When I first got my RX8 2 years ago, I prayed that I would never be involved in an accident with it, but it happened. This silly b@#$%! crossed the double yellow line in the opposite lane and was headed straight for me. To avoid hitting her head on, I had to swerve to the left, but she still got me in the front passenger wheel well, door area. I was horrified and pissed off beyond believe. This chick was reaching for a freakn' cell phone. The accident happened at night, but one thing that made me smile (after I re-lived the whole thing the next day) was that after it happened, my hazard lights automatically came on, the interior lights came on, and the doors automatically unlocked and the engine shut off. I just thought that was cool.

Anyway the passenger side, and front curtain airbags deployed and the door is jacked, also some suspension pieces broke and the front bumper is toast. I remember reading a thread about someone deciding whether they should get DSC or not, (I thought it was standard) anyways, I say GET IT because even though my car was still hit, I didnt swerve out of control and make it worse, my DSC kept the car under control. Right now, my baby is at the body shop undergoing 13K of surgery. The insurance company wouldn't total it, because it's worth more than the cost of repair. It has been in the shop for 2 weeks, and I'm driving a Hyundai Elantra as a rental, so just imagine how it feel right now.

I know once a car has been hit, it will never be the same, and I accept that fact, but I love the darn thing so much, until I can't part with it. My main concern is the paint, and quality of the paint job. My car is Winning Blue, and I feel in love with that color. I looked at the adjusters quote, and he allocated $$ for a two-stage paint job. Of the 13K for repairs, about 5K of that is for labor. The body shop that it's in garauntees its work for a lifetime...we shall see. They also said that they have to send it to the Mazda dealer for additional work, like replacing the airbags, resetting the SRS system and engine computer as well as suspension components. The accident happened almost a month ago, and now I'm just starting to talk about it, because it still hurts to think about it. MY P R E C I O U S!!! My deal is that I want all of my accessories that are on it. I have factory chrome rims( the passenger rim is beyond repair) , 245 45/40ZR 18 tires (the passenger tire is just a string of rubber now) , strakes (the passenger strakes I don't know what happened to them) even have Derwankle's puddle lamps! I'm prepared to act a fool with Allstate over those things, although I will have to get some more puddle lamps I think, but Allstate has been good with the whole thing and they accept 100% responsiblity for their policyholder.

Have any of you been involved in an accident with your 8 and gotten it fixed? If so, how do you feel about the body work/paint job afterwards. Also, what is Mazda's paint process because looking at the quote, the paint job is very $$. I just want my baby back.

When I get it back, what are some of the things you think I should look for?

 

Please dont tell me your car was red! LOL my rent a car is a CHevy Aveo i think you should get the same type of car or catagory instead of a newly designed compact car which serves as a 2 seater cardboard box with wheels , sorry to hear about your loss it wont be that long before you get your baby back i been 3 weeks with out mine and i think that everyone has laughed at me due to the hella downgrade depression im going through , dont worrie your not alone !

Got any PIcs ?

 

Sorry to hear about the accident, glad you came out ok.

First thing, make sure not to sign anything until you're happy with the car. Paint, finish, handling, etc.
Go to the shop that's working with on your car with a case of beer under each arm. Nothing makes a mechanic like you more then free booze.
Verify with your adjuster that all work is being done to your specifications, that you have the final say about whether or not it looks right.
As for puddle lamps, you cant get derwankle's anymore, but shazbot is making a set that looks very very nice : https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=puddle

good luck on the repairs

 

oh damn, sorry to hear about your accident! That's my worst fear with this car...that I'll have some idiot driver ruin everything in a split second.

Make sure the body shop matches the paint properly, gives it an alignment, and that the car DRIVES well afterwards. Great advice by Laythor...

 

Really sorry to hear about your accident. I would be heart-broken but these things do happen and fortunately you weren't hurt (were you?). Hope you do get it fixed up to perfection and leave that terrible incident behind.

 

Yikes man, thats scary.

It seems that almost every time somebody does something ape-**** stupid on the road, a cell phone is involved.

