Trying to avoid making your cars more valuable
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,216
Likes: 2
From: Tampa, FL
Trying to avoid making your cars more valuable
So I recently had a small off road excursion in the FD. If I had managed to avoid having an intimate moment with a street sign, all I would be replacing is a set of side skirts. 
The damage to the car is all surface damage (Driver fender, driver evo-r headlight bucket, shine side skirts) with the exception of the driver side headlight area.
This was a fairly low speed impact. I was not cited and FHP said, "If you hadn't hit the sign we would have said just go home."
Now, I have a complete untitled car that I can cut and weld in a perfectly good replacement section from. For those who have experience in insurance adjusting and perhaps body repair, what are your opinions based on what you see below (images).
Thank you.
The damage to the car is all surface damage (Driver fender, driver evo-r headlight bucket, shine side skirts) with the exception of the driver side headlight area.
This was a fairly low speed impact. I was not cited and FHP said, "If you hadn't hit the sign we would have said just go home."
Now, I have a complete untitled car that I can cut and weld in a perfectly good replacement section from. For those who have experience in insurance adjusting and perhaps body repair, what are your opinions based on what you see below (images).
Thank you.
OUCH!
I imagine that shouldn't be too bad to fix. I'd get a body shop to repair the structure, you can easily handle bolting on a new fender, hood, front bumper, etc.
They may also need to put it on an alignment rack and make sure the frame rails are straight. Looks like they should be kosher though.
Get it back on the road before DGRR!
Dale
I imagine that shouldn't be too bad to fix. I'd get a body shop to repair the structure, you can easily handle bolting on a new fender, hood, front bumper, etc.
They may also need to put it on an alignment rack and make sure the frame rails are straight. Looks like they should be kosher though.
Get it back on the road before DGRR!
Dale
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,216
Likes: 2
From: Tampa, FL
I was already in negotiations to buy a second FD. The SSM would be the beater and the other the "pretty" car.
In all seriousness, I added up the price of all the parts new + shipping and the body shop I know who would fix it and it was like < $4000 and I have a $1000 deductible so...
In all seriousness, I added up the price of all the parts new + shipping and the body shop I know who would fix it and it was like < $4000 and I have a $1000 deductible so...
I was already in negotiations to buy a second FD. The SSM would be the beater and the other the "pretty" car.
In all seriousness, I added up the price of all the parts new + shipping and the body shop I know who would fix it and it was like < $4000 and I have a $1000 deductible so...
In all seriousness, I added up the price of all the parts new + shipping and the body shop I know who would fix it and it was like < $4000 and I have a $1000 deductible so...
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That headlight area is one of the hardest to get aligned.
Im pretty sure you wont, but just don't settle for anything less than laser straight or itll bother you every time you look at the car.
Im pretty sure you wont, but just don't settle for anything less than laser straight or itll bother you every time you look at the car.
Batman
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 53
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From: Tasmania, Australia
Also, if the headlight bucket frame isnt exactly straight again, the damned panel gap around the flip-up headlight cover might be thrown out of whack.
I think we can all admit to fiddling with the headlight cover attaching screws to get the cover to line up with the hood, fender and front bumper evenly..
I think we can all admit to fiddling with the headlight cover attaching screws to get the cover to line up with the hood, fender and front bumper evenly..
Buy the parts new from Mazda, they are cheaper than you think and the repair will be better. The FD front end has an extremely tight fit with bumper, headlights, hood and fender.
Me personally - It would bother me the fact that the car has been crashed and repaired, i use to own a mint low mile rx7 years ago but since It was crashed and repaired ( although u couldn't tell because of the excellent body shop work) I just had to get rid of it and start fresh...
I cant be arsed with small tidbits like a fender bender .. my car was crispy parts of the car are still crispy from an engine fire. .. cant go throwing something away if its been repaired properly in my opinion .
also if you go the insurance route , and they plan to weld in parts from a car , than have then forward you the money and use the parts you already have . and profit around 4k is the estimate ? , 1k to body shop , 1k to deductable , and 2 k that were supposed to go into materials into your pocket!
