So there I was at 5:35 in 110* heat, when I thought I had encountered my lucky day. A friendly driver waving me in. I could see every lane but the lane I was turning into, and took his offer. As soon as I got into the turn lane I was hit in the back





It needs a quarter. Period. Only body damage, suspension is fine. Been quoted $1500 from a questionable shop for cutting/welding the quarter and a full repaint (which it desperately needs). $1500 from the best body shop in town just for cutting welding and primer (they're so busy with body work they can't take time to paint a whole car), and $2250 from a good body shop for a full repaint with cutting and welding.

The nearest shells are $1000 locally with a salvage title and fresh red enamel (and god knows how much bondo), or $450 six hours away with a clean title, straight body, but blown motor. Factor in time off of work to swap over my drivetrain and interior, bribery for a friend with a pickup truck and a trailer, value lost from salvage title (mine is still clean), going from a desirable 94M to a undesirable 90-93, poor resale value on 1.6 parts....

Unless I can come up with a sweet deal on a straight chassis it seems more cost effective to fix what I've got, even if I can pick up a running 90-93 for what I'd pay to get it fixed. Or I can always just find a stud welder, pull out the dent as good as it gets, and YOLOSWAG with some license plates or manga comics.

 

It cost me almost $1000 materials to do a paint job on my own, so I wouldn't trust a shop quoting you $1500 for the full work.

 

Yea. After seeing some of their bolt-on panel alignment work, I am no longer actually considering them. If you can't align a bolt-on fender, I don't want you to weld on my quarter.

I have a couple other places I'm going to check out, but I feel that I'm getting hosed on the quarter. One place called it "New OEM" which I didn't think existed, I thought all of the quarters were from salvage. There's one for sale up in Phoenix for $100, the shops are quoting me $300-$450

 

I had a similar accident to yours only on the passenger side. Total came out to a little over $5000. But I needed a bumper, quarter, paint, and hub. Those quotes seem low to me after seeing the work involved in mine. Good luck and glad your ok.

 

Wide overlays?

Mazda Miata MX-5 89-97 Fiberglass (30mm) FULL Over Rear Quarter

 

I like the way you think, but as sexy as I think 245/40R15 on 15x9 would be, I'm kind of stressing over fixing this quarter. $1700 for race tires and wheels on the DD is a little out of the plan. And I think it'd look funny with the 14x6 hollow spokes on there! :P

 

A set of 225s on an 9" rim will be fine.

A set of 350 bucks flares and a nice set of tires is money better spent imo.

 

Then I'd need spacers to make the wheels look right. I like TSE's widebody kit more, it looks like the front fenders aren't aero-style or GT-style like the options from AutoKonexion, and the fact that it's a kit makes a little more sense, because there's no way I wouldn't need fenders too, but it's not really where I want to go with the car.

I want to get 15x8s to run 205/50's for DDing and 225/45's for going to the local auto-x. 15x9s are too wide for the 205's and I need a more durable tire than I've seen in the 225's for DD. 15x8s fit well stock, don't want to run spacers if I don't have to.

I'm driving up to Phoenix tomorrow to pick up that quarter panel, a coworker is letting me borrow his truck. Downside? Powerstroke. Diesel is gonna be a killer. I need a truck.... El Miatino!

 

You can get 15 x 8 or 15 x 9 wheels with offsets that would not require spacers with the flares. Hell, all the "new generation" wide rims with large offsets are a responds to people not wanting to be forced to run flares when running a wide rim!

Keith

 

 

You 'tarded?


*sees poster's sig- "200 WHP M45 running 9.5 psi of boost"*

Yup.

 

Can you ******* read all of a signature? Haven't had a supercharger since winter.

Used to be wide rims came in either 20 or zero offset until the 6UL came out. People didn't want to pull their fenders or add flares so 949 saw the market opportunity and produced the 6UL.

What is so hard to understand? If the op gets some zero offset 15x8s he can fill up the fender flares without using spacers.

Keith

 

 

I bought left and right quarter panels from Mazda proper two years ago after a sweet older lady pulled a u turn in front of me and pushed me into the curb. They weren't cheap but the fit was perfect. I also had the whole car painted at the time. Good luck

 

So are these replacements, or something else?

30 inch Tall Die Stamped Steel Weld on Quarter Panel Repair Wraps Into Door Jamb | eBay

 

Are NB and NA quarters the same?

 

Whoops, nope.

I guess there's this one...

Mazda Miata Driver Side Rear Quarter Panel 90 97 | eBay

 

Rims don't have offset.

 

Well this went off topic quick.

 

Wow. You got me there.

I have to inform all the wheel manufacturers of the world of this revelation.

Keith