My RX-8 (2005, bought new in May, under 4000 miles now) was broadsided by a truck running a stop sign The worst body damage was the driver side rear door (those side curtain air bags work, BTW!), and the left rear wheel is bent in. I took it to a very good body shop, and they will farm out some things. Repair estimate is $8000+.

My question: I can check the cosmetic stuff, and make sure it drives well, but I'm no racer and I won't know if the DSC, traction control, sport suspension are working properly (working, yes; working as they should, no). What should I be looking for, and where could I take it to be sure it is like new (remember, under 4000 miles!)? I live in central OK.

I thank you and my hapless RX-8 thanks you.

 

It sounds like your car has been totalled. Its very easy to total a car when it gets hit from the side. Dont always trust what the bobyshop tells ya.

and 8K to repair ? Seriously I would rather total it and have the insurance to pay for a new car.

 

The DSC and TC will set CEL's if they are broken. The suspension needs to be checked out by an alignment technician, who should be able to tell you what got bent. If he can align it within factory specs it is fine. If it is close to any of the margins I would complain about it.

Usually when a wheel is bent in it means major suspension damage and maybe a bent subframe.

 

Thanks. To total it, repairs must equal 80% of book value, which is upward of $18K I'd guess. That was my preference, to. I do have to say that the body shop guy was cognizant of possible suspension damage that was not included in his estimate, so State Farm can already expect that it may need more repair than the $8K includes.

Bent subframe: is that repairable, replaceable, or what? Sound bad. :-(

 

subframes are replacable. heres a good rule of thumb that i go by... if your car was hit on the driver side and your body gaps on the passenger side dont line up, then its in bad shape... check your door, hood and trunk alignment on the passenger side