Ten things to be outlawed while behind a wheel.

Texting and driving is illegal in California, yet almost every day I see a driver at the stop light looking down, most likely trying to send a quick text to someone. The question that comes to my mind is how did we used to get by without texting and smart phones?

While it is fairly obvious why texting and driving is distracting, dangerous and now illegal there are a few other things that drivers do today that should be outlawed. Here is my top ten list of things we do behind the wheel that should be banned.

11)   Putting on makeup while driving

Have you ever passed by a gorgeous blond in a BMW only to notice her applying mascara and holding up traffic

22) Eating and driving

Have you ever eaten a taco and drank a soda while driving with your leg and have a half of taco spill out on your white shirt?

33)   Watching DVD’s, Netflix on I phone or I pad while driving

I do not know whose bright idea was it to install DVD players in our vehicles. I can understand it installed in the back of a minivan or SUV for our kids to watch, but I have seen on more than one occasion drivers watching their DVD’s in bumper to bumper traffic on a freeway.

44)    Getting directions on your GPS while Driving

Have you ever thought why your navigation system search shuts down as you start moving? That’s right they don’t want you to get directions while you drive.

55)    Shaving and driving

Driven to succeed providers, men have been known to multitask to save time. Beware shaving smoking and driving at the same time could be hazardous to your health.

66)   Listening to music with headphones on

Listening to music while driving is widely acceptable recreation. However listening to music through headphones will prevent you from hearing other drivers blowing their horns and could cause an accident.

77)  Blow-drying your hair with a car heater while driving

Have you ever seen a lady using her car heater as a blow dryer?

88)  Arguing with your spouse

My wife is a back seat driver. It could be very annoying, but more than that it has a potential to create a road hazard argument

99)   Feeding your toddler on a back seat while driving

Believe it or not I have even seen a lady breast feed her baby while driving.                  Having your dog in your lap while driving

10) Having your little puddle named Rex in your lap while driving to the store might seem cute to you, but it has a potential to cause a fatal accident.

Do you have anything to add to my list? I would really like your input.

How many estimates do I need anyways?

“My insurance agent told me to get three estimates. You will be my second one,” was a greeting I got yesterday from a proud Chevy Tahoe owner, Dave Fenderbender.

“I didn’t know you were working for your insurance agent,” I replied:” I thought you were paying him.”

These kinds of conversations happen at Burbank Body Shop on regular basis. Even sophisticated and educated consumers of 21 Century feel inclined to follow instructions of their agents or insurance adjustors.

The fact is that the law does not require you to get more than one estimate. That same law states clearly that you are not required to use any particular shop suggested by anybody. You, the consumer have the right to choose a facility to perform repairs on your car. So unless you are shopping around for a cheaper price, you are simply wasting your time getting three estimates. You would be better served interviewing body shop manager and or getting the tour of the repair facility and observing if the shop is clean and organized. Ask yourself: “Would I feel comfortable getting my vehicle repaired here?” If the answer is no, do not waste your time getting an estimate. Just keep searching, but if the answer is yes let the shop write an estimate and explain to you what they plan to do. If you feel satisfied with the explanation let the shop handle your insurance claim. They know how to do it.

Remember, there is a difference in body shops. A lower estimate may overlook details like removing parts, aligning front end or aiming headlights etc. It is your vehicle… makes sure it is repaired to your satisfaction. You are the only one who can authorize repairs on your car.So how many estimates do you really need? One, just make sure it addresses all your concerns.

Tell your friends

Burbank Body Shop Joins The Social Network!

It has been a long time overdue, but Burbank Body Shop has set up it's own facebook page! Though it is still a work in progress, the page will contain before and after images, showcasing the quality of our expert service. We invite you, our customers, to be a part of this. Simply check out the site, leave a comment or two, and if it's not too much trouble, like our page. It's just a single click! And, it will help us, as we try to tackle this new frontier! It will be a way for us to stay in touch with our customers, to keep them updated with the latest news the shop has, as well as coupons and offers we may have, and it will show prospective clients the effort and hard work that we put into our vehicles. 

149 E. Providencia Ave

Burbank, Ca 91502   

818 845-0901

How much would you charge for Insurance fraud?

While refueling my shiny white Lexus at a local gas station the other day, I ran into a station manager who I have known casually for a number of years.

“I have a question for you,” he said:” My cousin asked me if I know a body shop. He had the third seat stolen from his Chevy Tahoe. Insurance company told him they would pay a body shop to replace it. How much would you charge him to cash this check?”

“Do you even realize that you are asking me to commit Insurance fraud and jeopardize my business and my reputation for a few bucks?” I thought:” Which by the way is a federal offence punishable by prison sentence?”

But All I said was:” I don’t even get involved in stuff like that.” End of story, but the reason I am writing about it is because as a shop owner I get propositioned to do something like that on regular basis. In other words a growing number of our citizens see absolutely nothing wrong with defrauding their insurance company.

