1.8TVibe

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/84585/img_6326.jpg"></center><p>I thought I'd pass the word along to you San Diego peeps, in case you're looking for a good place to go for getting body work done, and /or getting bumpers/body kits/lowers painted. I have to say, Chapparone Auto Body on Balboa Ave did an excellent job. Paint match was perfect and repair work was top notch.

I was rear ended a few weeks ago..Not too major, but enough to crack the paint in the bumper and push the left absorber in so far that it needed to be replaced. Also had a few dents on the frame... Aside from just the great finish they did, I had a really good experience working with these guys. I had some issues dealing with another body shop I wanted to go to first, and also had some initial issues dealing with my insurance company just to get work started(I'll get to that later)...So I took it to Chapparone, per my wife's recommendation. The first day I walked into the shop for an estimate, I talked to Chris Chapparone (owner), and told him about the hoops that my insurance and another body shop was putting me through.

Chris must have felt pretty bad and wanted to help. To help be get a precise estimate, he took some of his shop workers off their busy schedules to take apart the rear of my car, and showed me everything that was damaged. This might not seem like a big deal, but the fact that it took about an hour off his workers to dissemble, inspect, reassemble and without my assurance that I would have his shop actually do the work, I thought was unheard of. (I can't think of any of my previous body shops that offered to do this to help me out, even when I needed them too..)

Every time I called, Alisa (shop manager), promptly got the info I needed, etc. And I got a regular update as to the status of my repair.
The car came back on time, No overspray. Just a great job...And they fully detailed and polished...getting rid of most of the swirl marks that was left by a bad car wash I recently had. In addition to the repair, I also got the lowers painted at a great price, thanks to Mark(?- I forgot his name).. Chapparone also painted a B-Pillar cover for free.




----------------------------------------
Now about the "other" body shop I wanted to go to originally...

&lt;begin vent&gt;
I originally wanted to go to a place called Amato's, because (1) they were recommended by the dealer (2) I lived really close to where that shop was..Well it turns out they were the biggest arrogant ****** that I have ever met. Basically, I go there the first day asking for an estimate, and they turn me away, telling me that I need an appointment for an estimate. Irritated, I schedule an appointment in 3 days. On the third day, I arrive and the rep asks me what year the car is. After telling her it's a MY2000, she turns me away, saying "Sorry, we aren't accepting work for cars that are 2002 or older." Ok, why didn't you tell me the first time I walked in? So I go home and call the shop, asking for someone else. I ask if they are accepting repairs for a 2000 Audi. She confirms they are and asks me to come in for an estimate. I get there, only to find out that Amato's is only accepting repair work for MY2000 for existing customers. Ok, why didn't she tell me that too? I call the dealer for a shop recommendation the next day, which recommends to me Amato's. I call Amato's a third time saying that the Audi dealer recommended that I go there. Finally, the rep says "Well, if the audi dealer sent you there, I guess we'll have to squeeze you in. But the earliest date for your type of repair is end of February 2006..." WTF, for minor repair work?......

At this point, I'm thinking...WTF? I need to beg you so that you can take my money....never mind....So...I can't comment on how good Amato's is...But they are surely an arrogant *****. Plus I can't imagine how they would handle the situation if something went wrong with the actual repair work.
&lt;/end vent&gt;

A4812

Beautiful Paint

needforsleep

Beautiful B5 Butt