This is a difficult post for me as an owner of 13 years. I might have to break/dismantle my car....

I started to refurbish it by dismantling some bits four years ago to sort out a few things including one that has never been quite correct in my eyes. The passenger door upper door seal has always sat slightly different from the drivers door. The long and short of it is that it has had a repair to the passenger rear 3/4 panel and rear end. I also believe the rear 3/4 has been welded in slightly nearer the front of the car than it should be. In my eyes its either right or wrong and its wrong!

Now I could pay a specialist to try and fix it within a given(reasonable) budget but if its was not quite correct after the work I would not be happy and then legal/financial battles begin....

I figure its easier to break it and put the raised funds to another car....although I have never removed an engine or gearbox before.

The car is a moon-grey 6 speed upgraded to plus spec with genuine Fiat parts. It has low-ish mileage 63k or so but at present has the bumpers, boot and doors removed but I have every part down to the boot nets etc!....it was also very reliable =(

Please post with advice,

thanks in advance Tom.

Am I right in thinking that you have a Coop that's in mechanically good condition but it's just cosmetically that you aren't totally happy with it?

Have others commented on it not looking 100% right in the same way as you feel?

Any photos of the perceived imperfections?

To strip and sell it for its parts would be a real shame, even if you feel it's not quite as straight as it should be, it's been a labour of love so can you not finish rebuilding it and enjoy it as is?

Give it to me.

I will love it like a child, and give it all the affection a wonky coop deserves.

I'll even give you visiting rights once a month.

Put it back together and sell it.
If you're not happy with it then move it on and put the funds to a new one.
It would be sacrilege to scrap a good low mileage coupe if it drives well.

Thank you for the reply's...not what I was expecting to be honest. I don't want to take a coop off the road but I also have got out of my depth with mine....

I will hold fire for a bit and pester a few knowledgeable coop experts before making a rash decision.

All advice and points of view still welcome.

Tom.

I think it comes down to choosing a very good bodyshop which could undertake a 'perfect' repair. To do that it will obviously cost $$$'s. I cannot see the point in breaking mechanically perfect car when a repair is a viable option given you state you would only purchase another, the possible pitfalls of that could cost $$$$$'s in any case unless you spend £7-10K. Is it on the register?