Design flaw
Design flaw
The damn plastic skirt or whatever underneath the front bumper is terribly designed. Sonofabitch.
I hit road debris, and it knocked out one of the plastic bolts, so that the piece of plastic is drooping on one side.
The last time I hit a shredded truck tire on the highway, it tore off both bolts, and the whole thing was hanging down.
C'mon Mazda, given that the car is low to the ground, couldn't you have actually thought about designing something more durable?
What a pain in the ***.
/rant
I hit road debris, and it knocked out one of the plastic bolts, so that the piece of plastic is drooping on one side.
The last time I hit a shredded truck tire on the highway, it tore off both bolts, and the whole thing was hanging down.
C'mon Mazda, given that the car is low to the ground, couldn't you have actually thought about designing something more durable?
What a pain in the ***.
/rant
Buzz Buzz Buzz
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, Victoria
Maybe I should take some pics of how my plastic skirt thing looks like after hitting a rabbit ...
... it shattered up to the rotary crest in the middle ... the front of my car is being held together by duct tape. It gets fixed in 2 days WOOOO!
... it shattered up to the rotary crest in the middle ... the front of my car is being held together by duct tape. It gets fixed in 2 days WOOOO!
is adjusting valve lash
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 0
From: hollywooood!
is the car lowered? wheels?
the only thing i can recommend here is trying not to scrape more and avoid shorter tire combo for street use.
give your car as much ground clearance as it needs... a slammed car with low profile tires only looks cool until your bumper starts to get badly beaten up.
the only thing i can recommend here is trying not to scrape more and avoid shorter tire combo for street use.
give your car as much ground clearance as it needs... a slammed car with low profile tires only looks cool until your bumper starts to get badly beaten up.
is adjusting valve lash
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 0
From: hollywooood!
even if your car is bone stock...i see no design flaw of yet. its more driver flaw at this point if any.
c'mon...you hit what, and what? any more durable they make it...say with metal, then the next time you hit something, the bumper may just stay the way you hit it.
only way around this is to simply expect the unexpected on the road when driving.
I, personally hate driving behind big-rigs w/o a cargo cover...always ****** behind huge rock/debris coming from those things.
c'mon...you hit what, and what? any more durable they make it...say with metal, then the next time you hit something, the bumper may just stay the way you hit it.
only way around this is to simply expect the unexpected on the road when driving.
I, personally hate driving behind big-rigs w/o a cargo cover...always ****** behind huge rock/debris coming from those things.
wanna see my wankel?
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Winston-Salem, NC
Registered
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Just pay attention when you drive and you'll be alright, i myself hit shredded tires on the road before and ended up with scratches on my paint and damage to my bumper, so...don't follow other cars to close and keep your eyes on the road and you'll be alright..just my take
View at your own Risk :)
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,901
Likes: 1
The damn plastic skirt or whatever underneath the front bumper is terribly designed. Sonofabitch.
I hit road debris, and it knocked out one of the plastic bolts, so that the piece of plastic is drooping on one side.
The last time I hit a shredded truck tire on the highway, it tore off both bolts, and the whole thing was hanging down.
C'mon Mazda, given that the car is low to the ground, couldn't you have actually thought about designing something more durable?
What a pain in the ***.
/rant
I hit road debris, and it knocked out one of the plastic bolts, so that the piece of plastic is drooping on one side.
The last time I hit a shredded truck tire on the highway, it tore off both bolts, and the whole thing was hanging down.
C'mon Mazda, given that the car is low to the ground, couldn't you have actually thought about designing something more durable?
What a pain in the ***.
/rant
Registered
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
I wouldn't call it a design flaw....you collided with something so.........
I had the same problem though, I didn't hit anything, my screws/bolts just came loose and fell out probably due to the F'd up roads in Louisiana. It looked ugly and it irritated the hell out of me until I went to the hardware store and replaced them, no more drooping.
I had the same problem though, I didn't hit anything, my screws/bolts just came loose and fell out probably due to the F'd up roads in Louisiana. It looked ugly and it irritated the hell out of me until I went to the hardware store and replaced them, no more drooping.
Have you ever play Super Mario Bros. ?????? Everytime Mario hits something, something comes out and he will just go grab it !!!!!
Coins, Kopals, 1up, etc etc.
Registered
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 9,134
Likes: 26
From: Houston
What if they made that piece an integral part of the bumper? You'd hit something and replace the whole front end! How about fiberglass? Hit something and it shatters requiring you to replace it. How about steel? Heavy yes but just an example. It would be fine but still rip off and probably take out the bottom of your car in the process. the bolts required to mount it would probably also rip the bottom of the front end off in the process.
Basically it's made like that for a reason. You hit something, the plastic screw allows it to break away with relatively little collateral damage. Get a new plastic screw and attach it again. If you hit something bad enough that it needs to be replaced, it's nothing that wouldn't have happened with any other material.
Be happy they designed it this way!
Basically it's made like that for a reason. You hit something, the plastic screw allows it to break away with relatively little collateral damage. Get a new plastic screw and attach it again. If you hit something bad enough that it needs to be replaced, it's nothing that wouldn't have happened with any other material.
Be happy they designed it this way!
The Professor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,479
Likes: 7
From: Omaha, NE
the first week I had my 8 I was driving down a road behind a small nissan truck.
The spare tire came off the bottom of the truck and I ran over it with the part that you are talking about.
No damage what-so-ever
The spare tire came off the bottom of the truck and I ran over it with the part that you are talking about.
No damage what-so-ever
The Professor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,479
Likes: 7
From: Omaha, NE
What if they made that piece an integral part of the bumper? You'd hit something and replace the whole front end! How about fiberglass? Hit something and it shatters requiring you to replace it. How about steel? Heavy yes but just an example. It would be fine but still rip off and probably take out the bottom of your car in the process. the bolts required to mount it would probably also rip the bottom of the front end off in the process.
Basically it's made like that for a reason. You hit something, the plastic screw allows it to break away with relatively little collateral damage. Get a new plastic screw and attach it again. If you hit something bad enough that it needs to be replaced, it's nothing that wouldn't have happened with any other material.
Be happy they designed it this way!
Basically it's made like that for a reason. You hit something, the plastic screw allows it to break away with relatively little collateral damage. Get a new plastic screw and attach it again. If you hit something bad enough that it needs to be replaced, it's nothing that wouldn't have happened with any other material.
Be happy they designed it this way!