Jordayummm

So pretty much since I was like 14, I wanted a Phantom Blue Rx-8. I finally found one nearby with low miles,have had it for 5 months, and just my luck: we got hit with the worst hailstorm ever (golfball sized hail) so my car got totaled out, but Geico bought it back for me. So I own the car still. But everyone is telling me I should get something else because I can't have full coverage anymore. Which sucks, because I wanted to start modding it because I finished paying it off last month so my question is, should I search for a different car? Or drive this one for a while with liability, and not mod it? I don't think I'll find another Phantom Blue 8 anytime soon, and everyone here in Missouri just seems to have busted 04's, so I'm not really interested. Just looking for general advice and opinions! Maybe suggestions on other good cars to transition to after owning an 8? Or advice on fixing totaled cars? Thanks!!

boricua13

Depending on how bad it is, you can get painless dent repair and salvage the look. As far as full coverage, I think it depends on the state, but you could always call Grundy insurance and get an see what they say

zeropeorth

If the car runs fine and is otherwise ok besides the body, and you love it ... nothing beats a paid off car. Not having payments, you can quickly afford the body work in time. Even something cheap like $250/mo is 3k/yr towards body work. Talk with the insurance companies to see if you can find coverage that fits what you need as well. Just because you can't get full coverage, doesn't mean you can't get coverage that is acceptable. I'm assuming they mean coverage on repairs, not your liability for others but I've not dealt with that. I have however, watched a video or two where someone has intentionally bought a 'totaled' car, like an nsx, repaired the frame damage, and drove it. He mentioned nothing about insurance issues, but I suppose the video was less about that and the fact that some totaled cars are worth buying for the greatly discounted price if you understand the damage done and can afford to fix it; can make a car like an NSX a steal in comparison to what they are fetching normally.

My best advice, from experience, is don't rush your decisions. Take your time. Many mistakes can be had from haste in these situations. I've let cars go I wish I hadn't, because I didn't just step back, take a deep breath, and think of the big picture with enough clarity and long term results. One was a totaled RX7 from someone running a red light, the other was a rare classic that had serious rust issues on the floor board ... and I was too young and naive to see long term plans that would have salvaged both cars that I dearly loved, and had some vehicles for a while that were quite uninspiring thus didn't make me as happy.

Hail damage isn't frame damage, so I think that is a great start ... so even if it was a few thousand for body and paint, if you love the car, seriously consider going with your passion and not the advice of others who may not have connections with their cars as much; some people, its just shiny (or less than that) transportation. A vehicle is just that to them. I feel rotary owners are a different breed; we are more intimate with our cars, they take more tlc, and have a unique style to go with the unique engine.

BUT, with all that said, a Subaru BRZ/Scion-Toyota FRS is probably the best under $40k car on the market today imo, and you don't have to get them new, the 2013 model had sexy dark blue, and the WR blue might be up your alley. Expect a new rotary in the next year or so for the anniversary as well. But that means payments most likely, even used ... so that has to be considered. I've had a BRZ, it was nice, but its no RX8 to me; RX8 is more roomy, but the boxer engine doesn't need the level of attention of the rotary. Pick your poisons!

And if you need to, just talk it out on the forums, people will help you, and writing things down itself helps ones mind deal with situations better. Just reading over your own thoughts can help you take a step back and think more clearly.

Best of luck to you

NotAPreppie

Got any photos of the car? What do you need to do to get the car road-worthy again?
Worst case scenario, a new windshield will be about $250 installed (that's how much SafeLite charged me to replace mine). Most of the rest of the parts (hood, fenders, trunk, quarter panels) you can source from pick'n'pull junkyards (Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market is your friend).

At a minimum, you have to get liability insurance and I doubt that Geico would deny you that (once you get the salvage title paperwork done with the state).

The fact is that your car isn't worth as much on a spreadsheet. You may be able to find an insurer to sell you comp/collision insurance but you should ask yourself if that is a good idea given that they will only give you a fraction what the vehicle was worth before the hailstorm.

You seem young (not a dig, just and observation) which means that your insurance is probably not cheap. Paying $1500/year (just pulling numbers out of my ***, may be way off high or low) for comp/collision doesn't make sense when they may not give you more than $1500 (after deductible) for the car if it's a complete write-off again.

Here's my take:
Hail damage isn't frame damage. The car is still as safe (or unsafe if you drive like me) as it was before the storm. You still love the car (clearly or you wouldn't have come to a forum of like-minded people to tell you what you wanted to hear).

Keep the damned thing. Who cares what some pencil-pusher at the insurance company thinks your car is worth? It's worth so much more to you!

Take half of your normal car payment and put it in a savings account that is a pain in the *** to access (so you don't spend it). This is your comp/collision insurance coverage.
Do.
Not.
Touch.
It.

Take the other half and start fixing the car up yourself. It doesn't matter if you don't know how to work on cars; this is how you learn. You'll know how after you've read and done enough. This is how many of those old, grizzled mechanics who talk about the glory days of the Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 cars got their start. They had a tight budget and a tough situation and decided to make it work using their own hands. 40 years later and there isn't much they can't fix.

Replacing the hood is stupid easy (seriously, 4 bolts. That's it.)
I'm guessing that replacing the fenders is fairly easy since I can see the top bolts with the hood up.
Whole doors shouldn't be too hard, either.

Life dealt you a shitty hand but that's no reason to throw in the towel on your plans. It just delays them a little bit.

Caveat Lector:
I bought my car twice. I'm not the most rational individual.

CelestialGryphon

iTrader: (1)

You can replace the entire front end on these cars with ease. When you start getting into things like the roof of the car and rear fenders...

NotAPreppie

Just take a deadblow hammer and dimple it like a golf ball.

Jordayummm

Thanks guys! This definitely made me feel much better about the situation. I've been upset about it for like 2 weeks. Every time I drive the car I instantly start smiling! I didn't wanna give it up because of some dents. I had looked into the BRZ/FRS, but i was kind of deterred. It looks fun to drive, but the Rx-8 is definitely more unique. I guess the journey to restore my car starts soon!

arakawa

I know the feeling. I got hit with hail less than 6 months after buying mine too. But in my case, the insurance company had it fixed instead of totaling it.

CelestialGryphon

iTrader: (1)

Get at it son!