So when I bought my 8 in November I noticed a small patch of paint flaking under the spoiler on the driver side. I thought I'll wait til it warms up in the spring before tackling this issue. Between yesterday and today, I've removed the spoiler and had a helluva surprise. What I thought was a small patch of paint flaking due to vibration or something turned out to be two enormous patches of rust on both sides of the spoiler.





I've finished sanding all the rust out. My touch-up paint is pretty much depleted as well. I think there may still be some rust in the threads of the mounting holes. Now, I'm debating whether to take it to a bodyshop and get it painted or just buy a new trunk.

 

I'd at least get an estimate from a body shop, but would still probably just hit up the local salvage yards and eBay to see what kind of deal you could get on a trunk lid. That sucks man.

 

Your trunk looks fine, nothing a little elbow grease can't get out, some folks would call that patina. Looks like the most of the rust has bled from the screws on the spoiler. Fill the holes when you fix it and leave the spoiler off, it's spoiling your car dude.

 

How old is the 8?

 

I had the exact same problem when I bought mine. I don't think mine was as far along as yours, but it cost me about $400 to get it all fixed up. They guy also fixed some chips in my hood so I was happy.

 

Im pretty sure that if i took mine off it would look very similar >.> but i really am too lazy and i cant see anything with the spoiler on (except the crevace where i cant clean) so what i dont know doesn't hurt me i guess.

 

It might be cheaper to get a new trunk but it will depend what your local bodyshops charge to weld and paint. The few estimates I got to weld and paint were $900+.

 

So after some "elbow grease" with a scotch-brite, scraper and touch-up pen, here's what my trunk now looks like. I don't plan on leaving it like this (I don't think the touch-up paint bonds very well at all), but at least it won't get any worse in the time it takes me to either get to a bodyshop or decide on a new trunk.

 

2004 and was beat to hell in the salty Quebec winter as far as I can tell. I learned a valuable lesson about inspecting a used vehicle very carefully. After the first test drive, I was just so taken with the feel and sound of the car I just didn't care.

 

I herd that. I knew better then to just drive and buy and I did it with my RX8 as well just to find the front bumper had been messed up and painted all crappy like. It is accident free though carfax wise hmmm.