Labop

Picked up my new (to me) RX-8 today. I bought it from a private seller in Louisiana. No worries on flood damage, it was inspected by the dealer and I know what to look for. She lived in the flood zone, but had the foresight to move it to the third floor of a five story parking garage!

She was reluctant to sell to a couple of previous buyers because she loves her 8 and felt they wouldn't. When I asked her if she knew of the rx8club, she said she didn't. I told her that it's where all the RX-8 nuts hangout.

It's a sunlight silver touring package. It is strange to have gone from the base model, whose features I loved, to havig the touring package and being amazed by all the options and differences.

First of which is the headroom, but that will sort itself out when I find a good seat position. This RX-8 is not going anywhere near a track. The closest it will get is the parking lot. It's strange to have an 8 again, I feel kind of woozy.

My friends that drove me out there (Lissa is preggers and wouldn't have made the two hour ride) got pulled over on the way home for speeding. I got home to find out that the cop had taken their licenses (both were expired) and sat with them until we got there. That kind of sucked, but at least he didn't write them the ticket for expired license, no insurance and improper plate position (it was in the window).

Turns out my friends aren't the smartest when it comes to responsibilities with a car, but at least they're helpful...

I'll post pics tomorrow. In case any of you are wondering how I lost my last RX-8, here's the link to that thread:

first and LAST time at the drag track

SilverEIGHT

YEA! Welcome back in the saddle Labop! Nice color choice too.

Labop

Thanks, the silver looks pretty good. There is a minor paint issue on the roof where some dumba** kids had egged her car. The plastic strip that is in the roof rack rails (sorry, not sure what they're called) is a bit gouged where the egg yolk dissolved the plastic. But I think I can get it from mazmart for pretty cheap. If not I'll probably never see it unless I'm washing her, it's on the passenger side! :D

SilverEIGHT

Pics, pics!

EyeBall Fixer...(o)(x)

I agree, good color!
Welcome back.
AeroFlares

carbonRX8

iTrader: (1)

I read through your thread a couple days ago. I am really sorry for what you went through. I just wanted to mention, though, that in that thread, you were not going to go within 100 miles of a track, then it was 30, now it is allowed in the parking lot.

Its just a short drive to the launch....

You know you want to...

When you fall off a horse, what are you supposed to do? (it is in your thread title.)

Damn, that would make a great story. Crash at the track, get a new 8, then go right back out to a track and get rid of all those demons.

rx8wannahave

Welcome back...congrats!!!

Terrance26

congrats and welcome back

Labop

CarbonRX8- Don't give him any ideas!! (This is Labop's wife, Lissa). It's going to be in the parking lot of the track in Birmingham for the Grand Am series up there that I think is in June or July, but it's not going ON a track anytime soon, and NEVER on a drag track. I am 8 weeks from delivering, and I don't think I can go through this again! He walked away from the last one, I don't want to chance another one.

I hear people talking about selling their 8's because their wife is pregnant. I wanted him to get another one specifically because of that! The back doors are so much easier for car seats and don't mess with your back nearly as much. And hey, it's fun being the Mom with the cool car (when I get to drive her).

Everyone locally (and family) thinks we're nuts for getting another one so soon, and particularly that I am nuts for letting him have another one. I figure 80+ into a concrete wall and walking away with minor injuries counts as a pretty safe car to me. And with the rate of road accidents in the city we live in, that is more important to me that anything else.

Next weekend we get to switch the Racing Beat exhaust and Revi Intake from the old one to the new one. I hope the intake is still good. I bought it for him as a birthday present and he'd only had it on the old one for 10 days before the wreck! It's going to look a lot better after a good detail and that horrible pinstripe is removed. (I have a horrible aversion to pinstripes on cars with as gorgeous lines as the 8.) It needs a tint (I didn't realize how much I relied on the tint on the old one) and a spoiler. Then she will look sharp. But the under-the-hood stuff definitely takes priority.

As you may have gathered, I love the RX-8 almost as much as my husband does

Now we have a new "baby", we can get her mod-ed for the new baby due in 2 months (i.e. infant car seat). FYI if anyone else has to do this, the Chicco Cortina KeyFit system fits perfectly in an 8. It actually fits better in the 8 than in my Toyota Matrix (one of us has to have a utility car). I tried a bunch out, and this one was by far the best (and it comes in a black and red for those who have that particular interior and want to match it

Labop

This is Chris again, as you can see, there are two crazy 8's in this house. Maybe I'll have to fix the black one so we can have his and hers RX-8's... reality check, maybe not.

Seriously, I'd love to *eventually* get into racing. But I'm talking real racing (sorry drag guys) with turns and such. I've always wanted to do a road course or get involved with a club that holds events (educational, safety and such). But there is no club that does that in this area (and Birmingham or VIR are a heck of a commute for a hobby). Maybe after I leave the military and we can afford a car that is built for purpose, like a Spec-Miata...

As such, yes, the closest it will get to a track is the parking lot. The "not within 100 miles" had the (admittedly non-verbal) caveat of: "it won't get within 100 miles of the track if even the thought of racing it crosses my mind".