“They are so big, they can afford it,” they say. But the real question is can we afford it? Can we afford to have such an attitude?”  Insurance companies did not get to be so big and powerful by being stupid or unaware. They are well informed of fraud that is being perpetrated against them on regular basis. They have created special investigative units within their companies to prevent it, but more than that they have included losses from fraud as cost of doing business. How does this affect you, the consumer? To recoup their losses from fraud Insurance companies are cutting costs on repairs by using aftermarket parts etc..., which simply put means your vehicle once in an accident will not be fully restored to pre accidental condition. Can we really afford that? What do you think?

A myth about Bondo

                                                     Rust underneath cracked Bondo

“ I want to make sure you understand,” exclaimed long time Burbank resident Charlie Miller while dropping off his late model Chevy Tahoe at Burbank Body  Shop for collision related repairs:” I don’t want any Bondo on my car and I want all original parts.” Charlie is not the only customer to express this sentiment about Bondo in recent years .What’s wrong with Bondo?

Major manufacturer of automotive related products, 3M developed Bondo to replace toxic lead filler used in vehicle repairs in the past. In the old days craftsmen who used to be called metal men repaired most metal panels on an automobile. They used a process called metal finishing to repair damaged panels. It took time and real skill to repair a panel by metal beating using special tools. At the end of the process lead filler was used to smooth out the panel before it was refinished. It was a laborious and hazardous to a man’s health process. A discovery of putty Bondo filler was a huge innovation in collision repair industry. You can compare it to invention of sliced bread.

Much easier in application Bondo significantly reduces time of repair and exposure to toxic hazards for body men. So what is wrong with Bondo?

Unfortunately because of the ease of application, some of the unscrupulous repairers decided to forgo Metal finishing process and use Bondo as fix it all method… In other words instead of repairing a metal panel first, they would simply fill the damaged area with putty Bondo.  With time and moisture excessive amount of Bondo on automobile cracks hence the term Bondo crack. It has become such a widespread problem that automobile resellers and some sophisticated consumers use magnets to check for Bondo on vehicles. Magnet will stick to metal but not to Bondo.

Just like with fine vine Bondo is great in moderation; abuse it and expect troubles, in other words to avoid problems keep Bondo use to its intended specifications.

Want to learn more check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bondo_(putty)

Turning Total Loss into a gain

Insurance Companies have set guidelines for declaring your vehicle a Total Loss. Just in case you are not familiar with the term, the vehicle is declared a Total Loss after an accident if the cost of repairs exceeds usually about 75 percent of the value of an automobile. It is pretty straight forward. For example, if your 2008 Chevy Camaro is worth $10,000 before it hit a fire hydrant on Glenoaks Boulevard and the repair cost after is $ 9,000 it is declared a Total Loss. In such cases your Insurance Company usually will take your vehicle to a junk yard and pay you a fair value to replace it. However when you add a human element to the equation things could get a bit complicated.

A huge tree fell on Brian Hogue’s Ford truck during last year’s storm that temporarily left half of the City of Angels without electricity. “Thank God it wasn’t my house,” said Hogue who came by the body shop to talk about his truck. Insurance Company has declared Brian’s vehicle a Total Loss, but he wasn’t quite ready to send his prized possession to the salvage yard. Aside from sentimental and practical value, Brian just could not visualize having a car note on a new vehicle.

“What would it take to repair it?” inquired Mr. Hogue

“Time and a lot of work,” replied Jorge Mondragon, Burbank Body Shop’s production manager.

“Some jobs are more lucrative than others,” noted Mondragon who began his career over forty years ago sanding cars at his father’s body shop:” But what makes it all worthwhile is when you can make a customer happy.”

Replacing a cab on a Ford truck is not as simple as replacing a fender, but Mondragon has the experience and a know how to do both equally perfect. To replace a fender one needs to simply unbolt it and then bolt it back on. To replace a cab one needs to remove and reinstall the chassis, drive train, complete wiring etc…

Few months later and some blood sweat and tears Brian’s truck was ready to get back on the road. “Yesterday he felt like a kid the day before Christmas,” said Brian’s wife Stacie when they came to pick up the truck.” It looks like brand new,” they exclaimed in unison.

Camaro ZL1 is no longer Corvette’s poor little cousin

Chevrolet people recently announced that the new Camaro Zl1 is now officially a member in the 11 seconds club. A stock ZL1 with an automatic transmission ran a quarter mile in 11.93 seconds reaching 116 miles per hour speed.

"The ZL1 is great at everything, and we're very proud of that," said Tony Roma, Camaro ZL1 program engineering manager: "You can take it to the drag strip and run 11-second quarter-miles all day long. You can also take it to a road course, where it's balanced, handles well, and does exactly what you want."

General Motors officials recently stated that 2012 Camaro ZL1 could accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in four seconds using street legal components.

Taking a phrase burning rubber to a new level the new ZL1 is a throwback to a special-order 1969 Camaro ZL1 that was renowned for its performance on the drag strip.