I have no idea howmuch the body shop will charge in labor though just letting you know.
also if you go the insurance route , and they plan to weld in parts from a car , than have then forward you the money and use the parts you already have . and profit around 4k is the estimate ? , 1k to body shop , 1k to deductable , and 2 k that were supposed to go into materials into your pocket!
I have no idea howmuch the body shop will charge in labor though just letting you know.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,216
Likes: 2
From: Tampa, FL
I wouldn't call it a GOOD shell! 
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-rx-7-1993-2002-vehicles-107/epic-fd-shell-967519/
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-rx-7-1993-2002-vehicles-107/epic-fd-shell-967519/
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,216
Likes: 2
From: Tampa, FL
B - Yea that time someone in a Lexus backed into my front bumper. I believe it is the Spirit of Saint Wankel giving me signs that I need a "pretty" FD and a beater FD.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,216
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From: Tampa, FL
So...another good experience with insurance.
Adjuster came out. Met him at the car, politely greeted him and explained I had taken the passenger side fender out so he could compare the sides. Apart from that, I said I would stay out of his way unless he had specific questions.
His first question was, "Do you know how much the part are worth that you are looking to replace?". I had prepared a sheet with all parts and prices printed out along with comps of similar cars selling. His words, "I've never had someone prepared like that in 15+ years of doing this."
He asked a few questions, took pictures, made small talk and then made his adjustment.
Long story short: $5500 for repairs and handed me a check. I told him I was pleasantly surprised as everyone else I spoke to kept talking about totaling it. His reply was, "Yea, people at the office hear 1993 and bumper and fender damage and automatically assume it is a Mazda 626 or Honda Civic. They don't understand the value of some of these older sports cars."
Good Day.
Adjuster came out. Met him at the car, politely greeted him and explained I had taken the passenger side fender out so he could compare the sides. Apart from that, I said I would stay out of his way unless he had specific questions.
His first question was, "Do you know how much the part are worth that you are looking to replace?". I had prepared a sheet with all parts and prices printed out along with comps of similar cars selling. His words, "I've never had someone prepared like that in 15+ years of doing this."
He asked a few questions, took pictures, made small talk and then made his adjustment.
Long story short: $5500 for repairs and handed me a check. I told him I was pleasantly surprised as everyone else I spoke to kept talking about totaling it. His reply was, "Yea, people at the office hear 1993 and bumper and fender damage and automatically assume it is a Mazda 626 or Honda Civic. They don't understand the value of some of these older sports cars."
Good Day.
So...another good experience with insurance.
Adjuster came out. Met him at the car, politely greeted him and explained I had taken the passenger side fender out so he could compare the sides. Apart from that, I said I would stay out of his way unless he had specific questions.
His first question was, "Do you know how much the part are worth that you are looking to replace?". I had prepared a sheet with all parts and prices printed out along with comps of similar cars selling. His words, "I've never had someone prepared like that in 15+ years of doing this."
He asked a few questions, took pictures, made small talk and then made his adjustment.
Long story short: $5500 for repairs and handed me a check. I told him I was pleasantly surprised as everyone else I spoke to kept talking about totaling it. His reply was, "Yea, people at the office hear 1993 and bumper and fender damage and automatically assume it is a Mazda 626 or Honda Civic. They don't understand the value of some of these older sports cars."
Good Day.
Adjuster came out. Met him at the car, politely greeted him and explained I had taken the passenger side fender out so he could compare the sides. Apart from that, I said I would stay out of his way unless he had specific questions.
His first question was, "Do you know how much the part are worth that you are looking to replace?". I had prepared a sheet with all parts and prices printed out along with comps of similar cars selling. His words, "I've never had someone prepared like that in 15+ years of doing this."
He asked a few questions, took pictures, made small talk and then made his adjustment.
Long story short: $5500 for repairs and handed me a check. I told him I was pleasantly surprised as everyone else I spoke to kept talking about totaling it. His reply was, "Yea, people at the office hear 1993 and bumper and fender damage and automatically assume it is a Mazda 626 or Honda Civic. They don't understand the value of some of these older sports cars."
Good Day.
so I'm really glad to hear they didn't send the car off to rebuild land .
