Paint hides a lot!

If you have the money to replace the f'd up fender and other dimpled sheet metal then do it. Metal is going to last longer than a thick coat of bondo.

I used bondo on my stang trying to keep the thickness down as low as possible, however on the rear decklid and on the taillight panel it gets up to like 3/8ths thick. I had to do a repair on the decklid already because the bondo cracked along the weld seam of the metal.

Iwas shocked to discover the amount of bondo on my stang when we peeled the old paint off. It was fairly think in the back and on the door of the car. In some areas I had to make it almost as thick as it was before, but I'll tell you I'm more nervous about my bondoing job since the base clear paint doesn't seem to be as tough as the single coat, probably lacquer, paint on the car when I bought it.

I surely will keep an eye on it though, I really don't want it to get chipped down to the bondo where it can absorb water and begin the death rust on the stang.