“We know many of customers will take their ZL1 to the drag strip,” said Gordon Rojewski, driveline development engineer – and who is also an experienced drag racer and owner of a turbocharged, 920-horsepower street car. “Some may just go once, to experience the full potential of the 580-horsepower LSA engine. Others may be more serious, going every other weekend with a set of slicks in the trunk. As such, we set out to make sure the ZL1 would perform for them – on the first pass and on the 100th.”

I had to take a look at a newly constructed ZL1 which would give any corvette a run for its money at a local dealership, Community Chevrolet. 580 horsepower engine and a sleek exterior took my breath away.

Texting and Driving

One would think that creating a law that bans texting while driving is a no brainer, especially considering that texting is a preferred form of communication for our youth. Yet only thirty eight out of fifty states of our country have implemented that law. The latest state, Alabama which will have a ban on texting behind the wheel effective August 1^st, will fine first time offenders $25.00, second timers $50.00 and $75.00 for all subsequent offences. In California where texting while driving ban went into effect on January 2009, first time violators are subjected to a $20.00 fine. All subsequent convictions are subject to $50.00 fine. Note that even though these convictions will appear on your DMV record they will not cost you a point or adversely affect your insurance premium. Are these fines severe enough to enforce the law? How serious is this situation?

Yesterday I went to take a look at the Honda that belongs to the City of Burbank. It was smashed beyond repair. The car was parked while it was hit by a young motorist who destroyed two other vehicles at the same time.” He was going thirty five miles per hour and he didn’t even stop,” exclaimed Tim, city supervisor:” There were no tire marks. The kid swore up and down that he wasn’t texting.”

Fortunately all three vehicles were parked and the young kid walked away unharmed. But how many accidents of this nature end up with fatalities? Are you talking to your children about texting and driving? My twenty year old son likes to text at the dinner table or even while he is talking to me on the phone.  He says he doesn’t text while he drives, but he checks his messages. Do you check your messages while you drive? Is it safe? No!

A cause of a major train wreck in Chatsworth several years ago was attributed to a train engineer texting while on the job.  How scary it would be to think that our airline pilots are texting while in the air? How many more fatalities do we need to stop ignoring potentially life altering dangers associated with texting and driving?

“Now more than three quarters of our states outlaw one of the riskiest behaviors behind the wheel- texting and driving,” said U.S transportation Secretary Ray La Hood. What about the rest of the country? For more information on text messaging law click on http://dmv.ca.gov/cellularphonelaws/

Replace versus Repair.

They say there is more than one way to skin a cat. There is also more than one way to repair your automobile. In this article we will review a never ending debate of replace versus repair.

In a perfect world every damaged part would be replaced by original part made by manufacturer of your vehicle. Cost, availability and quality of repairs are three major factors when considering the best way to restore your automobile to pre accident condition. Of course if you live in Africa finding a replacement fender for Chevy Impala might be a bit of a challenge. I have recently interviewed a body man from Ghana who took pride in being able to straighten almost any panel and showed me pictures of parts he was forced to repair due to unavailability. With twenty five years of experience in collision repair industry I was simply amazed.

Fortunately we do not have the same problems in Southern California. Aside from few minor instances, such as trying to get a performance Porsche wheel through customs or having a wiring harness for a corvette on back order for several months, one can get any auto part imaginable in a timely manner. Should we then replace every damaged part?

Just the other day a proud owner of Chevy Suburban told me while dropping it off for repairs:” I don’t want any Bondo on my car and I want all new parts.”

“That is preferred Modus Operandus at Burbank Body Shop,” I replied.

Unfortunately it was 1998 Suburban and if I was to adhere to my customer’s wishes the cost of repairs would exceed the value of the vehicle. On the other hand an appraiser employed by State Farm Insurance, while negotiating a price of repairs with me said: “This door cost thirteen hundred dollars. Can we try to repair it? I will give you sixteen hours to do it.” Other words, insurance guy was willing to pay a body man to spend two days to repair this door. Is it reasonable?

Obviously the cost of repairs is important, but what about quality? What are the criteria’s to use when deciding repair versus replace? Generally when the cost of repairing of an existing panel approaches the price of replacement part, the new panel is recommended. Several different formulas are used in the industry to decide on repair versus replace. They take into account painting of the damaged panel along with blending adjacent panels and other operations as well as time required or as we call it cycle time. These formulas are complicated. There are also formulas on how much Bondo can be used on a panel, considering that it shrinks with time and prone to creating cracks on paint.

Ultimately, the decision whether to repair or replace a panel should be made with participation and best interest of one person in mind, vehicle owner. Transparency and communication between shop owner and vehicle owner is the key to successful repair, because just as often as I get requests for all new parts, customers say:” I don’t care what you do, just make it cheap. I am paying cash.”

Replace or repair? You be the judge, but remember that “ The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of the cheap price is forgotten.”