Invisible rx8: Advice please
 

My invisible (titanium) color RX8 was just hit in a parking lot. It is raining so I asked for the guy's phone number. I didn't see any damage at first, but after I got to work it appears he hit me on my left rear rim. I don't particularly care about the rim being marred. I really don't have the time to deal with insurance claims, etc.

However, if there could be any mechanical problems then I do want it fixed.

I was behind him waiting for a parking space at wal-mart. He said he didn't see me. He was driving a white sentra. I can see where the white plastic is on my rim. He couldn't have been travelling very fast. I wasn't more than a few feet behind him. 5 +- mph?

Can you ask your local dealer to check your suspension?

I could.. but would they charge to do a visual inspection? It's somewhat out of the way too..


Could I jack it up and check for anything? Could any experienced mechanic notice something, or should it be a mazda mechanic?


Also, Since I'm in florida.. how does all this No-Fault stuff work?

Another parking lot accident? with a TI?


CURSE!!


:p

Welcome to the "Parking Lot Cursed TIs Club"

Guy,

Just give it a visual and check the ends of all the trailing arms..those tires aren't cheap and a few degrees of mis-alignment will eat them up quickly.

i think it would be better to get it checked out first at mazda... cause u never know if it actually did any damage or not... and also... stuff like thease may cause a problem, but may not show up right away... it's like someone punching u hard... u'll feel pain for a sec or 2.... and u thought it's ok.... but later on the bruse will show... samething with ur car.... so get a visual inspection any how.... but i doubt there's any damage to ur suspension setup since it's so slow and wasn't a big impact...

Yeah, I JUST got new tires a week ago too :(

Thanks!

Could I have Tires Plus do the inspection? They are right around the corner.

You can have anyone you want do the inspection. As for the no-fault issue, the damage is minimal and would fall to you unless this person tells his insurance co that he hit you and accepts all liability in the accident. Then and only then would his insurance pay for the damages. Basically, you are on your own. As for the suspension I had a second impact directly in the left rear wheel in an I-75 accident, and there is no bending to the suspension parts that they have found yet, just the unibody.

If you wanna look on the bright side, consider yourself lucky there was no body damage! Hope your car's broken leg is healed soon!

I feel your pain! :(

Thanks!

You guys (haha pun not intended) are scaring me now, I want to get the Grey when I finally get around to buying the 8.

Guess the colour should be renamed Stealth Grey now :D

Stealth is good and bad!!

Don't start this sh!t now. Bite your tongue. There will be no curse-passing (from silver to gray) on MY watch.

Guy - maybe a few of these --> http://store.yahoo.com/tmrce/fiflma3ftto5.html

Also, a huge light bar and air-raid siren.

Maybe it's any type of gray/silver color? Although, I have silver and haven't even had a door ding yet. Of course, I don't have any wood to knock on right now, so I guess I'm doomed.

If it wasn't a very hard hit, and centered on your rim, you might just go drive on a really smooth road, speed up, and then just coast (clutch in) and listen and feel intently to see if there is any vibration, indicating a possible misalignment. If you just got new tires put on, there should be no vibration at all as they should have balanced the wheels.

I think I'd go with the 8 footer. :D

It "feels" normal... It was an offcenter hit though.. closer to the top of the rim.. Calling around for estimates just to check it out now..

I'd call up the guy (who hit you) and let him know you are doing an alignment test and he should pay for it. I think if it's not too much $, you won't even have to bring insurance into this. Call him up before you get it checked out.

I'd pay if I was him and it was my fault. Only if it was minor damage, of course.

That is what I'm doing CZR, definitely good advice.. I'm just calling to get prices to let him know up front. I called him this morning and are waiting for his call back.

Even though I've gotten "tapped" twice while not moving, I have no position on this subject.... http://home.comcast.net/~store0001/emoticon/non.gif http://home.comcast.net/~store0001/emoticon/langue.gif

A good tire shop will have a "run out" guage (measures wobble). It's been a long time since I worked in the business so it might be called something else. Anyway, have them compare the runout of the wheel that was hit with the other wheels. If it is very close, you probably won't have any issues. The aluminum wheel probably didn't bend but could have transferred the force to the axle or suspension.