But, if anyone is planning on going up to Birmingham for the Grand-Am (I think it's in June) then we should try to meet up. Looks like next weekend will be busy. Huh, I must be the only guy with a "honeydo list" that involves modding out his car. Damn I'm lucky.

carbonRX8

iTrader: (1)

I dont think you are nuts. I think what you guys are doing is a demonstration of cool reasoning and a love of driving. I am not a drag guy myself and I after reading about the accident and now hearing that you guys are considering tracking the car, I am truly impressed. Go for it. First HPDE, then trackdays. You will love it.

it really depresses me when I see people walk away from things they love just because of some perceived trauma. I had a friend wreck a bike while riding beside me. He never got back up on a bike again. I thought that was so sad and it happens all the time.

You get one life to live and if you dont live it, you waste it.

Good for you guys. And Congrats on the new arrivals.

Labop

OK, here's the new ride. Excuse the dirt/bugs, I just drove 220 miles home. I'm detailing this weekend, after I switch out the intake and exhaust from my old one. Also, the pinstripe is coming off... ugh...

SilverEIGHT

Ms Labop, you are one fine lady. Congrats on the new member to the family and also the 8. You are very understanding and I'm sure Mr Labop is VERY grateful for you.

Mr Labop, you are one lucky dude in more ways that one.

Congrats to both of you.

I look forward to seeing and meeting both of you in BHam, at the Grand Am.

MrsLabop

SilverEight- That's very kind of you

I am really looking forward to the Grand Am series. We missed it last year (I think because of hurricanes). Looks like we're getting our daughter into cars early. She will be about 2 months old

We'll definitely have to plan to meet up there. It should be a fun weekend.

BTW- I thought it made more sense to have my own log in rather than piggy backing on Chris's, hence the MrsLabop username. Now I have to pick an avatar...

SilverEIGHT

Do I get credit for the username.

We will have a rather nice group from the GARX8Club attending the Grand Am. We will have a RX8 Club Corral like last year and will get discounts on tickets. If you guys and other fellow 8'ers would care to, we'd love to have you join the group and make it even bigger.

MrsLabop

We'd definitely like to join you! It's always more fun when you're around others who understand the RX-8 obsession.

And yes, you do get credit for the username

Chris gets credit for the pink bat (I couldn't think of anything for an avatar, so he suggested that one). Oh dear... we have matching avatars. One day maybe we'll get matching 8's. Personally I'd like a white one...

I saw a picture of a pink one on here at one point. <shudder> I like pink and all, but not on an 8.

SilverEIGHT

OK, you two stay tuned. Watch for the GA RX8Club post on the Grand Am event in the SE forum. We will list everyone who is attending with us so we can get a count and keep up with the size area we will need. Maybe you guys can assemble the Alabama group. rxeightr hangs with us a lot and attends Road Atlanta when he can. I'm sure he will help you guys out but we claim him as a GA boy!

Labop

I'll see if a couple of the three local 8 owners in pensacola want to go.

SilverEIGHT

Are the clear corners ordered?

modforce

I had to fix my own 8 after my wreck. I hit a guy that had previously wrecked his car and upon impact I was doing around 55-60. I to walked away from it and now have around $5000 into mine and it looks very similar to your damage. Rebuild it yourself and have a guy with a frame raack do the pulling for you and get the parts from Paul@MAZMART they treated me right. I will post pics of mine up sometime of the before and after pics. But all this is just a thought as it seems your wife is like mine "VERY into CARS" as we have had 7 Mustangs mostly convertibles with 2 car seats in the back and I understand the family thing totally!

Labop

Well, we're still waiting on a quote from a friend of ours. He's owns a body shop, plus he's built drag cars and rebuilt cars in worse shape than mine. He does great work but is seriously busy all the time, so my car is at the back of the list right now.

If it's only 5k... it might be worth rebuilding. I'll have to talk to Mrs. Labop about that once he gives us a quote. I'd love to see pics of yours, especially around the frame area.

MrsLabop

I know MazMart are great, we were actually planning to sell them what is left of the old one, but if it's only 5k to fix then it might be worth doing that. The shop originally gave us a ball-park of 10k plus, so maybe there was more damage on ours than it appears. We're still waiting on a firm quote though. Definitely food for thought though. Thanks, and I would really like to see those pics when you get a chance to upload them.

And yes, I am a "car guy" kind of person. Funny really, my family are as far away from that as you can get. My sister laughed when I told her we were going to a car show last year. "Why would people get together to look at cars?" she asked me. Oh dear.

Labop

I got the exhaust switched out today. I had the shop do it on account of them storing my old 8 for free, shops usually charge around $15/day and it's been a month and a half now.... saves me $675!!!

They also got the intake out. It's a little deformed from being pushed back by the frame, but we'll be able to melt/bend the plastic inlet back into shape. I'm surprised at how little damage there is to everything behind the frame. Nothing is in the right spot, but each component is intact or nearly intact.

We'll get the intake reformed this weekend and crammed in there somehow. But, even with just the exhaust it sounds like I'm back to normal.

SilverEIGHT

That RB Exhaust DOES make a big difference.

MrsLabop

SilverEIGHT, I just saw your post about the clear corners. Yeah, I can't wait to get them on there. I think it is going to look much better with them. Amazing how such a small part makes such a difference. I'm looking at a couple on eBay right now. Half the pinstripe is off (left side of the car) and the other side will be gone soon. Man, it makes it look so much better taking that off.

I haven't heard the car since the exhaust was installed, so I'm looking forward to driving it. I took it to the dealership on Monday for their full circle service or whatever they call it, and they have a whole list of parts on order to fix little things here and there. It's a good job they know us so well there!