The new Stingray is much more than a nostalgia thirst quencher

General Motors Corporation recently announced they are bringing back iconic Corvette Stingray to be sold everywhere this fall.” It’s probably about six months away from being in our showroom,” said Fred Bell, owner of Community Chevrolet in Burbank:” And it’s going to be amazing.”

Just how amazing is it going to be? The new Stingray is built on aluminum frame which makes the car lighter and stiffer and features carbon fiber hood and roof panels as well as lightweight compounds for the fenders and doors. If looks are important the new generation Stingray is for you; with the rear end reminiscent of Ferrari it is designed with the nose that seems to be more integrated or wrapped around the frame than the last one. It looks like a rocket ready to be launched.

As a kid I remember dreaming about once owning a 1967 Stingray 427 convertible, but as a young adult I recall being less than impressed with 1980 T Top stingray’s suspension performance.

The new generation Stingray aims to distinguish itself with a new engine, a 6.2  V-8, which includes direct injection, continuously variable valve timing and a combustion system GM says will deliver more power while using less fuel.

To rate the new and improved suspension I would need to drive the vehicle, but so far there are only two 2014 new generation Stingrays in existence, both hand- made and for display only. So stay tune for more information…

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)