I am pleased to report that my 2007 Vogue SE passed its MOT today.
I have owned the car for over 10 years now and I have decided to spend some money on her as I am fond of the old girl and will be keeping her for a couple more years.
The car has got some rust at the rear on both sides at the back of the wheel arch and very back of the rear sills, the upper tailgate also needs respraying following the removal of the weatherstrip at the bottom of the glass.
I have got several quotes ranging from £1300-£2200. The body shop with the most expensive quote has suggested using preformed panels for the rear arches, but the other three companies that have quoted have said that they would rather form their own replacement patches as the rust is not yet that bad.
I have several questions:
1. Does anyone have experience of using the preformed panels and would you recommend their use?
2. Would using preformed panels increase or decrease the labour required for the repair?
3. Has anyone forked out for rust repairs only for it to return in the short term?
4. Do you think the quotes are reasonable?

Any tips or advice will be gratefully received.

It very much depends on what's presented, sir... Sometimes it's easier to cut out and replace using a formed panel other times not... Just depends on how your car presents! Impossible to advise any further without seeing the car I'm afraid...

Thanks, I will take some photos and post them tomorrow.

Also be careful the inner arches have not corroded and spreads around the jacking points, quite common on these unfortunately and can result in an MOT failure once the corrosion has gone through the inner panel’s, also quite expensive to repair. If only at surface rust stage though a good cleaning and coat of waxoyl will see it last a few more years leaving there rest worth doing

Jacking points are still good at the moment. I removed the plastic sill cover to check. The sills are being repaired as well and this work is included in the estimates I have received.

On the face of it it doesn't look too bad, as with all these cars a lot lurks beneath all the plastic, so they will have no idea what they need to replace until they get it stripped and all to see.

i will be doing this job soon and just be cutting out what needs to be cut out. Where you have areas like Sill end sections it can be easier and quicker to use a pre-made repair panel but if its just isolated holes/ thin metal from the corrosion i would make up a repair patch and cut out to clean metal and weld in new. Which i suppose is what the majority are saying.