Hey all,

I'm feeling really grateful that my passenger and I walked out without a single scratch. I dodged a cat and rammed straight into a tree. Sigh.

Pics attached. I love ya renny.. thanks for protecting us...

I brought her to a shop but they said it's probably totaled... Control arm snapped, axle also, it's a really a mess and it's so painful to see it...

Anyone know how to deal with totalled cars? this is my first time. I haven't heard back from my insurance yet.

Ima go cry for a bit

 

Even if you were to be able to replace the parts the chassis would be mostly beyond repair. It looks bent from the pics.
The next time just drive over the damn cat.

 

^ agreed, replacing a bumpier after hitting a small animal is much better than this. And think about that poor tree you destroyed ...

Glad you and your passenger are ok.

 

Stupid cat. Good to hear you walked out alright.

 

that's totaled.

 

First S2 i have seen totaled, glad everyone is ok.

 

Sorry for your loss, but you could sell your RECARO Sportster CS seats and interior. There are a handful of RX-8 owners who would love to acquire the R3 interior.

 

damn..imagine the cat said "what an idiot!"

and yes, its totaled. hope you have full coverage.

 

Glad to see you and your passenger is okay.

It is probably repairable but if it is repaired it will never drive the same.
Just consider it totaled and buy another 8.

And don't feel bad for not hitting the cat, I would have probably done the same thing.
I have a soft spot for cats.

 

I do, but I have a softer spot for my RX

 

Back in my day of driving classes in high school, we were taught you always make the choice to hit what is softer. I have always had animals, cats and dogs. And I love animals, but you should have just hit the cat.

If they total her, try to part out the good stuff. But you will have to grab that stuff quick, most insurance companies won't let you near the car once they total it. They crush em right away, so that there is no evidence for any further insurance claims of any kind.

 

Totaled...totally agreed. Anyway, the most important thing is both of you are okay and alive. That is just a car, it could be replaced...not you, amen.

 

or could it be replaced.

 

From the pictures it looks as if most of the energy was absorb by the suspension, that is a good thing.

You should seek out a shop that specializes in hard hits. even a rainbow can be straighten, all it takes is time, money and a few mirrors. That being said, is it worth it to you? If you can,take a picture of the passengers side rear door lines along with the trunk lines. That will help to figure out if it is diamonded (racked).
In the engine compartment, did the drivers side strut areasustain any damage? Or was all of the damage to the outside of the engine compartment? Did the windshield crack, not just that lower corner, PS upper corner? That will tell if the( A ) pillar has moved.

Keep in mind, that as soon as a frame rack clamp touches your car, the value will never be the same.

I am truley sorry for your loss.
It looks repairable to me. ( 13K??). ( more pictures please)
MY2010 there was 263 R3 produced for US, Is there only 262 now? Seek out a heavy hit specialist. Good luck, and hug your loved ones.
--
--Jim

 

The frame can be straightened, true. What happens when you hit again in a similar spot though?
Safety aside it will never handle the same and that's what is important. He couldn't dodge a cat safely with a healthy car lol.

 

Thanks everyone. Ya the windshield on the driver side has a 10cm long crack. Just one line. The passenger side from the door to trunk was perfectly fine.
The suspension itself seemed intact but the strut seems busted but I can't open the hood.

 

Next time, hit the cat. I grew up in a rural area. We would see this a lot from the "city folk" that would come out on weekends. An animal runs out, the swerve and crash. Some killed them selves in the process. See it a lot on the volunteer fire dept out there. Most the other "country folk" just ran the animal down or braked. Insurance will fix a bumper. Glad you made it out OK but next time let the animal die. It's not worth risking you life or the life of others to save an animal.

 

Exactly Prophet. My cousin has a friend that died from this and he lived in the country though. He was driving with his sister on a gravel road and a bunny came running out, the sister screamed to not hit it and the guy swerved and rolled the truck. The guy died and the sister lived.

 

You're totally right. If it's a deer you may even have a good dinner!
On a serious note though: cats, rabbits, badgers, squirrels, hedgehogs and the likes are all fine to hit. Even small dogs are ok. Problems arise with mid size dogs and upwards since they may really unbalance your car to the point to let you crash anyway.
Just a heads up and clarification i guess, for the inexperienced tourist.

 

Airbag deployment - Something I hope I never get to witness ......

 

just noticed OP is Asian.

 

Not much you can do with a totaled car. You have to wait and see what insurance is willing to pay. If you arent done paying it off you might be stuck paying the difference on a car you cant drive. I totoled my own rx8 and it does make you wanna cry but be glad you and your passenger are ok. YOu can also try and buy your car back and part out what ever isnt completely trashed, might help get some money back.

 

Well, I've been involved in more than one deer hit. Biggest was buck that was around 215is lbs. Gotta love the rut. Horny time for deer, for those that do not know. In every hit, the deer either bounced off, rolled under, or rolled onto the hood. NONE ever made the car "unbalanced." Most cars way 1.5 tons or more. Even at 200lbs, the deer is in a loosing battle with physics. If you stay on the brakes
you will come to as safe stop like any other time. Maybe some extra wiggles, but that's it.

 

Hm, how the? haha.

Well this incident was an expensive lesson for me. How come I feel like every plus in technology is a minus in humanity lol...

 

That sucks. Its sad to see such a beautiful car go, but at least everyone is ok. Although I must ask... How was a tree a cat-sized swerve away from the road? Generally those kinds of things are separated by dirt, ditches, and sometimes even guard rails lol.