I agree completely. When I sold my Formula, the body was still perfect after 39k miles. One thing some folks overlook is that even though the quarters are steel, you can utilize some "parking strategy" to ensure that -at least in most cases- people will only hit the plastic panels on the FBody if they are careless next to it. For example, if most people nose into a row of spaces, such as on the curbed edge of a lot, I back in instead. If I back in all the way to the curb, the vast majority of vehicles cannot swing a door onto my quarter panels no matter how careless they are.

The Saturn Vue also has these panels. I think they are really cool.

The chassis is next...

http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/fro/fro128.html

 

The body panels are just wrapping paper.

It's the structure underneath that provides the strength.

 

Sheet metal skins on modern cars are so thin, they provide little protection during a crash. It's the door frames, and side impact beams that do all the work.

Even the "crumple zones" on the front and rear of most vehicles is not due to the skin, but carefully engineered sheetmetal supprt structures under the skin, along with engineered plastic bumpers.

The doors and fenders on my '94 still look like new. Great feature.

 

I agree this was a great feature. My quarters are full of dings, but the doors look great. I hope they use it on the next car.