[Ozshadow]

I was rear ended. It was a pretty hard hit. I got out expecting to see my rear end seriously smashed. Visually it is only scratched on the painted part between the rough plastic.

I have two concerns:

First, could there be hidden damage or sacrificed parts in the rear bumper assembly. It may be slightly looser, but I can't recall how sturdy it was to begin with. It seemed to drive fine. The rear gate opened and closed just fine and wasn't hit. As I said, visually just minor scuffs. (I think it was a Taurus that hit me)

Second, I get to choose shops - should I go to a dealer only shop or the one AAA recommends. I am concerned about the blue metal flake in my black paint matching, or them saying everything is fine, not knowing the internals of the bumper assembly.

Subarus are a bit rarer here in Big 3 land.

 

[adc]

I think I would lean toward a Subaru Shop or specialist if possible. Subaru's are complicatred sob's

 

[flstffxe]

It will likely be worse than you are expecting.

Body shops always seem to leave something to be desired. Some are excellent at executing the mechanical structural repairs but fail at the paint work(color match, blend...) or the other way around. We have local shops that far exceed our dealers body shop. Comparing other dealers and body shops the rolls may be reversed and the dealers might be better.

Play around online in some of your local automotive forums, doesn't matter what they are for. There should be some threads on those forums of recommended body shops.

I have a list of shops in my area I will use for various things if I don't have the time. Body work is some thing I don't do, as such I have a shop that I have found that has a consistent level of work I am OK with(I'm picky on some stuff) and that lets me know what to expect ahead of time. Via the above method I have also found a couple others that come highly recommended from forum members and have been added to that body shop list.

 

[Ozshadow]

I got underneath and it looks like the support beam did not bend. The thin painted part and two pieces of protection plastic are scuffed pretty good. It was a Taurus that hit me I think. Lotta plastic and about the best possible height.

 

[Bigboss01]

sultan

I was going northbound, approaching an intersection at about 45 mph. Waiting at the light was a young lady driver in a Saturn, waiting in her left turn lane to make a left turn in front of me. Unfortunately, she waited until I got about 15 feet from the intersection when she decided to gun it to try and beat me through the light. I T-boned her vehicle in her passenger side door. The impact shoved her car sideways about 8 feet or more if I recall correctly.

 

[Bigboss01]

I was going northbound, approaching an intersection at about 45 mph. Waiting at the light was a young lady driver in a Saturn, waiting in her left turn lane to make a left turn in front of me. Unfortunately, she waited until I got about 15 feet from the intersection when she decided to gun it to try and beat me through the light. I T-boned her vehicle in her passenger side door. The impact shoved her car sideways about 8 feet or more if I recall correctly.