4 Dodo

My 8 is Damaged! Collision repair suggestions in Toronto/GTA?

Hey all,

Well, I hit my girl into the guard rail along the 401 last night during the black ice, I am totally fine but she is not
Ironically the 401 was down to 1 lane due to a 5-car collision, firetrucks were just driving away and opening up the lanes ... as I tried to go into the left lane slowly accelerating, the car started spinning on the ice into the left path of a firetruck with lots of traction. I swirved right to avoid the truck and went head on into the right rail. No other cars hit me. This was all low speed, no airbags etc etc.
Something is up with my traction control/DSC as that warning light is lit, but lazy me as I thought winter was over (yes, I know, bad) and hadn't followed up.

Anyway, now the damage: left front bumper, left side panel, and left headlight are the main things. Steering seems fine, but there could be issues there upon deeper inspection with the bumper off. It is currently "drivable", but I prefer get it fixed asap.

What are best suggestions for collision repair? I don't want a hack job but also don't want to break the bank as this will come out of my pocket.
I got a couple quotes from Ma/Pa shops in the range of $2000-$2500. I went to a more reputable/high end place (European Autobody Steeles/Hwy 27 - they are official collision repair for Maranello BMW & also Ferrari) and they quoted $3000. If I go through insurance they'd fix some other stuff "unrelated".

So, they are all in the same range, and I basically wanted to find out if it was going to be $5000+ job where insurance would make more sense (my deduct is high, $2000). For a $3000 job I don't think this makes any sense as my insurance company doesn't even have the "freebee".

So who do people like to fix RX-8's in Toronto??? Thanks!

prospectjtaz

iTrader: (1)

Tru Eurasia, used by Scarborough Mazda, or Supreme Auto Collission used by Avante Mazda.

shazy

hey could you get some pics of the damage if it's not too much?

4 Dodo

Here are a couple pics.
The guy at the BMW/Ferrari place told me they'd have to paint/blend the hood and the left door or else "it will be slight, but you'll see a paint match difference". I've never heard of that?

With everything considered, I've calculated that going through insurance will save me approximately $3000. Say they raise my insurance by $500 (I currently pay $2700), this is 6 years worth of having to incur an extra $500.

ANYONE THINK THIS IS WORTH IT?

(today is pretty much my last day to report to collision centre if I want to go the insurance route)




ps. is there an easier way to post/upload pics other than having to use a image hosting website?

TheWulf

iTrader: (4)

The headlight will be the expensive part if it's damaged. Headlight aside it looks like about $2K of damage.

Blending is required if you don't want to see a "line" where the 2 paints meet. If your paint guy is good enough however he can get it really close without blending and it'll be acceptable.

prospectjtaz

iTrader: (1)

If your headlight isnt fucked, dont go through insurance. Like TheWulf said, headlight is expensive. Just examine it closely, make sure the auto leveling works well. From the outside it looks like you need a new bumper and a fender and paint. A new front bumper cover is lik 350 cost to the dealer and a fender is around there too, with paint, and labor under 2000 sounds reasonable. Go to Eurasia or Supreme, since they are shops used by the Mazda dealers and can do a good job of blending and paint match. Velocity Red is really hard to match, but Eurasia did Footman`s car and you can`t tell a difference.

prospectjtaz

iTrader: (1)

NVM, the headlight loosk fucked. Footman has a headlight he`s trying to get rid of, contact him. It`s way below the 1000 a dealership wants to the headlight.

Sanguine

That looks like the right side to me... Another thing you have to think about is re-selling the car however many years down the road or driving it until it dies. Going through insurance will put the caution tape all over the car if you try to resell it while if you do it under the table it may not.

I'd go through insurance because it's the proper thing to do. You should be able to take it to where to want and could get them to repair any scratches or rust on the companies dime.

mar10

The only advice i can give is , Do not go thru insurance , couse ull end up payin for it for the next six years , been there and never again , the only time id claim someting is if i was 100% not at fault . Its better if you cover the repair out of your own pocket , in long run ull come ahead .

chris_rx8

hey I have that bumper sitting in my garage same color let me know if you want it.

shazy

Go look at the FS section, I thought someone was selling a VR bumper and everything.

Kafka

Also, please remember DSC is the most important thing you need on as a newbie rwd driver(well I am one) to ensure your safety.

When the warning light is up for DSC, go fix it ASAP. You never know when you need it...

It has saved my *** in Mosport and 404 many times.

prospectjtaz

iTrader: (1)

When the heck did that happen qwtre, the winter that just passed? Good thing you didn't have the speed bumper on!

droob

Hey

That sucks man.

If you're in the downtown, i used Downdown Mazda's recomended bodyshop.

chris_rx8

Hey so you want the bumper it's only one year old and it's already velocity red so let me know.

rx8khan

if u dont wanna take it to mazda and pay through ur *** to do a little job like that lemme know i'll take u to my body guy he does really good job for a job like that i i would say no more like 700 most likely less im just giving u a high average and ur car will be good as new and yes what the guy told u about blending the hood and the left door is true if u dont it will show no matter who paints it u have to blend k man just let me know i'll get u a good deal

rx8khan

oh i have my bumper that i just took off to put on a bodykit so u could take my stock one if u want