I just bought a 2004 RX8 privately and need to get a variety of maintenance issues solved. I am looking for advice where to have the following done in order of priority:

1 - clutch replacement as soon as possible (6 speed standard is slipping going up hills).
2 - oil coolers replacement and protective grills (I think that is what they are beside each fog light on the left & right front bumper).
3 - right high beam bulb replacement (both if it is better to get a matching set).
4 - paint rust fixing (the paint is bubbling around at least one fender above the tire. there is surface rust starting on the inside back lip of the trunk and some in the body at the doors.
5 - serpentine belt check/change.
6 - right door inside trim not fastened to door at the end opposite the hinge.
7 - plastic head light cover replacement (they are smoking over).
8 - emissions equipment removed/disabled and/or perhaps a performance "chip".
9 - windshield replacement.

I bought an abused car for $7800 that had new brake pads and starter (installed 111000 KM) and rear tires in the spring 2011.

I can't do any work myself, no tools, no skill no place to do it.

Help and tips appreciated.

 

PS: I am located in Calgary Canada and need the work done here.

 

Please text or phone 403-973-3245 or reply to this forum via "Post Quick Reply".

 

Knock #8 off your list - that makes it hard to take this request seriously.

For the rest...ask in your local forum for recommended dealers or independent shops. If you don't get a response, then search the "Good guy/Bad guy" threads for some leads.

Ken

 

Thanks for the tip. RX-8 it is.
How do I find my local forum? I thought it was on here but with the word Calgary somewhere.

 

Try "Canada" in the regional forums.

Don't feel offended that there aren't separate city or province fora for Canada. I'm in Virginia and my regional forum is the Northeast, lumped in with a bunch of Yankees.

Ken

 

You have no skill, knowledge or tools, yet you made the purchase?
Should have saved yourself a headache and searched around for a better car...

 

^+1, with all the money your gonna need to fix this car (since your paying for labor) you could have just bought a well maintained 8.

 

It could be a good learning experience. I learned a lot about cars from my first car, an eight year old worn out Alfa. And I didn't even have a resource like this site to ask questions.

Ken

 

Yeah, thats how I learned too, wrenching on my 82 Celica Supra. It can be fun. I got so into it I went to a community college and took some automotive courses, had a blast and made some life long friends. You might want to look into something like that. My classes were only $300 a semester, and I got to work on my own cars with lifts and just about any tool you can think of, including a dyno!

 

Very true Ken. But, by the sounds of it, I don't think that the OP wants a car to learn to fix right now...

OP, I hope you have other means of transport!

 

Who ever does?

In retrospect, I should have rolled that Alfa into the ditch. Also the '53 Chevy I bought a few years later. But I did learn. And a tale from that Chevy got me a Rock Auto T-shirt for a repair blunder story...so there's always some payoff.

I hope someone in Calgary can at least recommend a shop that will treat him straight.

Ken