Has anyone had experience getting body work done on Ruby Red paint? I got side-swiped by a flatbed the other day and have a nice gash on my passenger side rear door. I know tri-coat metallic paint can be a pain to fix and blend into the original paint. What should I look for when choosing a shop? From what I read so far, the key is to get a shop that solely specializes in body work (i.e. doesn't do mechanical work). I'm going to go out on a limb and ask if anyone had any good experiences and can recommend someone in the Pittsburgh area.

 

The key is go to a body shop with a skilled painter. A good painter can shoot the color and blend it perfect. Also some companies like Spies Hecker or Siikens have a 2 stage version of the tricoat that lays almost the same as the factory 3 stage. Wet sand and add a layer of clear and it'll sparkle like the tricoat. Good painters have skills enough to blend without noticing.

 

I ended up finding a great body shop that was highly suggested on other forums. He is using a 2 stage version since he said its nearly impossible to reapply the tri-coat like the factory. He said it will be cheaper and easier to buy a whole new door and start on that blank slate rather than try and blend half the passenger side of the truck.

 

Keep us posted. This is my 2nd ruby red and that is one of my greatest fears is to have to do paint work. I had a nasty ping on the driver's door on my last one that went to the metal and I never got it fixed for that reason ..

 

A whole new door is the best option, you want to avoid repairing a panel and using body filler when ever possible. A lot of body fillers give great results that look perfect right after the vehicle is painted, but many of them can shrink over time and look awful a year later.