Speed Racer

If I ever get the rest of my parts for the Random Tech hi-temp cat I'll change the maps to make it a CZ Stage 2. :D

P.S. I have the cat but they installed the wrong resonator on the mid-pipe and I had to send it back. Grrr...

my10ae

OK guys... anyone have anything planned for 7/11 (Sun)? I saw we meet over my house to have a mini tech day. I need some help installing my rear aero flares and Hymee front grill. If my front splash guards ever come in, I'd like to install those too.

How's Sunday July 11th sound? Anyone else have anything they want to install? Drop out a post.

Kevin

Mini tech day thread...follow it here:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=33306

Speed Racer

Kev,

Well I won't be bringing my car down for the tech day as some twit decided to cut me off in the middle of an intersection.

At first glance it looks like the front bumper, hood, intake, radiator, engine cover, windshield, front air bags, and seat belts need to be replaced. I'm so pissed off right now it is not even funny. At least it wasn't my fault and I have about twenty witnesses that saw the accident including a couple of reporters from the local paper.

my10ae

Roy:

That totally and utterly SUCKS!!! I feel your pain. I was t-boned in my Miata when it only had 6K on the clock. She was fixed up and still runs like a top. Find a GOOD repair shop and tell them you want it back in new condition. Keep us posted...

Kevin

markh711

Roy,
Sorry to hear about your car. I'm assuming you are OK. Hope everything goes easy for you in getting your car back together.

Kevin,
Have plans on Sunday ( being my birthday ).

Mark

Speed Racer

Thanks for the support.

After the accident everyone seemed fine but one of the kids riding with me said his neck was a little stiff so the paramedics decided to err on the side of safety and took him to the hospital for evaluation. Hopefully he'll be fine and be no worse for the wear.

Today I've spent my morning on the phone getting the insurance claim started, rental car reserved, towing lined up and the hardest part is trying to figure out which body shop I want to work on the car. I'm a little concerned that the car will never be the same because none of the shops in the area have the great of a reputation.

my10ae

Roy:

I know its kinda far but I've heard great things about Prestige Auto here in Manchester. They are located right off 293. Actually they are about a mile down the road from Talarico Mazda. We are getting a fender repaired on the Lexus next week and I was VERY impressed with their facility and professionalism. Email me if you want their number/info.

Glad everyone was ok. I take it the other driver was faulted and ticketed?

Speed Racer

Kev,

Thanks for the suggestion but my insurance company said that I'd have to pay for the towing if I went to a shop outside of this area. Hmm... I wonder how much that would set me back?

Actually it was a little odd. The officer wasn't going to write a ticket until he had a chance to recreate the accident but he did say that he was 99% sure that she would be found at fault.

my10ae

Roy:

If it cost a little more out of pocket to get it to place that will fix the car up right, I would suggest doing that. It would be better than bringing the car to a place that is not reputable and having it repaired to less-than-new status.

Just my .02.....

Speed Racer

There is one shop in the area that is a little better than the others and I'm planning on heading over there this afternoon to check out their work in person. If it looks questionable I'll probably be towing it some where else to get it done right.

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

Damn, Roy!! I hope everything works out ok.

That sucks....

Speed Racer

I took a closer look at the car today and the frame looks a little tweaked even though the front fenders still look perfect. The gap between the fender and the driver's door is off by about 1/8".

When I looked under the bumper it was easy to see why that happened. The front cross member was split and both of the longitudinal crash beams are bent.

Gyro

Roy, sorry about the accident.


A couple thoughts about the repair;

One thing Ins. companies do that is pretty shady is try to force the body shop in buying aftermarket parts. By aftermarket I mean OEM replica. They are usually up to 50% cheaper. They somehow get away with this (here in Mass) even though the law is written "the repair should bring the vehicle to pre accident condition". Ins companies will usually fight it tooth and nail. Most people have no idea that this occurs and accept their car back from the body shop with lower quality, poor fitting OEM replica parts.

Thats the bad news. The good news is that it takes a few years for the aftermarket body panel companies to start stock in a paticular car (as demand dictates) so I dont see any panels being even available yet for the RX8. Also, if the car is less than a year old, they tend not to go the OEM replica route, so you should be all set. Just be specific on this point that you wont accept anything but Mazda factory parts.

I'm a little worried about the paint matching. I bet you anything the Velocity Red Mica is not an easy paint to match. It has a two step base coat to give that gold flake effect. This is not to say the body shop will do a bad job, its just more important to get a very detail oriented shop. Also, it might vbe a good idea to have the dealer do the repair on the seatbelts and airbags.

again....sorry about the accident. Your car will be like new when done. Just think, no nicks and chips on the nose!

my10ae

Roy:

Man I feel for ya. Make sure you get the car to a good repair shop. Find any good ones in your area yet?

