Hey all,

I was out inspecting my car in the garage tonight, glaring angrily at the 2 super-tiny "dings" that I can't wait to remove (I am absolutely obsessed with making this car into Showroom condition). Upon looking really closely at the car, I noticed 2 "distortions" in the metal right by where the hatch starts, on the side of the car. I say "distortion" because that's what it is, just a distortion of the reflection, almost like what a ding would do but not big enough to call a "ding". I believe that these distortions are the same on both sides of the car, and I remember seeing them earlier in natural daylight.

What I'm wondering is, are these distortions on all FDs, like it's a place where the quarterpanel is fused internal framework, which creates these tiny ridge-like distortions? Here's a pic, can anyone go out to their FD and give it a look? For me to see them, I have to pretty much get behind the car and look along the side. I can't see them from above at all.

The distortions are pretty much where the red circles indicate in the pic.

 

I've noticed some "ridge"-like distortion. It's VERY slight and definitely not something that can be felt. I can only see it on the reflection when I'm up close. It looks like a slight ripple effect, perhaps a combined effect due to the grain of the steel that becomes apparent around that rather extreme curvature, esp. considering how thin it is. I've seen it on just about every other FD with a shiny stock paintjob.

 

well is it on both sides? the metal is really thin though and it doesnt take much to dent it.... i closed my hatch the other day not thinking (i guess i pressed down harder w/ one finger than the others) and now theres a freakin dimple there!!!! ahhhh.... i cant stand it. whenever i work on the car if i barely touch the fenders they just dimple in ever so slightly.... same with the light covers... just dont touch them! i hate that the metal is so thin, but the miata thats my daily driver is literally 10X worse cause its even thinner, and i dont think the paintless dent removal places can take those really subtle deformations out can they? if so i have tons of business for them

 

Cool. Thanks for allieviating my concern. I already have the two tiny dings (well one is a teeny tiny ding and the other is a previously "repaired" ding that still has a ripple showing where it was), on the left side there. I have plans on how to get them out, but I don't want any more work to pile up on the body!!!

 

RotorMotor, what *ARE* you doing to your poor, poor vehicles?

I'd say the Miata is built like a tank, compared to the FD. The earlier (and lighter) Miatae lacked reinforcement to the outer door panels, etc., but they always "popped" back into place. To me, the steel feels like a higher gauge. I've never actually measured it though . The FD *depends* on the curvature of the panels for structural rigidity, not the thickness of the steel.

I'd hazard to guess this ridging effect could be due to the steel being purposely compressed along its plane during forming. And yes, it's mirrored on both sides of the car... and definitely NOT due to any force external to the car.

 

WHAT??? are you serious? "the miata is built like a tank" hehehe its like the feeble cousin of the FD w/ thinner metal (have you seen one get in a fender bender... they crumple like tin-foil). i dont know about the earlier miatas.. i have a 97 and i can deform any pannel (especially the trunk) if i just lean on it wrong (and no im not a fattie haha... the metal is just that thin )

the metal on the FD that im talking about that bends "relativly" easily is like the fenders and the rear deck lid... ive never had any problems except for those 2 areas. ill take pics when i get a chance so you can see what i mean. also i got the car w/ 83K on it and i dont remember what indentations were there before me

 

I'll "feel up" the cars next time I wash them.

The trunk on the Miata is rather flat, so an incidental force can deform the entire panel as a whole. But it tends to spring back. It's resiliant. The FD tends to "ding" on it's curved surfaces (like the fenders), and not spring back. I'm just speculating. There could very well be difference in the thickness and alloy compositions as well. As far as fenderbender's go, they both rip apart like tin-foil.

This is reminiding me of the XJ220 at the LA auto show. The sign in the window said "Be mindful of sharp objects and handbags." Mazda owners should do the same with their vehicles.

...and stop hijacking this thread!

 

Before I had my car painted, I noticed that my car's paint had some wierd imperfections in that same spots where you have the red circles.

 

So the repaint get rid of it?

Maybe it was a drying imperfection at the factory or the paint "folding" from stress during cornering??

Though it could very well be in the steel. And the new paint is convering it up. Strange stuff.

 

thats crazy, I thought somebody dinged my car 'cuse I dindn't know where they came from I was like crap another ding. At least we all know now.

 

I'm starting to wonder if I'm talking about the same thing as everyone else.

If I remember, I'll snaps some pics this weekend.

 

nope i dont have that....but i do have dents on my roof and certain parts of the front fascia are starting to distort

 

If what you're talking about lies withing the area of my circles in my pic, then me and you are talking about the same thing at least.

 

oh and yes, i have what you are talking about on my 94 montego FD. i also have a silver 93 and cant see it on there but that could be cause its silver ??

 

my friend had a black one, and it had those spots among others, and they would move around with temprature and stuff.

 

Thanks for the replies, guys.

This phenomena is wierd. Just plain wierd!

 

I have a silver 93 touring, and I just noticed those spots on there last night now that you pointed them out. Can't see them from above, only from sidelong glance. Maybe it's like the cool little dip on the Ferrari 250's, just in front of the doors?

 

I have the same distortion on my D/S rear quarter panel. Its actually in your picture the red circle closest to the hatch. I also have very slight ones in the middle of my doors right underneath the window weather stripping but those are so small you have to see them in special light. All the ones on my car are so small unless your looking for them you can not see them.

This is one of the reasons why i dont recommend this car for daily driving because it dents/dings so easily. The distortions that most of us FD owners have are due to the way the sheet metal was formed over the shell/frame of the car. With age and usage these "distortions" get worse until the car is prepped and repainted. Its best to put it to everyone this way be careful around your cars it will ding/dent extremely easily.

 

if you're talking about how it curves down then up then down then up (from side to side) then that is supposed to be that way. "double bubble". doesn't really look like a dent but if that's what you mean

edit: ha oops forgot how old this thread is