I was in a grocery store parking lot and a woman driving a late 90's BMW 325 backed into my RX-8! OUCH! The bumper actually got a fist sized area pushed in quite deep into the bumper, but after some kneading and pushing, it popped out so it doesn't look so bad. BUT, from the BMW exhaust, there is a large figure 8 shaped hole in the plastic bumper.

The damage isn't horrible, but needs to be fixed. Here is my question:

Should I have Mazda replace the bumper or splurge and go for the Mazdaspeed kit?

Also, if I decide to go Mazdaspeed, is it really worth paying 4 times as much for the authentic Mazdaspeed Kit, or should I just go for the replica kit people were talking about in this post:

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19466&highlight=mazdaspeed

Would love to hear some opinions, as I am weary of buying the replica kit.

Thanks,


Todd Staples

OUCH! I feel for you... I woulda been tempted to punch her in the nose. ;)

I'd vote for the Masdaspeed kit, but then, it's not my money to spend. :D

Seriously, the MS kit is made out of the same stuff as the factory bumper, and it also comes painted to match - exactly. So it's probably worth the extra bucks, once you figure in the cost of a knock-off bumper (usually fiberglass) for around $700, plus paint for around $400, total $1100... while the MS kit only costs a coupla hundred more. Worth it, IMHO: you get an exact paint match, perfect fittment, and plastic instead of fiberglass. Looked at it this way, it's worth every penny.

Also FYI, rumor has it that the price on all the Mazdaspeed bodykit parts are going to be going up in price significantly this year. May not be true, but worth considering. This is one of the things that made me decide to go ahead and get my MS side skirts.

And speaking of the skirts... if you're going to do the front bumper, you might as well go ahead and figure on getting the side skirts too for approximately another $800 shipped. The MS front bumper will look kinda odd without them.

But if you are going to get a "MS-style" kit, you can't go wrong with the Rotary Extreme one.

Just my 2 cents... hope it helps.

Someone here has probably bought (or will soon buy) the mazdaspeed front- just wait and buy it from them- should save a ton and I thought I read it was easy to remove the bumper.

I bought the Mazdaspeed front bumper and I have a stock front bumper I'd be willing to sell. Silver and in perfect condition. Let me know if you're interested.

splurge...don't fake the funcc..