[beatledud]

Hey there. I need help with selecting new Altezza tail lights for my car, and some general questions about if its worth getting some work done on it. I have a red 1993 Honda Del Sol SI Manual with 167,700 miles on it.

First, lights: The ones that I have are the gen 1 clear chrome with a red tail light and two clear to the side. They never fit right (having the lower corners stick beyond the body) and they got moisture in them. Due to two hit and runs on my car while it was parked last week, my insurance company is replacing them, but I want to get a brand that actually FITS my 93 Del Sol. Any suggestions on which manufacturer and model fit the best? I prefer the clear over the dark grey carbon ones.

Secondly, I’m graduating shortly, and I need money to move and start paying bills before I get a job. Sadly, this means that I will need to part with my Del Sol unless I get a moving stipend. The two hit and runs done on my car in 3 days last week didn’t make me very happy to say the least. Here is the condition of the car and my situation.
-Entire car was repainted last winter with rust that was starting on the two rear wheel wells repaired.
-The rust returned, and they quoted me at around 600 dollars to remove all of the panel that had any rust and welding new pieces in, plus about 400-500 in paint.
-Rust occured both on the top rear of the rear wheel wells and on the bottom towards the front on the rear wells.
-Hit and run #1 done on the driver side corner of the front bumper. Work estimated: no apparent body damage, so just a repaint.
-Hit and run #2 done on the driver side rear bumper and fender and tail light. Work estimated: replace bumper, repair damaged part of fender (which is where the rust is), replace both tail lights.

The insurance company gave me 2150 after my deductibles. The body shop estimated 2400 worth of work. So I would pay 250 out of pocket for these repairs. Also, for the cost of the paint for the two estimates, the body shop said they would just redo my whole car’s paint job for the combination or less. This means I could have the rust repaired on the right, non damaged, side of the car and not pay for its repainting. Plus the paint job would be consistent.

Other issues with the car: I just had a new clutch master and slave cylinder replaced and rear brakes, its runs great except sometimes when it idles the RPMs drop to where u think the car’s going to stall, but it never does, and always starts fine. Don’t know what that is, sometimes I just give it a little ethanol mixed gas or higher grade and it appears to run fine again. Maybe fuel injectors are dirty? The driver’s side seat has worn on the side where u get out of the car, and some of the cushion flakes out. Floor mats are crummy too. Has two amps to power 4 aftermarket speakers and a tube subwoofer behind the passenger seat. Aftermarket exhaust with 4inch tip. Thats it for upgrades.

I ask this, for me to pay the difference on the insurance, pay for the rust on the right wheel well, it would cost me probably 500-600 dollars. Or would I be better off keeping the $ 2,100 from my insurance company and just selling it as is? If the car was all nice and flawless on the outside compared to scrapes on the front bumper and a slightly scratched/chunked rear bumper with a dented in exposing rust rear fender and about a 1.5 size golf ball rust bubble on the right rear fender, would the value of the car lose 2600 dollars? I searched on autotrader and in a 300 mile radius in Cincinnati, the cheapest I found was a 93 Del Sol S with 190k miles and in so so body condition for $ 4,000. Most sold between $ 5,000 and $ 7,000. Also note that there could be under body damage that my insurance would cover if such is discovered.

This may all be moot, if so, which Tail Lights should I get ;-). Thanks for the help everyone!
(PS, I say fender, but should probably use the term quarter panel)