Well Damn, FD3S Death.

[DriFD3S]

1993, Efini, RX-7 5 Speed, R-II trim.
No sunroof, silver in color, 2 modifications in total.
I bought it off the auction in Japan in 2007, and received the car later that year.
I immediately replaced the brake pads and rotors, fuel filter, O2 sensor, spark plugs, put SSR Type C's with street legal rubber on, oil changes and the works.

This car truly is mine, I always liked to think that if my car had a name it would be Aliya.
When I drive my RX-7 I feel connected to it, but lately I feel like I'm staring into the eyes of the corpse of a demised lover.
I've poured my life into this car, oil changes every 3000 Km, coolant when it needed to be flushed, spark plugs when they needed it, proper winter storage.
It's possible that I valued my FD more than I valued myself,
Many of the members of this site will joke that what I just said is accurate.
My FD never every saw snow, except one time there was this freak weather,
I drove through snow, sleet, hail, black ice, and that's the only time my FD has ever scared me.
I have owned this car for 6 years, put less than 20,000 Km on it,
THE ONLY THING THAT EVER FAILED MECHANICALLY ON MY FD WAS THE CLUTCH.
Recently my tires were slashed, and that sucked, but when I took off my rims and tires, I noticed my suspension, and bushings, and struts, springs,
everything is clean and in excellent condition.
Nothing at all is rusty, or corroded, or really even damaged or showing any signs of wear.
This car was the real deal, it impressed a lot of people.
This car was mine.

was.

On Sunday morning, after a very alcohol filled Saturday night, a driver who I personally know, and who I have known since Jr. high got very drunk, and intoxicated on the weed. Mine too! Prick.
Shortly after 1:15AM on Sunday he ran out to his Jeep SRT-8,
slammed his car into gear, and pinning the gas to make a statement of an escape.
He certainly did, because he ran in reverse straight into my FD.
It might be written off, chances are about 1/400 that my car won't be written off.

Dan drunk drove and wrote off an R32 Skyline.
He drunk drove and damaged another vehicle and causing over 12,000 worth of damage to his car, and also someone elses car, but it's OK, he drove away and no one saw.
Less than a year later, he drunk drove the same car into a barrel roll, flipped twice, written off. He managed to get all the beer and weed out of his car before anyone got there.
Now this. Brand new Jeep SRT-8.
Where this is going to stop, I feel almost responsible for, since I know that he is going to kill someone, and if I fight to prove it, he might not do that.
Still,..

I don't know what I'm going to do, but if I have my FD I am happy to part it out.
It's what it deserves.

Here's a picture of the damage.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1012401_10151690819208820_189091155_n.jpg

[Whizbang]

that doesnt look that bad!!!

[DriFD3S]

It's not, the government hates RHD vehicles.
if the rear quarter window gets smashed on a 180SX,
they will write off the whole car. They want every RHD off the road.

[Whizbang]

oh canada.

[88turboii]

what does "written off" mean in canada? do you owe money on it? it doesnt look that bad, a little sledge hammering, new bumper, new hood and done. its not going to be prefect like it was, but i wouldnt part the whole car because of a few creases

[RedR1]

A) If you are older than 25, you shouldn't be hanging around drunks/alcoholics when owning a sports car. Very few people I know (zero personally) have had a successful sports car owning experience while being in/around that crowd.

B) Allow the insurance company to "write off" the car, and then buy it back if it comes down to that. That's just slight front end damage, i've seen cars come back from WAY worse wrecks, one of my FD included. go buy a new front reinforcement bar, new front end, and new hood at the dude's expense since he did the damage. You may need a new intercooler, maybe a new air box, but other than that. . .

C) you may want to change the company you are with. Especially if you know he's done all of that, and know he will continue to endanger people's lives. I'm not sure how America's hat does it, but down here in Northern Mexico, if someone is known as a dirtbag, you sort of distance yourself from them.

Life is too short for drama. You have to work to make money, why waste hard earned money fixing stupid mistakes made by stupid people?

[RedR1]

Honestly i'd view it as a reason to upgrade the oil coolers, switch to a v-mount, replace the rebar and get a new front bumper, get a new hood. All of which, if bought second hand, wouldn't be more than $1500.00 on the high end. Even cheaper if you are bargain hunting. OEM hoods and front ends go for $300-$400 for the both from people parting out cars. OEM intercoolers and what not, people let go for $100 that are either upgrading or going LSx.

don't let this slight fender bender from a "friend" ruin what you feel, is your car. It's hard to get a connection with a car, so once you do. . . work to keep it. i've owned several cars, only ever felt connected to 2.

[Pete_89T2]

A) If you are older than 25, you shouldn't be hanging around drunks/alcoholics when owning a sports car. Very few people I know (zero personally) have had a successful sports car owning experience while being in/around that crowd.

Very good advice, and I would add it also applies if you're UNDER 25, regardless of what kind of car you drive. Lack of life experience is one thing, but youth is no excuse for ignorance or stupidity when you can learn from those older/more experienced.

B) Allow the insurance company to "write off" the car, and then buy it back if it comes down to that. That's just slight front end damage, i've seen cars come back from WAY worse wrecks, one of my FD included. go buy a new front reinforcement bar, new front end, and new hood at the dude's expense since he did the damage. You may need a new intercooler, maybe a new air box, but other than that. . .

