well, I finally had a good look over the car today after it being repaired. To be blunt, I'm not really happy.

Heres a quick list of the problems I've found (so far)

* Left hand rear door - looks like it has been under the grinder to make it fit, paint has been scraped off, has a rough edge, and looks bodge.

* Paint defects, with sh*t in the paint, can be seen and felt.

* The front grill (where badge is) is black... I am pretty sure the original colour is a gunmetal type grey? can anyone confirm?

* My 4inch magic cat has been replaced with something else??? unless magic cats have changed the appearance of their cat? I am yet to phone them. The cat used looks similar, but is stainless, shiny, and not the same!

* Left hand rear quarter panel looks like its got a dent in it (from when you open the door)

* The edge of my front tyres are balding at a rapid rate since getting the car back.. obviously they didn't do a good job on wheel alignment.

I will try get pics later today.

Where do I stand in terms of my cat??? I specifically told the exhaust shop that I wanted a 4 inch magic cat... the exact same replacement as I had on there. Even if for some reason they couldn't get a magic cat, they should have informed me that it wasn't.

Can I make them replace it? I don't know how it'll affect Simons new tune. I don't even know what friggin type it is!

I want to take the car back to be fixed properly, but I don't wanna be without it for another 2 months

Damn Jimmy, have you spoken to your insurance company about it yet? That would be my first move... you should have a person from your insurance company that is handling or had been handling your claim... speak to them, and convey your disappointment with the job that has been performed on your car and ask them what they are going to do about it...

I feel for you mate, must be just so frustrating...

Good luck with it...

Jack

Yeah, that's a real pain mate, sorry to hear that news. I'd be VERY p1ssed off myself and you have every right to be more than a little annoyed, especially having been without it for so long.

I agree with Jack, your best approach is probably via your insurance company. The panel beaters who did the job should be made to rectify their mistakes and given a stern talking to by the insurance guys. That's just not good enough. They should be taken off the 'approved repairers' list, that is if indeed they were ever on it in the first place.

Good luck, let us know how you go.

its more then frustrating mate.. I'm gonna russel crowe some one soon!!

heres some pics... don't really show up that clear...

the first two pics are of the left hand quarter panel.. where they obviously "repaired" the panel, but didn't roll the guard.

Third is of the edge of the left hand rear door door.. looks like old left over wax, but I assure you its not.. its been ground down with a grinder to make the door fit properly.

Fourth pic is of the inside of the left hand rear door, note the scratches... also from outside the car, it looks dented, and doesn't look very repaired at all...

I'm most annoyed about the cat though... I told them what it was, what I needed, and I even offered the magic performance number to them.

What a bunch of scumbag repairers.

Is that a mismatch in the colour there in pic 4???

Some people have no pride in their workmanship!!

Repaired to a price, not to a standard!!!

Russ

Is that a mismatch in the colour there in pic 4???

Now that you mention it, it does look like a colour mismatch.. could be the light.

Had a quick check and it looks ok.. in saying that, I'm yet to give the car a good clean and wax.. which will no doubt show up more problems!

does anyone have pics of their installed metal cat? the cat used appears to be one of these. From memory, the magic cat flowed better.. it was for this reason I got it in the first place, to help reduce pressure on the valve springs.

Should I demand that a magic cat be put back on? or make do with the metal cat??

The 4 inch magic cat flowed at about 750cfm, and the 3.5 inch metal cat flows at 534 or there abouts...

Perhaps I'll see how it goes on the dyno with Simons new tune.. and if there is one single little tiny problem... I'll blame the cat and make them change it anyways if it appears to be ok, I'll keep it.

Perhaps it really is time to trade in the T (a few years ahead of time) and get the phoon... They just keep giving me reasons and excuses to off the T and hop in a phoon

Edited June 20, 200620 yr by JimmyXR6T04

hmm... I might have egg on my face about the cat...

I just rang magic performance, and asked them if their cats had any changes to style, finish etc etc... and they said that they have changed a little bit, and are slightly more polished then the previous ones..

so maybe it is a magic cat and in all my anger and frustration I have just jumped off the deep end without assessing the situation

however, I will have to have a good look at the cat, and also might go ask the exhaust shop if they have an invoice from magic performance so that I can clear my mind of this part of the fiasco.

I need a beer.

did you get the magic cat done at magic performance??

if so he sprays it dark to match the zorst!!

he did my hole 4 inch system and colour matched it.

the cat by its self is a silver colour..

post a pic of it and I will tell you if its magic or not!!!

I have a magic cat sitting on my desk now so I will tell you if it looks the same!

holy crap.... sorry to hear abou the poor repair !!

My exhaust is now making a crap sound ever since the accident. The assesor has said the exhaust needs to checked/fixed. I am guessing the exhaust shop will go for as much as they can on this. Even if it only needs a new rear I recogn they will go for a new system to make money. They better not do anything to my cat .

The asessor said he will not need to approve anything as its been approved already. As soon as he hears from the exhaust shop he will ok by phone. He said that since this is a new car, any damage they find will be from the accident and it makes his job that much easier.

anyway, If I get anything back like yours, I will not be happy And I will let them know about it.

call your insurance compnay first!! as they are the ones who guarantee the work!!

good luck