I hit a deer. Can anyone recommend a NorCal or PNW body shop?

[MAX FPS]

More accurately, the deer hit me from the side as I was coming around a corner on a country road this evening doing about 45mph. The first I saw was a flash of antlers as they smashed the windshield. I turned around and drove back excepting to find a dying animal in the road, but it was off to the side standing and shaking its head. Luckily the poor thing should survive with a patch of skin on its butt painfully missing, and I'm guessing a massive headache.

My Emira... sigh. Only 2,600 miles on it and it's going to need body work. This thing is definitely a fiberglass shell. It still drives just fine - no structural damage. But the front wheel arch panel is broken, mirror housing broken/missing, and the driver's side rear panel around the intake took the worst of it, badly broken.

I'm in Southern Oregon. I imagine most local body shops could order replacement parts from Lotus, but I'm wondering if anyone has any good experiences with body work on their Lotus with any Northern California, Oregon or Washington Lotus dealers that can handle body panels or body shops that know Lotus? TIA!

 

[docron]

Oh man, sorry to see this. in my neck of the woods, driving into work when its still dark is getting more riskier due to the deer running. It will get worse once they start farming the crops. I split a pair of young deer last week doing 65mph.

 

[AZemira-i4]

Sorry for your deer encounter.
Just curious … have you seen the repair bill yet.

 

[MAX FPS]

$32K, plus towing and redoing the PPF will add several grand. (still haven't gotten an answer from insurance if my PPF is covered)
USAA is being fantastic about it so far, but we'll see if they drop me next year. My last insurance company dropped my home & auto due to one claim in 15 years with them.

If anyone is interested in what the left side of a Lotus costs, here's the parts list it needs. Headlights are advanced tech and this one is comparable to a Porsche headlight, but $4,570 for the windshield is just criminal. Weirdly, the large and complex-shaped left rear quarter panel was 1/2 the price of the left front fender.

Park Place parts dept said ETAs from Lotus on parts were "vague" and could be "days, weeks, or months". But the good news is it looks like enough parts have come in for them to at least get a start on the job. Accurate Auto Body in Redmond, WA seems on-the-ball and has worked on Emiras before. They seem very interested in doing a thorough job.

 

[geoffbland]

If anyone is interested in what the left side of a Lotus costs, here's the parts list it needs. Headlights are advanced tech and this one is comparable to a Porsche headlight, but $4,570 for the windshield is just criminal. Weirdly, the large and complex-shaped left rear quarter panel was 1/2 the price of the left front fender.

That's interesting as when I did my test drives before getting the car the dealer advised me to make sure I have windscreen cover and to PPF it as a new one cost £4,000. But then I was told on this forum (with some evidence) that they are 'only' £1,200 - see here --> https://www.emiraforum.com/threads/cracked-windscreen.4437.
$4,500 for the headlights as well - we might need to start having headlight cover as well as windscreen cover on modern cars

 

[NicolasB]

My biggest fear when out driving mine. Best of luck

 

[khamai]

Ugh, sorry to see this.

In the SF Bay Area is Automotive Enterprises (San Carlos). They've done both classic Lotus (Elan, Europa, Esprit) and current (Elise, Exige, Evora). Should be able to handle Emiras. FWIW, AE is well known for their Corvette work.