jmseven

There is a shop in So.Cal. I read an article awhile back. He is from Japan and now has a shop somewhere in your area. He had won awards for this FD and other creations......damn....I cannot remember the name. He would be the person to go to.....

Piston Pete

Umm, and he does collision repair? Number, name, location?

SPOautos

I agree with a earlier post, go with some good aftermarket parts. If it ends up costing more ot wont be much. The way it's normally played out...

Bodyshop does a quote and sends it to your ins. You ins cuts a check for that amount - $500 or what ever your ded is made out to you and the bodyshop. The shop signs the check you go cash it, buy your parts and take them up there. They install and paint them and wola you have a awsome looking car.

The catch is this, if the shop has already done some work they wont want to sign the check for you to cash. You need to make sure they just let the car sit there till the $ comes in. Also make sure you get a quote for yourself thats between you and the shop on all the labor and paint cost so you know how much of the ins $ you have to spend.

I've done it before and it works out great for everyone. The ins spends the same amount reguardless, the shop gets thier $ and you get better parts!!!

STEPHEN

DomFD3S

Kinda vague since a number of people are from Japan and also have shops. But, I think you mean Non Fujita w/ Enonvativ Force (in Torrance). He used to own an award winning RX-7 (painted Anthracite color) and currently has an award winning Silvia conversion (same Anthracite color). He is an Art n Motion crew member.

He doesn't work on the body...although he can to some extent (He does not do collision repair). I'm sure he sends his car off to a particular body shop since his own shop is VERY small and lacks adequate space for body/paint work.

DomFD3S

Nope...not me. Although I've seen the same red 7 that you have. Another red 7 is driven by a woman.

Piston Pete

Oh well, maybe that mystery red FD will pop in here some day.

This is what's happening so far:

State National Insurance is sending out a contracted appraiser to look at my car at the towing yard. That appraiser will make the choice whether or not it's in the best interest of the insurance company to repair the car. He'll say "fix it" or "trash it." At that point my insurance will call me and tell me the news. If it's to be saved then I'll have X amount of feds to get it repaired. Then I'll go and find my shop, the shop will make it's own appraisal or estimate, and if theirs is more than the appraisers, they'll call 'em to come back out and look at it again just to make sure the car is worth the increased amount of repairs.

The appraiser is looking at it today, I hope he trashes it to be honest. I just don't wanna drive a tainted FD, but it might just work out...I guess.

Piston Pete

"fugging thieves"

DomFD3S

I see nothing wrong w/ driving a "tainted" 7 as long as the damage is 100% repairable. In fact, I'm in the market for a 7 that may require body work (and I am able to work on), depending on the circumstances.

PistonPete, what happend? Where is the damage? You'll be surprised what a good body shop can do. They may even be able to make the body stronger.

Piston Pete

It used to be perfect though

Piston Pete

...but thanks for the boost Dom

dlee

Here are a couple of shops that are known to do good work in the So Bay area.

Foreign Auto Body / Artesia and Western
Reflections Auto / in Lomita, CA

Good Luck

Piston Pete

Thanks dlee

Chronos

man...your insurance rocks man!

How much do you pay per/month ?

Also...you should take Sandecker's advice...you are basically getting a bunch of upgrades for free here!!! I mean, it's not like you're able to sell your stock parts when you upgrade...

Chronos

by the way...you live in South Bay, as in near chula vista - San Diego ?

Piston Pete

South Bay as I know it is considered the southern areas of Los Angeles County ie. Hermosa Beach, Torrance, Gardena etc. That's funny, you think my insurance rules. It sucks. In fact they aren't going to cover towing expenses. It only there to look out for the best interest of the bank I make my payments to.

Ant

Piston Pete

Well it was all for nothing, the asking for shops I mean. My insurance said it's a total loss, meaning that they are going to pay it off. I'm not losing or gaining anything on this since I was barely into the four year term of my loan. Actually I figured out that I'm losing around $1900. That's $1200 I gave the previous owner in cash and two payments of $329. Maybe you guys can help me with this:

After the four-year term would've been up I would've been into them for around $14,000. However the payoff is close to what they lent me -$10,000 minus the two payments of $329. So I'm assuming that's how much the Bank is going to receive from the insurance. Do you guys think I can get any money back for what I lost? I was thinking of providing the insurance company with a few quotes from people selling their FD's. I'm sure I can find some for more than what I paid making it look like my car was worth more than what I bought it for.

Thanks for listening and for the feedback,

anthony

Piston Pete

bump

Piston Pete

Here's the link to pics of my car. Please let me know what you think.

C:\Documents and Settings\rmartinez\My Documents\My Pictures\Wrecked FD.htm

Ant

Piston Pete

Sorry, hold on...

Piston Pete

I hope this works.

C:\Documents and Settings\rmartinez\My Documents\My Pictures\Wrecked FD.rtf