readytoGo

I just crashed my 2006 rx8 automatic 2 weeks ago. It seems like the damage was extensive. I do not much about car parts and repair and I was wondering if you guys can help me sort things out.

I'm not able to fix the car atm. So I have sitting on the side till I have enough money to get things done.

When I was asking for quotes I'd hear the prices reach $6,500, which i think is insane. So I started digging around, since I thought it might be cheaper to replace the parts.

Parts to be replaced.

1. Front Bumper
2. Hood
3. Driver side fender
4. Battery? (the car won't even turn on, no sign of life what so ever)
5. Radiator.

The total cost for the above is around $1,200. After informing a different mechanic that I will be responsible for the above parts, suddenly the price changed substantially to a round about of $2,500. I was pleased and surprised to hear that, maybe the other mechanic was trying to rip me off. I still think the price is a little high, but at least now I know the car isn't totaled.

The major problem i have, is that the car wont start, no crank, no click, no sounds, and no lights! And its expensive to tow it from mechanic to mechanic to know atm. i've heard that it could be a switch automatically turned off after a car accident, as self defense to prevent fire! is this remotely possible for rx8?

After looking at these pictures, could you determine the most practical reason for this issue? also do you think i've missed something obvious?

Also, when I look online for bumpers, hoods, or fenders there's so many. What should I be looking for, how do I know I'm getting the right thing?

no insurance.

bse50

Cut the hood open and see what happened inside. If it's just a minor hit you may just replace the parts you mentioned. If the chassis was damaged in the accident you may as well start looking for a car to replace this one.

timmytriangles

any hope of insurance fixing it?

bse50

Any hope of you reading the thread?

readytoGo

appreciate the response fellas.

what is a chasis? isnt it the framework?

no unfortunately i didnt have insurance at the time

timmytriangles

sorry i didnt see anything about insurance up there. yeah that sux. ur gonna have to look to see if the frame is bent. good luck with it. i wud consider maybe buying an 8 with a blown motor and swaping it.

readytoGo

i guess i dont understand the concept of chasis? why can it not be fixed?

or is it because its expensive?

thanx

timmytriangles

because more than likely a body shop would have to straighten it. then make sure everything aligned right or the cars wont drive rite. i duno try to see if its twisted or bent at all, look under the car

bse50

You can straighten a bent chassis. Some shops even take the front half of a car and weld it back together after cutting the damaged part on the other one.
The problem is that in neither case the car will be the same strength and safety wise.

Now if it's just a minor hit that's another story.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

sry to hear about your car. how did you wreck? where are you located? look in the fs section here, maby you can find some parts.

PeteInLongBeach

This looks relatively superficial. I don't think the chassis (frame) would be significantly involved, other than the front upper crossmember.

Oh, and by the way:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=chassis+definition

lta_ds_fs7

iTrader: (2)

I'd kill somebody who ran into me with no insurance.

Full coverage = win

No insurance = you deserve to be shot........or maybe that's just here in Texas :/

1.3_LittersOfFurry

iTrader: (4)

The damage doesn't look that bad at all. In my last car I had an accident with similar looking damage infact similar bill, 6k. I was told most of that bill came from the air bags. Only difference is mine still ran after, infact I jumped on the hood to flatten it out and drove away from the accident.

VOODOO8

ReadyToGo? Maybe not so. No insurance = fail. Both I and others I know have been victimized in accidents caused by drivers with no insurance. Whether your personally OK with gambling on your costs from an accident or not, it is not fair for you to make others you share the road with gamble right along with you.

The point made here about the condition of your chassis/frame is probably the single biggest factor to get information on. It will be a major determinant of the best and most economical way to proceed. Since you have already had the car looked at by some sort of professional in collision repair, they should have assessed damage to the chassis as part of their diagnosis. What did they say about it?

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

NO insurance? you fuxking *******. reason? I don't give a flying f, if you can't effort insurance don't drive.

That will buff right out ...

seriously, it will cost more than 3K to fix that. nothing to do with the frame or anything, a new Rad will cost 300, hood and paint another 6-700, bumper and paint another 500 or so, front impact bar another 200, and if ur radiator is fucked so does ur condensor, cost to recharge, the lines, it will cost more than 3K.

and I hope ur car is totaled and u end up with nothing. That's what u get for not having insurance, karma is such a bitch.

Bladecutter

Hey guys,

Before you jump down his throat, and tar and feather the guy, why don't you find out for sure that he didn't have any insurance of any kind, at all, vs not having comprehensive/collision coverage.

If he means he's driving without collision coverage, but has regular basic liability, then you guys own him a huge apology.

If, however, he truly does mean that he's been driving around without any form of insurance coverage, then I'll get the tar, if you guys get the feathers, and start the kettle a-boiling.

BC.

ShellDude

iTrader: (12)

BS -- If he had liability only then he'd be just fine assuming he wasn't the cause of the accident.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

my point exactly.

readytoGo

Thank you everyone.

By no insurance I meant that i only had liability. They won't cover anything on my car.

Bladecutter

Perfect, now you both owe him an apology.

BC.