RudeGirL

okay, i need some advise,

when i first bought my car, it was shaking a lot as soon as i'd get on the freeway. so i took it in to sears for an inspection, they told me i had seperated tires, in the front. so i got new tires, and took it on a test drive, it was cool, but it vibrates a lil from the back now. and gets more and more as soon as i'd get up to like 75-80mph. so i figure i take it in for an alignment. when they put it up on the rack, they told me my car has been in an accident from the guy that owned it before me. my frame is all messed up. they said they couldnt do the alignment coz they'd only mess it up more and that i need some major frame work. they said its so bent up under there and theres ripples. you can kinda tell too when you look at my right front tire, its crooked. so, my question, should i spend the money to get it fixed, or jes look for a new car. i love my 7. i always wanted one. i was so excited to work on it when i first got it, and now this. i dont even know if i have the money to fix it. they said it'll be like a couple grand to fix. its an 88 gxl. i'm wondering if it'll be worth it to fix. i'm still making payments on it too, should i just go back to the dealership and trade it in? but i still want a 7. i want my 7. i wanna work on it, but before that, i gotta fix the frame. so, like it said, is getting the frame work worth it?

what would you guys do?

Xentrix

are you sure the car has been in an accident? Someone here always has a carfax thing running, so you can check there if the car has been in an accident. You might have loose wheel bearings. www.fc3s.org has a writeup to check for that.

MtnRacer

I'm sorry this had to happen to you on your first rex. Frame damage usually kills a car. It's SO expensive to get everything bent back into shape because there are safety-considerations and they have to check each individual stress joint to make sure they're ok. I think your best bet is to trade it back, and start over. =( For the price it would cost to fix the damage, you could buy another RX-7. Glad to hear that you wanna stick with a rotary though, good luck!

Steve

Ryde _Or_Die

If the frame is bent shouldn't it have a salvage title? And don't dealerships have to let you know if it does? Either way I'd take it back to them to see what they will do for you.

vicious525E

ya, i would try to get your money back or sell it, i know the fealing though, my motor is about to go out and still i wouldn't traid my car for anything in the world, but if you are planing on spending alot of money on the frme work maby you should look for a tII in good shape, who knows, you might like it better than your car now...

deadRX7Conv

Get a second opinion.
Take pictures of the damage.
There are numerous RX parts on ebay, here, parttraders, salvage yard etc. You might just need a new balljoint/controlarm/strut/subframe/tierod or something else.
Most body shops can give you an estimate on frame straightening and if it is truly bent or if it just needs parts.

Or save it for parts and buy another.

RudeGirL

trust me, this car has been in an accident, theres two dents, one on the front right and one on the rear left. the passenger door, actually under it, is bent up, sometimes its kinda hard to close the door. and i seen under it, no parts can fix it, if not they wouldve ordered in parts and fix my alignment right there. my frame is really messed up. i was thinking of taking it back to the dealership, but then what would i say? we were thinking of going with the insurance and try to see if it'll cover... but i dont wanna lie... imma good girl... i wanted a tII in the first place but we just got a good deal on this car, and now i see why.... i got suckered, it looks so good shape, nice paint and all that, except for the two dents taht you cant really see or notice. even inside is all good. i just need a center console coz its kinda cracked. but arent the tII's kinda hard to come along? anyways, thanks guys...

TheBigOne

You shouldn't have too many worries. Ill find the link but dealerships fall under different guidlines for selling cars even if it is from a used lot.

As long as the car was bought from a dealership lot regardless if its new cars or used cars the vehicle sold must be sold with the ability to pass smog and a FULL safety inspection regardless if the car has a SALVAGE title or a clean title.

If the dealer doesn't want to take the car back threaten to report his business to the Consumer Affairs this will definately change his mind.

You could report it to the Better Business but I doubt they will take action and if they do it would take like 4 months.

But if the car was a personal purchase from consume to consumer then your $(!& out of luck

schexy1

Did you buy it from a dealer? You could try to take it back to the dealer. In most states dealers have to tell you that there is frame damage and issue you a salvage title. If they didn't tell you that in the begining, that is fraud and you can sue them. A salvage title does not fall under As-Is, that has to be addressed seperatly.

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

It's time to take it to a *real* alignment shop. Remember, you're not the first person on earth with a car that's a little off-center - millions of cars a year get into accidents.

Most towns have places that do heavy-duty alignments - if you lived in Pensacola, I could name 2 places.

I had a buddy of mine that drove his '86 base over a curb and into a ditch, and bent the front subframe. It was bent to the point the headers were touching the subframe and the car wouldn't hold an alignment. He took it to Stephen's Beeline here in town and they put it on their rack and bent it into spec. It was a little over $100 or so, and the car was perfect afterwards - tracked straight, held a good alignment, exhaust didn't touch any more, etc.

Look in your local yellow pages and call around.

I'd also avoid the chain tire shops. The local mom and pop places usually have the best service and are more honest.

Dale

RudeGirL

you guys are great. i really appreciate the help. and yes i did buy this car from a used car lot dealership, and no they didnt tell me about the frame damage. they told me as-is no warranty. you know the messed up part was my steering went out a couple weeks after i got the car. and good thing i was just pulling into my apartment complex when it was getting loose, and then trying to park when it completely went out. the dealership sent these ghetto mechanics to do the job for free, but now my steering wheel is upside down. i guess imma have to take some pics of under it and go back down to the dealership. i hope they'll have another rx7 for me. i doubt it. heh, maybe this time they'll have i 3rd gen. hah, i wish. and i will go around and try to see if it is fixable or not. from what i've been told, its not, well it is, but it'll cost me a lot. thanks again...

MtnRacer

I'm not sure about WA, but in California, there's a law which requires a dealership to tell you if they are selling you a "lemon" car. A lemon car is a vehicle with a history of problems, do a search one "lemon law" and you should find some reading material about it. If the dealership gives you crap, and you've got a law like this in WA, point it out, and if necessary, consult a lawyer. But hopefully they'll be cool about it. Good luck!

Steve

OC_

sounds like it would be best to part it out and buy a new one with that cash.