Thin sheet metal?..

[macdarren]

Anyone notice that the roof of the Fiesta (hatchback) is really flexy back near the antenna? While rubbing off the wax it seemed lick any pressure at all seemed to want to flex the roof panel like it had no support at all and was very thin. Thin is light and cheap so I get that no support seems a little too cheap.

I also notice the bumpers are very flexible and soft and that some of the marker lights reflectors in the rear bumper did seem to solidly mounted. Just wondering if any one else has seen this stuff. Not sure it is a real problem just seemed odd to me.

[Slipster17]

the rear bumper is in fact plastic - not sheet metal. And yes, it does deform very easily. I was hit in a parking lot at low speed and the the only thing the other car did was scrape off some paint. The bumper deformed and suffered no damage.

[JLfiesta]

When I was waxing my car, I also realized the area near the antenna and the rear bumper to be quite flexible and soft. I don't think it's a real problem.

[Pennut]

Overall I find the sheet metal to be pretty solid for a small car. Thicker than a lot of the small Japanese cars.

[f91]

You oughta see what a dog can do to the fenders:

[Captainmorbid]

The sheets are thin, but the cage is stiffer than most! When I drive under the dryer at the car wash, it almost thrums the panels...

[wuzzzer]

Originally Posted by macdarren

Anyone notice that the roof of the Fiesta (hatchback) is really flexy back near the antenna?

I noticed that while installing my shorty antenna yesterday. Just a little pressure on the antenna mount made the roof metal flex quite a bit.

[BRGT350]

I will take thin sheet metal over thick stuff any day! Think about how much weight would sit on the roof if the steel was thicker. The more weight, the higher the cg, the more unstable. The internal structure of the car is very strong, so the exterior sheet metal is just designed to move air and keep water out. Slight flexing is normal. If anyone has spent time around racecars, they would notice their bodies deform all over the place at speed, but the chassis is very strong. Same with the Fiesta.

[billnchristy]

Originally Posted by BRGT350

I will take thin sheet metal over thick stuff any day! Think about how much weight would sit on the roof if the steel was thicker. The more weight, the higher the cg, the more unstable. The internal structure of the car is very strong, so the exterior sheet metal is just designed to move air and keep water out. Slight flexing is normal. If anyone has spent time around racecars, they would notice their bodies deform all over the place at speed, but the chassis is very strong. Same with the Fiesta.

Minus the speed part.

[aspitaletto]

Originally Posted by f91

You oughta see what a dog can do to the fenders:

Holy SHIITT !! what kind of "dog" did that ? And where did you bury it ?