Not sure how things work in Canada, but if reporting a wreck to insurance to make a claim causes Big Brother to get involved and prevents you from legally driving it, you might want keep this one off the books... Have the police been involved/filed a report yet? If not, perhaps you can recover damages privately from your "friend", fix the car yourself, drive on and learn from the experience. Your "friend" should be motivated to keep quiet and pay up, especially if drunk driving laws are as tough in Canada as they are in the US.

C) you may want to change the company you are with. Especially if you know he's done all of that, and know he will continue to endanger people's lives. I'm not sure how America's hat does it, but down here in Northern Mexico, if someone is known as a dirtbag, you sort of distance yourself from them.

Life is too short for drama. You have to work to make money, why waste hard earned money fixing stupid mistakes made by stupid people?

^More good advice.

[RedR1]

Very good advice, and I would add it also applies if you're UNDER 25, regardless of what kind of car you drive. Lack of life experience is one thing, but youth is no excuse for ignorance or stupidity when you can learn from those older/more experienced.

definitely 100 percent true. lol, my experience with youth when trying to advise, is that they already know everything. . . . . More so than those that have lived it, and only tend to take to advice either later in life (or after the fact) :lol:

Not sure how things work in Canada, but if reporting a wreck to insurance to make a claim causes Big Brother to get involved and prevents you from legally driving it, you might want keep this one off the books...

Have the police been involved/filed a report yet? If not, perhaps you can recover damages privately from your "friend", fix the car yourself, drive on and learn from the experience.

I didn't even think of that. Very, very good point. I whole heartedly agree, and would keep the bumper buster off of the books and go that route. If it prevents the car from being forcefully taken from you, and you can continue to enjoy the car. . . well. .. that's a no brainer

^More good advice.

thank you, good sir! I learned from life, and just trying to pay the lessons forward :)

[Pete_89T2]

definitely 100 percent true. lol, my experience with youth when trying to advise, is that they already know everything. . . . . More so than those that have lived it, and only tend to take to advice either later in life (or after the fact) :lol:

:rofl: So true, I'm living this with my 3 teenage know-it-all sons - 19, 17 & 15 YO. They are good kids, and I'm fortunate that they have been making consistently smart decisions regarding all the important stuff (i.e., not doing drugs, drinking, other bad shit), but jeez the know-it-all attitude is driving me frickin crazy :banghead: and I've got the gray hair to prove it!

[RETed]

"It's a sign..."
"It wasn't meant to be..."
"I don't know why you're still alive."


-Ted

[Mitchocalypse]

As a 21 y/o, I can confirm that we know everything there is to know.

About Canada, it's not that they hate RHD vehicles, it's that for what they cost to repair properly, it's obviously cheaper just to write it off. And for anyone saying "we'll it will not cost that much to replace this.."
No.. It does. Canada is fucking bullshit. Next time you read a book,look on the back at the price of the book for sale in the US, an then the price in canada. Sure your dollar might be a bit more but for the last 5 or so years, ours has been hovering within 5%, often our even exceeds yours! Yet there is still a 30% markup on the book. But it's not just books.. It's literally everything!

Plus on top of that, there would be overseas shipping through freight, customs fees, service fees (because Canadian businesses love to bend you over any chance they get) .. Add that all together and it's pretty damn expensive to fix that..

Only thing I don't understand is why that applies to First gen FDs because all the parts that would need repair in this case are available on the CDM.

Regardless, sorry to hear about your car, Evan. Its a bad situation but There's always that possibility that you come out on top.

[JM Classic Imports]

It's not, the government hates RHD vehicles.
if the rear quarter window gets smashed on a 180SX,
they will write off the whole car. They want every RHD off the road.

:icon_no2: you have no idea. at least you were able to say i bought it from japan and later that year i had it... Here in Oregon in the states, we cannot even buy cars from the yards if they are just impounded. once they hit the lot, they are DOA.

[JM Classic Imports]

"Not sure how things work in Canada, but if reporting a wreck to insurance to make a claim causes Big Brother to get involved and prevents you from legally driving it, you might want keep this one off the books... Have the police been involved/filed a report yet? If not, perhaps you can recover damages privately from your "friend", fix the car yourself, drive on and learn from the experience. Your "friend" should be motivated to keep quiet and pay up, especially if drunk driving laws are as tough in Canada as they are in the US."


well said :)

[Rotary Evolution]

i never could understand how most alcoholics could afford their addicition, replacing the cars they trashed once a month, and the repair costs of the cars they wrecked along the way. this is all before tickets and stupid high insurance rates, how do they stay out of jail? or is driving drunk just not a serious crime anymore.

[Prodigy]

Some are 'successful' small/medium business own small/medium size businesses. They use alcohol as their vent to release stress... Lots of outside sales reps who have allot freedom time wise while travelling do the same, but if I remember correctly, nurses, firemen, and police have the highest per capita rate of alcoholics due to the nature of the work, dealing with the general public on a consistent basis, and shift work hours... They (not all) indulge in a few to many drinks on days off.

The nurse part is certainly true for a few friends of mine that are nurses.


And the others with no job, life and such...

Rotary Evolution... I got no idea...


In this province it's a bit of a bubble because the oil patch has allowed so many to'earn' high paychecks with little background knowledge or responsibility...


J.

[cewrx7r1]

Sometimes the universe tells people that they need to change their live style.
Your lifestyle and decisions caused this to happen. Accept responsibility.
Change!

Make your ?friend? pay up or beat him up. Then no longer be his friend.

These cars are almost impossible to replace. Humans are easy to replace.