Altezza Tail Lights and should I bother to repair?

[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)

[HonduhDave]

Not to be an ass, but no one is going to recommend Altezza taillights of any style to you on this site. They're incredibly played out and most the people on here prefer stock/customized stock head/taillights. I can't tell you what to do as to whether you should sell the car or fix it. I'd keep it just cuz the Sol seems to be getting harder to find, at least around here. But that's a personal decision that requires you to take into consideration a multitude of factors. Whatever you do, good luck on entering the real world after college...it can be a real bitch sometimes

[beatledud]

Well, i would be open to another option for tail lights (even stock). I just need something that fits. I don't mind the clear so much as I think they are simple and shine rather nice at night. I did get them several years ago when I was younger and more eager to pimp out my car. Since then, I've reverted everything to its original style aside from the exhaust and the tail lights.

Either way, I'm looking to spend around $180 on a pair of lights though, either through a website or ebay.

As for the car's value before and after repair, I figure that if there's no body problems and the engine is still running like a champ, I could sell it for $5,500 because there are almost none available in the area. so the question is, would it sell it for less than $3,000 with the damages? If the answer is yes, then I guess repairing it would be best, plus the concern of further damages I can't see.

[95integrars]

i spray painted my taillights with vht niteshades..got the black taillight look

[beatledud]

Driver Side Rear - This was Hit and Run #2, did the most damage, the tail light is scraped and they are replacing that. The 1/4 panel is dented in more than the pictures show.


Driver Side Front - This was Hit and Run #1 where they left a fake phone number. The reflector is cracked and the painted is beyond just a buff out. Both rear and front overall shots I think show the good body condition the rest of the car is in.


Passenger Side Rear - Shows the front and upper rear portions of the rear wheel well's new rust.


Here's the interior's shape. Floor rugs make it look a lot dirtier than it is.


I was thinking new tailights like these, do they fit well? They're not flashy like the old ones, are they?


Also, dont know if I should bother getting these. I'd probably do a black/grey combo, they look pretty good as far as fit and are only 200. However, I don't know if the car would sell for at least 200 or more based on this investment you think? Maybe only a good idea if I decide to keep it? Which begs the question, what overall selling value if the body is fixed would I gain on spending lets say 350 bucks on those seat covers, floor mats, and a new int driver handle (a little cracked but works) and a new horn button (I may have it somewhere though).

[Kabooki]

Those go good with lambo doors...

[twisted_sol]

come on guys, you can't tell me these aren't some good looking tails. i was actually going to get these, but only because i'm going to make my sol a little twin to my Legend Coupe seeing as they are both Granada Black Pearl. kabooki, you know what i'm talking about.

[Kabooki]

Originally Posted by beatledud

[img]
Passenger Side Rear - Shows the front and upper rear portions of the rear wheel well's new rust.

Its really hard to pull of a clean look like that. Its just that most ricers have nothing done except added some dents and altezzas, so there is that Stereotype look. There is a difference between a beater with obvious aftermarket lights and a clean car with subtle mods that any random person would think is stock.

[twisted_sol]

Originally Posted by Kabooki

Its really hard to pull of a clean look like that. Its just that most ricers have nothing done except added some dents and altezzas, so there is that Stereotype look. There is a difference between a beater with obvious aftermarket lights and a clean car with subtle mods that any random person would think is stock.

i definitely agree, however IMO the true altezzas with the clear lens are played out, so a lot of companies have adapted. i would hate these lights if they had a completely clear lens but the red/clear really adds something to the multidimensional look. all of this being said, someone find me some clear/red factory tails and i will snap them up in a heartbeat. we paid $650 for a custom set for my Legend and that's cheap IMHO. clear tails for a Y33 Cedric Gloria (Infiniti M45) run $1000. when it comes down to it, "you gotta pay to play."

[D3L-50L]

keep ur sol bro, get the body fixed, and get those tails and seats if u like em. Remember its ur car u do what u want with it dont listen to any1 here

[dkg33]

i like those taillights dude, keep the sol and fix it. damn that rust is rough tho lol. i would get those tail lights b.c of the 50/50 that usually go on like the civics and shit those look tight but those can be pulled off, they are an exception from altezza's. but i plan on just blackin out the taillights, still thinkin bout it tho.

[TheBlackPearl]

My car was stripped - I've gone with stock lighting to replace all lights except the corner lights.
I prefer clear casing with orange lamps.
I really do like those clear tails tho.

Those seats are Nice, but would probably be better with Black accents rather than white.
I bought some nice black stock seats out of a 1996 del sol SI.
When I get it somewhat built out after this weekend and next I'll put some before and after photos in the photo thread.

[LilDSGuy]

Originally Posted by Kabooki

Its really hard to pull off a clean look ...most ricers have nothing done except added some dents and altezzas, the Stereotype Look. There is a difference between a beater with obvious aftermarket lights and a clean car with subtle mods that any random person would think is stock.

Kabooki - thats good advice -
Beatle: I think what you're doing is fine. Keep the car- gas is NOT getting any cheaper and the DS will be a classic Honda forever. Those seats look overstuffed, but ... that's an opinion. I've owned about 5 lil Honda's and they ALL wear out where your seats are torn. Isn't there a place anywhere for a repair??

Also - Whats your source for those tail lights ? How much? I'm redoing a '95 and those are sharp.

[honda_racing101]

Go oem tails...if you want the tails like Bensol had, then you better fix the car up till its perfect or it will look like ever other riced out sol out there...get rid of the painted interior pieces too.

[dkg33]

pretty much go all stocked out wit a built motor lol is basically wat hondaracing is tellin you lol. and a lil suspension work. im workin on that also.