, the painter will probably do the masking right next to a pinstripe. Finally, always look for hints of over spray or an old color that give away an undisclosed paint job. This requires checking door jambs, under the hood, in the trunk and under the gas-cap door. Putting in a little extra time while shopping for your vehicle can save you a lot of time and money down the road.
Best of all, buy a used car from someone you trust—be it a dealer or an individual. And never, ever jump at a deal that seems too good to be true. It almost always is.
WEB NEWS
This month we’ve got the hot deals on truck bed rails like you won’t even believe. And we’re not just talking a few select models on sale—every single one is marked down. Whether you’re rollin’ in a truck from the 80’s or just got a new pickup last weekend, these rails are the accessory to have. We’ve got them in triple plated chrome, black, or stainless steel, so let us help you figure out which model is a match for your truck.
Did you miss last month’s debut sale on Hood Scoops? I don’t think many of you did, because they were selling like crazy, but we do still have some models left, and for a limited time we’ve got them marked down even further. You can order them matched to your factory color, or save even more cash and pick them up primed to paint yourself.
Have you still not taken a look at our AEROGEAR® body kit line? For a short time only, we’ve got select AEROGEAR® hoods and fenders marked down to make room for upcoming models. Find what you need for your car or truck.