CSI SHOP TALK

Every now and then, I scroll through a car group on Facebook—not even one of the collision repair groups, just your average gearhead/DIY/“watch me flex with zip ties” page—and I see something that makes my brain itch. Recently, I stumbled on a post from someone who’d been in an accident. Fairly serious hit—looked like both doors got nailed. The guy was asking the group what it would cost to fix, whether he should buy it back from the insurance company, and how to “cheaply” get it back on the road. Fair enough—people love their cars, and this one happened to be his wife’s favorite. I respect the sentiment. But then came the advice from the comment section… And that’s where my blood pressure left the chat. “Just put new outer skins on the doors.” “You won’t even see the damage once you cover it up.” “It’s all cosmetic.” “Bro, I did this on my cousin’s ’08 Accord and it’s fine.” Stop. Let’s talk. I’ve been in the collision repair industry for over two decades. And when I tell y...

How ridiculous does this sound? “They’re going to crash it anyway.” I hear it all the time from parents whose kids are creeping up on driving age. The goal? Find something cheap, beat-up, and “safe enough” for a new driver. Bonus points if it's a tank from the '90s because, "they don’t make ‘em like they used to." Let’s pause. We're talking about kids who are still learning how to drive —as in, they just figured out how to merge without their blinker on. And we’re okay putting them behind the wheel of a rusty old sedan because it’s cheap and already has some dents? Sounds more ridiculous now, doesn’t it? Look, this isn’t about calling out anyone’s past choices. It’s about sparking a conversation about the future drivers we’re putting on the road. So what should you buy your new driver? You know, the one who: Thinks stop signs with a white border are optional Turns a Buick like it's a Peterbilt Brakes like they’re kicking a bass drum in a Me...