 

I've had a couple of very minor body repairs over the years - small fender benders, bashed or scraped bumpers, stuff like that - nothing serious. All the work involved repainting. I believe the best body shops are capable of bringing your baby back to a level where, after a few weeks, you'll forget it was once in an accident. But only if the work is done by a really top-drawer shop. The kind of place people go to for custom paint jobs, or restoration of classic cars. The things I'd be most concerned about after the repair are new squeaks, groans and rattles, little insignificant parts - like trim fasteners -not replaced (I'm ****), and mismatched paint.

Paint, I think, is the trickiest. Good shops can do it perfectly. (The cars you see in a Barrett-Jackson auction have better paint jobs than when they were new.) With not-so-good shops, the paint may not match when you go to pick up the car (worst case), or it might match in daylight, but then later, when you park under lights in a parking lot, the color is off. Or the paint may seem fine, but then slowly start to flake or chip six months later. Ask around, and use a place with a great reputation.

If it were me, see how the car is when you get it back. If, after a month or so, there are things that are bothering you, sell it, 'cause they'll always bug you. If everything's good, be happy.

 

Wow... you swerved LEFT. Lucky that there wasn't another car right there to double-whammy you. 'Course, had you gone right, she might have taken you out directly? Glad to hear that you're OK, but sorry to hear about your car being smashed up. Any pics of the damage?

 

Most insurance companies would have totaled the car, or am I wrong?

 

I'm sorry about your loss

i recently had an accident but mine was totaled so i didn't have to worry about the car being different after it was fixed. i hope everything gets worked out for you!

 

This car saved yet another owners life, I love my RX8. Sorry about your loss.

DSC saved me in the rain today.

 

sucks to hear all that. im glad you are ok. rx8s = teh awesomesauce.

 

Thanks for the condolences fellas. I do have some pics, but I have never been able to upload pics. on this forum

 

Good points. But I think the little parts wind up being the trickiest. I've usually not had problems with body work itself or paint, but non-body stuff tends to be an afterthought. I suspect that after the skilled body man does his work, they turn it over to Bubba to slap on the rest of the parts (lights, trim, etc.).

Ken

 

Good Luck

 

Here's some pics. that some of ya'll asked for

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...8/DSCF0922.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...8/DSCF0923.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...8/DSCF0924.jpg

 

...ouch....

 

This is why I ******* hate people who **** with phones as they drive. I think it should be made illegal and these people should have their insurance rates tripled. Seriously.

ALL, and I mean ALL, of my close calls were from idiot chicks with cell phones. Seriously. They were all female, and they were all yapping on their cell when they either decide to switch lanes without looking (when we're all flying at 80mph on the highway) or turn at a red light without bothering to look left.

God I hate them.

 

^ ha it's only a hundred dollar fine here in calf. It should be $1000

My brother was killed by one of those ********.

Then another ******* on the phone hit two of my parked cars when I moved into the new house.

One was totaled.

 

Fine? What fine? Given the amount of problems cell phone usage causes, it should be a felony. I'd rather they throw their asses in jail for a week and leave a permanent record in their lives. It should be seen in the same way as a DUI.

 

In NYC, if cops are pretty strict on cell phone driving people.

I think its a 120 bux fine and 2 points deduction.

Usually I dont talk on cell while driving cuz it really interrupt my judgement. but one time I got caught cuz my god sis's god father went into the hospital and she just panic. Meh, I told the cop what happened and she let me go.

No more phone while driving for me.

 

Holyshit really? sorry to hear that.

Sooner or later it will be a felony, just wait until someone important getting kill or killed someone. Then they will start doing something more serious about it.

 

**** it hurts to look at the pics. Sorry about your accident.

Yeah I hate dumb bitches on the road. Im not trying to start any *Male drivers vs Female drivers* thinggy. but IMO, women should NOT drive. They dont look, they ignore other people, they go 35 mph when everyone is going 60mph. Ahh ! Males do that too, but just not as often as female, ALL female drivers that almost *got* me were doing 1 or more of the above.

For your questions, it really depends on the Body shop's Quality, ask them do they have any dust less room, what kind of paint they use, etc. but if they guarantee their work for life of the car it should be fine.

I heard Allstate has really good service, and takes care of their customers.

 

And my brother wasn't important?

I know what you mean. It's a tragdey that we have to wait that long.

 

Sorry for your loss. I know how you feel. I hope everything works out for you.