Almost lost my passenger door last night

[NewGuard]

Girlfriend and I were out on the town last night. I had just found a rare parking spot on the left side of a one way major street close to where we were going, so I carefully parked and got out to pay the meter, feeling pleased with my luck. When I turned around, I saw that girlfriend was opening the passenger door directly into oncoming traffic. Time slows down, I can see that door and SUV going 35mph are clearly going to connect. Amazingly, it's just an ever so slight, glancing blow (I guess off the front side of his rear wheel well), as girlfriend was "just opening the door to look for traffic"... Well she found it.

The result, very luckily, is just a small nick and a very slight dent in the lip of the door. The other guy didn't even stop. I suspect (?) it would have been our fault, legally, but I guess he figured based on the sound that it wasn't worth it. If she had opened it a fraction of a second later, and the door had touched inside his wheel well, or if any number of variables were different, it would have been a very different story. Glad she's fine (minus feeling guilty and shaken at a close call), and glad my car's "fine".

That being said, of course, we new owners are all really sensitive and proud of our beauties, and we don't want them to be less than perfect. What's the best approach to fixing this? I wonder about just getting some touch up guard from the dealer, and perhaps using a rubber hammer from the inside of the door edge to push the lip back out.

I'm reasonably handy (though I haven't done this before). Would a body shop be able to do more than what I could manage myself with a few hours and some elbow grease? Are there any special tools they would use? Could I just buy the special tool for less than the cost and hassle of taking my car in to someone?

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[Zodiac]

Damn glad she's fine and the damage isn't that bad, but seriously does she walk into the road first and then look for traffic?

 

[NewGuard]

Damn glad she's fine and the damage isn't that bad, but seriously does she walk into the road first and then look for traffic?

Yeah, no joke. I did a very good job of not attacking her, I think. But at her "I can't see behind us until I open the door," it took a lot of restraint on my part. I didn't contradict her, just told her that I was glad she was ok, and that the car was just a thing and it wasn't that damaged anyway. She appreciated my response, and told me she'd pay for repairs, as she understands how I feel about my car. When we got back in the car at the end of the night, she looked behind herself from the passenger seat with the door closed, and said, "Oh, I guess I can see a lot without opening the door." Me: "........I'm glad to hear that......"

Sometimes it's amazing to me what little situational awareness she has. She's certainly not ever driving my car, even though the insurance company made me include her on the policy.

 

[Roman]

Not sure about the dent, but I'd recommend Dr. Colorchip for the paint.

 

[SpeedLu]

Wow, do you have some restraint. I can honestly say I would not have been nearly as understanding. Or maybe I would have... I don't know because my wife would never do something like that. Man does she sound like an airhead. Glad there is nothing more than a ding and she's still breathing.

 

[CB]

Hey Newguard, this should have been you saying, look honey, don't get out until I make sure it's clear.

 

[73MachI]

Yeh, life is full of little things like this. Glad your car wasn't damaged, and even more that your gf wasn't hurt. In the end, your gf is a lot more important than your car, so good for you that you restrained your response.

 

[mhagerty]

Sorry about the mishap but good for you regarding your response. In the end its just a car. We all love our rides but I would never put any of my cars in front of someone I cared about.

 

[EcoSwag1990]

Lol funny I just let my girl drive my car for the first time today on our way home from Philly and I slightly flipped out on her

A. Because she is terrible at judging gaps when she needs to change lanes and it results in everyone on the road being confused
B. Because she then proceeded to drive it like a minivan for the remaining 20mins of the ride when I could have made much better use of that seat time

 

[CB]

The op got a scratched door. You're lucky you have doors left eh?

 

[ScottsGT]

She's lucky to still have a head. Jesus, that was close.

 

[SkapeGote]

I had an Escort Gt with a swapped Mazda motor and a turbo in 2005. My Girlfriend, who I still love and adore, went to the beer store with me and was learning to drive. In Canada we have a Beer store because you cannot buy beer at other stores, and no it is not at all inconvenient for those wondering. So we pull up, park, go inside. I buy a case of beer, we call it a two four. I am not sure Americans do. Put it in the back and get in the car. She shoves in the clutch, changes gears, hits the gas and lets the clutch out a bit fast. She was in first. Slammed head long into the wall of the store. She began to cry, and I laughed for a good minute. Love has made me a very clam man. I know your car is much nicer than mine, but thank god it didn't kill her. It will give you a chance to to practice serenity.

Skape

 

[Glenn G]

My friend had his door taken off by a car a few years ago (it was some old beater car so no tears there), He opened the door without looking but fortunately hadn't gotten his leg out. He only suffered a cut and bruise on his left hand.

it is totally his fault as the drivers on the road aren't expecting a door to get flung open right in front of them.

I am totally paranoid about that now and i'm glad no one got hurt in your situation and the damage is minor.

 

[GT Pony]

Just don't take her to the car wash ...

[ame]

 

[CB]

I had an Escort Gt with a swapped Mazda motor and a turbo in 2005. My Girlfriend, who I still love and adore, went to the beer store with me and was learning to drive. In Canada we have a Beer store because you cannot buy beer at other stores, and no it is not at all inconvenient for those wondering. So we pull up, park, go inside. I buy a case of beer, we call it a two four. I am not sure Americans do. Put it in the back and get in the car. She shoves in the clutch, changes gears, hits the gas and lets the clutch out a bit fast. She was in first. Slammed head long into the wall of the store. She began to cry, and I laughed for a good minute. Love has made me a very clam man. I know your car is much nicer than mine, but thank god it didn't kill her. It will give you a chance to to practice serenity.

Skape

Love has made you a very clam man. How many beers do you have left? Lol.

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