unreality

So, it's been a few years since I got spun at a stop sign, and I've sort of 'let my car go,' but I need to make a final decision about repairing it. In late '03, I had someone run a stop and tag my right-rear. To help convey the force of impact, the hit spun me 180 degrees. It left a pretty nasty dent.

I've considered selling the poor thing a few times (and indeed posted about it in the San Diego forum), but I've always backed out. The car has low miles and runs well, and hell, it holds sentimental value. Since the damage from the crash was superficial, this is what I've gathered needs to be done:

1. The right rear area of the car needs to be cut out and replaced with an intact piece from a donor car.
2. Liberal sanding and painting must be done to blend the new piece in as well as deal with roof oxidation, etc.

Is this realistic? I paid $2,000 for the car, will this cost even more? Anyone have experience with this kind of body work?

In all heretical honesty, I've been eying the used GTIs in the Auto Trader, and I'm tempted to join the Piston Wielding crowd. I just want to know that trying to save my poor car is an excersize in futility before I make the jump.

Working on getting pictures online. I've owned at least 2 digital cameras, but they always manage to disappear when needed.

Kentetsu

Fix the Mazda, and stay the hell away from VW/Audi. Take my word for it, I own an Audi 100S and it is slowly bleeding me dry! You can't even work on the blasted things! There's not much that I can't do myself on my 7, but I have to take the Audi to a mechanic to perform even the simplest upkeep/repairs. And then there's the cost too, man oh man! $280.00 just to replace one front wheel bearing. I'm looking at almost a grand because the power steering rack is leaking! And now the damn windows won't work, because of a bad relay, the cost of which is $330.00! It's just unbelievable! OK, I'm done now...

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

There has been a post in the last month of your exact situation. The guy cut out the damage and welded in a donor piece. Did a hell of a job for his first time. Even included pics. For some reason the name rotaryexperimental sticks in my head but I am not sure if that who it was.

Try searching for replacing rear quarter panel or 1/4 panel.

Mazdo

iTrader: (1)

I agree! I just unloaded a 2002 Passat that was nothing short of a nightmare. Get something cheap for a daily driver and take your time working on the seven.

Kentetsu

Anybody want to buy an Audi? Maybe someone you don't like much? I should call my mother in law....

Have you decided what you're going to do? No doubt you can get all the help you need from your fellow rotorheads. I hear there are a couple of them in Cali.

gmanuser

lucky sob i am stuck in but f%$^$ egypt, or i would help you i am pretty decent welder.

$100T2

iTrader: (1)

Get the GTI. Then, fix the 7 while you use the GTI for a daily driver. Edit: I own an Audi. When it breaks, it's expensive, but it breaks far less often than most other cars.

Case closed.

Kentetsu

"Case closed"? Well, I did not realize that I was such a misinformed moron! As long as you say that Audis are great cars, who am I to say otherwise. I guess I'd better take back everything that I've said. What a dick. Perhaps you'd like to buy my moneypit?

Hades12

Sucks to find out in a public forum like that.

rotaryxperamental

Try this (thankfully I didn't delete this thread) https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/fender-fender-well-seperation-505052/

What you see for pix is all I've done, havn't had time to finish it.

This one

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/update-81-gs-509744/

along with this

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2250042/1

$100T2

iTrader: (1)

Wow, I called you a misinformed moron? Where?

And actually, the "case closed" was put there before my edit. Sorry. I added in the fact that I own an Audi and it has been mostly reliable after the fact.

Kentetsu

I have to admit that I love the car when it is running. But over two years I've put more into for repairs than I originally paid for it. And there is no end in sight. Now I'm at the point where I either admit to a huge loss, or continue fixing it simply because I've got so much into it already.

Definitely not a car designed for the home mechanic. Nothing beats a 7 or an old Z car when it comes to being user friendly...

$100T2

iTrader: (1)

I feel the same way.

I've been lucky there. Only an alternator and a couple ball joints, and the dreaded belt change that requires the entire front of the car to be taken off.

Yeah, no ****. I don't even change my own spark plugs on that bastard. I just take it to our local mechanic, who generally undercharges me.

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

i had an audi 4000s. it was a beater but i do remember the parts being expensive. it had 215K when i sold it and only four out of five gears in the trans and the speedo quit working. the exhaust broke at the converter and the rear shoes took a **** at the same time. i replaced the shoes and left the exhaust. my 85 GS at the time with flexing wheel wells seemed more reliable. but when i think about the car and its life of sheer torment, it was a decent car. just a bombshell when it came to replacement parts.

fedella_n_harsh

Fix it! You could still save it.


__________________________________
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cptpain

iTrader: (1)

itll buff out

Hades12

Nice bump.

speedracer_not

kentetus, you are hilarious!!

You must write those Apple vs PC ads.

Kentetsu

LOL, who the hell dug up this old worthless thread anyway?

And I still have an Audi for sale if anybody is into self abuse!