Chalk it up to stupidity I guess. I'll have to take a pic so you can all see just how stupid, but rest assured it's a pretty decent shot to the right front of my stock '97 front. So here's the dilemma: do I try to get a bodyshop to patch it up and paint over it or just replace it? Can you even really put a sound patch on vinyl? It's pretty flexible and would probably knock off whatever you put on top if it was hit hard enough. If I replace, go stock again or aftermarket?

And of course there's the question of cost. Getting a new OEM part will probably run a couple hundred bucks at least but it will be pretty close on the paint color. Going aftermarket will come unpainted and have to be road shipped most likely. Then there's the installation (fitment and painting to match). Not so excited about that possibility at all.

So I guess it really comes down to patch the stock or buy a new (or gently used) replacement.

Any advice on the subject would be GREATLY appreciated.

wood

if your car is white or balck, you could drill small holes and zip tie it together(seen it done on a 1g) and it doesn't look hlaf as bad as it does with a crack in it

The stock bumper is Urethane, not Vinyl.

Just look around junkyards for a decent condition (not cracked) bumper. Or, try www.dsmtrader.com You will definitely find one there for a good price. Just hunt around. Also try www.thepartstrader.com and ebay.

I agree with ^^^^^^^^^^^

Check out the junkyards.

If you find one and want to sell your cracked one cheap let me know :)