1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Mazda's dirty little secret...

Old Jun 16, 2004 | 09:31 AM
  #1  
RotaryNotary's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, Canada
Mazda's dirty little secret...

Starting to think about finally getting the body done on my car, so was going to check the level of rust under the rear seat of my 2+2. To do so, I had to remove the "armrests" that cover the seat belt retractors.

Not a big deal, 'cause it's only one screw, and friction, that hold them in place.

When I took them off, however, I discovered that I'm driving a car that is partially constructed from FRIGGIN CARDBOARD!

Could not believe it...
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2004 | 09:33 AM
  #2  
jweather73's Avatar
/_\ Rotarized /_\
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Grand Prairie, TX
Where, specifically? Directly under the seats on the floor? Parts of the seats/armrests? Or the engine? :P
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2004 | 09:46 AM
  #3  
purple82's Avatar
Absolute Power is Awesome
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 5
From: Issaquah, WA
I think he's talking about the door trim. It's not uncommon.
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2004 | 10:12 AM
  #4  
bouis's Avatar
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 575
From: The South
It could be worse... your car could have been a boat...
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2004 | 10:28 AM
  #5  
RotaryNotary's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, Canada
Originally posted by jweather73
Where, specifically? Directly under the seats on the floor? Parts of the seats/armrests? Or the engine? :P
The Armrests that cover the seatbelt retractors are cardboard covered with some sponge foam, and the vinyl "pseudo-leather"; the structural integrity is PURELY cardboard...

The irony is, they have probably lasted better than a formed plastic piece would last in the same location...
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2004 | 10:32 AM
  #6  
bouis's Avatar
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 575
From: The South
Nah, they're just out of the sun.
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2004 | 06:17 PM
  #7  
rxseven's Avatar
Special Dark
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
From: oklahoma
hey if cardboard lasted you that long, what's the probelm? I say it was beautifully engineered!
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2004 | 07:11 PM
  #8  
peejay's Avatar
Old [Sch|F]ool
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 12,870
Likes: 574
From: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Originally posted by RotaryNotary
The Armrests that cover the seatbelt retractors are cardboard covered with some sponge foam, and the vinyl "pseudo-leather"; the structural integrity is PURELY cardboard...

The irony is, they have probably lasted better than a formed plastic piece would last in the same location...
That is standard for pretty much *all* cars.
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2004 | 12:14 AM
  #9  
r0tary noob's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
From: Springfield or
Yeah, Im replaceing the cardboard in my door panels with plexiglas, I will eventually get around to covering it Im thinking with real leather :0 but thats aways down the road, I drive this thing every day so I kinda want a little bit of luxury, that MY dirty little secret
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jeff20B
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
73
Sep 16, 2018 07:16 PM
t-von
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
9
Sep 10, 2015 01:56 PM
Steven_McKinley
General Rotary Tech Support
12
Sep 5, 2015 10:48 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:15 AM.