Kev

Speed Racer

I have found one place that looks promising and the car is on its way over there to get an estimate. If they don't look like they are going to pan out I'll probably have it towed diwn to the same shop that Gyro has used in the past. That guy does an amazing job.

RPIRX-8

Roy I'm so sorry man, my heart goes out to you. Let me know if you need anything.

I know the towing will be expensive, but I never will use a body shop that isn't the dealer or dealer sponsored. When I had to get my Celica repaired a couple of years ago I took it to the Body Shop at Ira Toyota in Danvers, MA. Top notch, no complaints at all. Plus they used all Toyota Genuine parts. I hope everything turns out ok.

Tigger

iTrader: (3)

First let me start by saying hello to "rxgrl"... I live just up in Nashua, and work in Billerica, someday I will hopefully hook up with Gyro! if I get enough time to pick up the phone and give him a call.

If your in the area and want to get together, please PM me!

And on a much gloommier subject, that of poor ZIA... I actually haven’t been on the forum in a while, and found out about your accident just this weekend from a friend who drove by shortly after it had happened, then I saw the newspaper article.

If you are in need of a little help with a body shop, let me know... I can recommend an excellent shop in the area... and they already are familiar with the front end of an RX-8 as mine has been there to get its new bumper. (Though they still need to do a little more work, next time I can schedule it).

These guys are excellent and will do a very good job with the paint as well... you can’t see any difference in the paint on my new bumper, which also has the gold fleck.

In addition to my 8, they fixed my sisters Miata, that she used to have, after it took a small off road outing through a cow field, barbed wire and all (ouch). They are very good.

The bad news... well you don’t have to worry about aftermarket parts yet... the time it takes to get any parts at all will probably kill you. It took over two months to get the parts for my car. With a little luck that as changed now that Mazda is not as behind in production.

Good luck and give me a call if your intrested in a local place to check out.

Tigger

iTrader: (3)

I feel your pain. Not that it helps, but I stopped less then 5 inch’s short of performing the same horrific disaster, only a few hundred feet away from where you got cut off. I was heading from the Staples plaza down route 12 towards McDonalds when a women decided to leave her side of the road and go for food... If weren’t for the breaks on the 8, I would have “T’d” her for sure.

After she was safely in the McDonalds Parking lot, I swung around the back entrance to McDonalds and asked if she was ok, the first words out of her mouth were of course, “Yes, thank you, and you?”!!!! NOT! Infact, I thought/wished those would be her first words, but in fact her first words were really, “I didn’t hit you, and besides you were speeding!” all in a very nasty why are you bothering me tone of voice. I informed her that I actually wasn’t speeding and that in fact I hadn’t even left first gear yet but I was glad she was ok, and I drove off wondering why I had even bothered to make sure she was ok.

That stretch of road is really becoming one of my least favorit places to drive. Someday, someone is going to cut off one of the trucks halling cement, he is going to swerve, loose control, and it isn't going to be pretty.

Keep me posted, and if I can help with anything, you know how to reach me.

Tigger

iTrader: (3)

Lastly, Kevin, keep me posted on this Sunday... I was already informed by my office, before the holiday weekend began, that I would probably be needed for one day this upcoming weekend... but I would love to swing by, give you hand and maybe go grab a beer with a couple 8 owners, if there are any in the area that would like to get together for an afternoon.

And as I know there are a couple of great places to grab a pint and a bite to eat, in your neck of the woods... coupled with the fact that I certianly love 8's, food, and the occasional pint! I figured maybe a few of us could grab dinner after we finish up your car? :-)

Speed Racer

Hey Kev,

If I'm free I'll stop by in my uber rental car (Toyota Prius) and give you hand with your mods. At least this why I'll be able to live vicariously through you guys. :p


Tigger,

I sent you a PM.

my10ae

Roy:

Sorry about accident. Glad you have a rental to at least get around in. Where did you finally have the car taken too?

So far it's Roy and Chris for Sunday at my house. Anyone else?

downshift

Hey Tigger, I see your RX-8 almost everyday parked out in the middle of the lot. I work at that Canadian networking company just next door

my10ae: What kind of help do you need? I'm not mechanically inclined but can pass a tool I'm most likely free this Sunday and would be interested to see an RX-8 being worked on, if you don't mind that.

my10ae

Downshift:

You are more than welcome. All 8 enthusaists are welcome. I'll be wrenching with Roy to remove my front bumper to install the lower grill. A handy "tool-passer" is always welcome.

Kevin

rxgrl

OMG, that is awful. I had a couple close calls and then made me nervous... I am glad everyone is alright...
I wish I could hang out this weekend, but I have a concert to go to...next time, keep the posts coming.

Speed Racer

Heather,

You can't back out on us now, remember you're the one who started this thread.

So what concert are you going to see?