Just for kicks....I'm curious. Since there seems to be a split on the other thread.

 

You know where I stand.

I hate dings.....but I also hate to look down the side of a brand new car and see wavy, gappy plastic panels. They look ........ oh, what's the word.........crrrrrappy.

 

SHEET METAL

 

Plastic.

I'd plan on the Camaro being a daily driver, so I think this is clearly a great way to keep it new looking in the real world.

I'll park far away from everyone else at the mall or whereever (liek Wallyworld! ) and there is always some schmuck parked next to me when I come out.... and 100 empty spaces all around!

 

How about fiberglass? otherwise id say probably a mix of the two

 

You know, when I see a C5 go by, I usually don't think "holy moly - look at the panel gaps on that thing!"

 

Sheet metal.

 

plastic! dings are a bitch!

 

Although, as per a previous thread, our Saturn is a little sloppy on the fits - this could certainly be improved.

However, a little slop sure beats dents & rust !


On a side note, the Saturn doors have a steel liner w/ the plastic panels bolted on whereas the F's have plastic doors w/ the skins glued on - wonder why they elected that route ?


I'd rather have the dent resistant door panels as well as the fenders.


Britt

 

Rust? What the hell is Rust? I'm sorry, but I live in California and we don't get a lot of that around these parts.

All kidding aside... if you guys want plastic, buy a Vette or a Saturn. Please leave the Camaro alone. It should be 100% sheet metal.

Heck, I got a little parking lot door ding on my 95 and they wanted $800 to fix it because they had to replace the entire door skin which is fiberglass... i.e. plastic. I lived with it for 8 years before having it fixed.

 

Even in the "rust belt"...it takes alot of neglect to get new cars to rust anymore. Besides, the whole car isn't sheet molded plastic, just because the skin is.

Whatever your reasoning for plastic panels might be.....rust should not be part of it.

 

Cars still rust, just not as quickly. That, and resistance to door dings makes me vote for plastic.

Panel gaps do not require me to fix something (and therefore spend money), unlike rust and door dings. And to be honest, I've never noticed if a Saturn's panel gaps are 1.5mm larger than normal.

 

Yeah, but I notice it and it bugs me. I'll tell you what, if you start comparing a Saturn's panel fit and finish with, .....not even a Lexus, MB or BMW....but say a new Camry.....I'd bet it'll start bugging you too.

 

I voted for plastic, but I would hope for either fiberglass or a hi-tech urethane composite before plastic. Just looking at both of my rear fenders, I would love never have to wonder under exactly which circumstance led to them getting door dings. Rust, while not as big an issue as it used to be, is still a consideration. Anyone who tells you different, doesn't live anywhere near where it snows, or doesn't drive their car in it.

BTW, those of you voting for an entirely sheet metal car better not be the ones whining about weight in any of the other posts.

 

To each his own. But it wouldn't bother me to compare panel gaps from one car to another because, frankly, I don't think it's an issue worth worrying about (assuming they're not horrendously crooked, but that's not the issue we're debating here). I have far greater concerns in my evaluation of an automobile.