My Rx-8 is starting to show some real wear. The headlamps are all yellow (they can’t be buffed out), I got door dings all over the place, a dent, and the rear bumper's paint is cracking. The top of the car's paint is fading as well as all the gray trim pieces. Like I said in another thread I just do no have the cash to fix her up right now. She might not be pretty but at least she drives fine. When she is paid off I might save the cash to get a new paint job but at that point it might not be worth it.
Anyone else’s rides had better days? The pity party starts here!

 

My baby will be 8 years old next month and still looks damn good I have about three small dings total and some rock chips here and there but she still looks damn new, people are always blown away when I tell them she is almost 8. But my car is getting a respray soon so she will be perfect again soon. I obsess over things that are broken or damaged so they don't stay that way very long.

 

Ivest a little cash in some detail items for the paint and headlights. Shouldn't cost too much, and it will improve how the car runs as well, it really does work!

 

I got the nasty headlight thing too....lots of paint chips on the front, but, thankfully, have been very careful and no dents....I have replaced the plastic pieces around the tailpipes....mine still looks pretty good for an 04...the headlights do bother me!!

 

Sand them down and buff them out

 

I wish I could fix things as they come but I'm working full time, married, have a child, and trying to get through school. It might cost me at least $1.5k or more to get the car back to the way I want it. As for the headlamps they are damged beyond repair and need to be replaced. I went to deep last time trying to get the yellow out.

 

I understand, married going to school to get my Masters, and working 50+ a week myself. I feel your pain, I am tired half the time on the weekends, but still manage.

 

nah nah, just work your way up to 2000 or so. you should be able to wetsand it all out

 

You could look for someone parting their car out. I've seen headlights go for pretty cheap, compared to dealerships and other places.

As for the paint, if it's a priority, start saving. Nothing else to it

 

You can try that Forever Black product. Worked great on my 2004 trim. Sorta like a dye or paint, just go over it with multiple coats to eliminate streaking and it looks like new again.

 

Yeah my headlight buff out pretty good, it doesn't last very long though. One of my next big purchases is two brand new headlights.

 

I need to buff my headlights out, bought the headlight restore kit almost 1/2 year but never have the time to do it.

Probably do it this coming week or 2.

 

some 800followed by1000 then 1500.(all wet sandpaper with lots of soap n'bubbles)
works fine.
then just use plastx clear plastic cleaner it leaves them looking new i use it every two weeks.

 

My headlights had the yellow fade to them. I hit them with a wetsander and then use the miguir headlamp restoration kit (like 30 bucks at northern tools if u have one.) That made them look better than new. I have a few dings n dents too and my carbon fibor custom rear bumper has a quarter sized hole in it. :'( i have the peice to fix it just never got around to it.

She will be 8 in 2 months, better than my mother-in-laws 03 honda that looks like it went threw a jungle filled with wolverines and poop. Just saying. Take a look at half of the cars your age and compare how Crappy they look to yours

 

It just hurts me to see my baby look so sad. I just wish I had the cash and time to take of her. I haven't even washed the car in an over a month. When I do I get more depressed due to the issues in the paint I find now. The bumper is cracked all up and from the right rear quarter all the way to the top of the roof it looks like it has no clear coat anymore. I even tried waxing it but it makes it look worse.

 

Suck it up, work on one problem at a time.

 

Yup, this ^^^^

"You do what you can," has kinda become my motto in life. Do what you can afford at the moment, and don't beat yourself up over the rest. It'll come in time.

 

After all is said and done, I do not usually obsess for little dings and scratches here and there. I'm a car enthusiast not an auto show contender.

However, I want my car to look as good as possible, and to be mechanically sound. But if was in the OPs predicament, I would try to save as much $$$ as possibly to have the entire car re-sprayed, LOL.

And I imagine in my case it would cost a fortune. Those 'Mica' finishes are a bitch to do them right, and the few shops that could do the job right would charge accordingly

 

If I were you, if the car is paid off, then I will keep it and just maintain it when needed. Save up the money that your paying before and invest in it, that's what I will do if my car is paid off and such.

 

+1.


I'm not sure how expensive PDR is, but I heard some do real quality work.

 

I hate to thread jack but this is what happens when you let your girlfriend drive your car... Sorry for the size of the image.

 

The problem I have with my headlights being they are halogens, they discolored on the inside and have a milky appearance around the parking light area where the halogens got really hot. HID conversion doesn't get hot, but the damage is done. The outside came out pretty good though with the 3M resto kit.

OP, you seem to get overwhelmed with money a lot in your posts and your screen name to boot. Stop worrying about how much money it will take to fix everything, and start worrying about one issue and research how to fix it at minimal cost. Don't approach your car as a whole problem or you'll get overwhelmed.

 

Funny, that's not what happens when my girl borrows my car.
You must have gotten a girl with those bad driving skills.
Mine has the full track driving skill package, and motorcycle riding skill package.

You should upgrade. :P

BC.

 

Upgrades are always a good thing. Just make sure you uninstall the old version before installing the new one.

My 8 is 8 years old now and still looks and runs great...

 

Who let's their girl drive their 8 anyway