Auto body repair & detailing: frame damage, spot welds, lexus cars

Question
I have just learned that my 2002 lexus had been wrecked with frame damage. total damages where 11600.00. I am taking the car to the dealer tomorrow to look at it since they Certified it and stated it was accident free. Here is the kicker there management said to us they didnt know the car had been wrecked but because i had some time to check this out i learned they fixed the car. Here is my question, i know lexus cars have spot welds on the front but do they go all the way through to the back. My car has no spot welds marks on the back quarter frame. Also there is a different coating on the back rails than what is on the front.. Any thoughts?

Answer
Troy-

A few thoughts come to mind.

I have experience dealing with Lexus. They are a fine car and are expensive to repair. Frame damage can mean many things on a unibody car. Remember your car really has no traditional frame- only a unibody that utilizes a type of frame rail or subframe. 11k is usually a significant repair to the rear of the car but may be a much less significant impact on the front of the car, where all the high dollar components are located and likely damaged. You have not stated which end of the car was damaged. It does sound like there is some obvious evidence of a repair however. Most good dealer shops especially those who deal with the caliber vehicle as Lexus are able to achieve a quality of repair that is undetectable to an untrained eye. Sadly it is possible that they didn't know the car was wrecked, but- in my opinion it is unlikely. Find out your legal rights, you may have them over a barrel.  I would also get an independent evaluation of the damage as well. Also request to see the history file on the car(they certainly have one) and get a copy of the repair estimate for the independent. Good Luck- Mark