First post - I'm so mad at myself!
08-30-2006, 09:10 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: 05-04-2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 6
First post - I'm so mad at myself!
Hello everyone. Although this is my first post, I have been reading this board since shortly before I bought my HHR in May. I've learned a lot here and appreciate all the great info.
I've never been much of a car person. My HHR is the first vehicle I've owned that I've been this attached to. So when I "injured" her this evening I felt sick.
I ran over a curb (too busy talking to my daughter - stupid me!), and managed to pull off the panel under the driver's side doors (rocker panel molding?). Most of the clips are broken. I can't believe I did something so stupid.
Tomorrow I will go to the dealer to get an estimate on repair. I know that if I go in there with no idea of what I'm talking about I stand a chance of being taken advantage of. So I was wondering if one of you knowledgable folks could tell me 1. The official name of that part. Is rocker panel molding correct? and 2. A general idea of what I can expect in the way of repair cost.
My insurance has a $500 deductible, so I'm hoping to not involve them in this. Any info and/or advice will be greatly appreciated!
I've never been much of a car person. My HHR is the first vehicle I've owned that I've been this attached to. So when I "injured" her this evening I felt sick.
I ran over a curb (too busy talking to my daughter - stupid me!), and managed to pull off the panel under the driver's side doors (rocker panel molding?). Most of the clips are broken. I can't believe I did something so stupid.
Tomorrow I will go to the dealer to get an estimate on repair. I know that if I go in there with no idea of what I'm talking about I stand a chance of being taken advantage of. So I was wondering if one of you knowledgable folks could tell me 1. The official name of that part. Is rocker panel molding correct? and 2. A general idea of what I can expect in the way of repair cost.
My insurance has a $500 deductible, so I'm hoping to not involve them in this. Any info and/or advice will be greatly appreciated!
08-30-2006, 09:18 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: 04-19-2006
Location: Arvada CO
Posts: 5,065
aboard. Sorry your first post had to be on the War Stories board. Do you have any photos of the damage yet? Sounds like you may not have running boards on your HHR. If not, it might be a good time to add them if it's just the rocker panel below the doors that's damaged. 
08-31-2006, 08:39 AM
#7
Member
Join Date: 07-06-2006
Location: Severn, Maryland
Posts: 32
Sorry to hear about the incident...Glad everyone is OK.
If your insurance has a $500 deductable, I don't think it would cost that much to get running boards installed. If you or your husband are mechanically inclined I know you can get them from some of the vendors mentioned in other posts for less than $500. Even if there is more significant damage, maybe you could get the dealer to cut you a break on the labor charges of taking the other panel off and replacing it, since it would be in the shop getting fixed anyway.
If your insurance has a $500 deductable, I don't think it would cost that much to get running boards installed. If you or your husband are mechanically inclined I know you can get them from some of the vendors mentioned in other posts for less than $500. Even if there is more significant damage, maybe you could get the dealer to cut you a break on the labor charges of taking the other panel off and replacing it, since it would be in the shop getting fixed anyway.
08-31-2006, 09:11 AM
#8
Thread Starter
Join Date: 05-04-2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 6
My HHR is Amethyst.
There doesn't appear to be any other damage. Just the panel ripped off. I'd share a picture, but there isn't much to see really. I've found the running boards online for $422 plus shipping, so if I can convince my husband to put them on I may decide to go in that direction. He is mechanically inclined (fixes air conditioners for a living) but he tends to shy away from doing this sort of thing.
Thanks everyone for the welcome.
There doesn't appear to be any other damage. Just the panel ripped off. I'd share a picture, but there isn't much to see really. I've found the running boards online for $422 plus shipping, so if I can convince my husband to put them on I may decide to go in that direction. He is mechanically inclined (fixes air conditioners for a living) but he tends to shy away from doing this sort of thing.
Thanks everyone for the welcome.
09-02-2006, 09:53 AM
#10
Thread Starter
Join Date: 05-04-2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 6
Before we got the repair estimate I made a deal with my husband. If it was more than $350 to repair then we would just go ahead and order the running boards.
The estimate, with tax and labor, was $231. So no running boards for my HHR. At least not right now
The estimate, with tax and labor, was $231. So no running boards for my HHR. At least not right now