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I hit a dog with my wifes new (2014) vehicle a few weeks ago and did about $2,500 in damage and had to drive a rental for a week. Why so much plasting on cars now? Does any manufacture still put steel bumpers on their vehicles?
Cheap, light, easy to make into any desired shape ... Plastic bumpers and body panels are here to stay. Buy a Jeep Wrangler and get aftermarket steel bumpers (or the Rubicon hard rock edition which comes with them).
I agree with the premise of the OPs post... Steel bumpers are awesome.
Plastic is more easily molded to a desired shape instead of expensive stamping machines, it also is better at energy absorption and dissipation since they pack foam behind them and other sensors.
Don't forget you still have a metal support beam back there it's just embedded where it can do more good for protection. Pedestrian safety also plays a role here.
It's all about weight remember the automakers have to meet Cafe standards to get every mpg they can. Plastic is lighter it is used to help get those extra mpg. Get ready to see a lot more in the future because every few years the Cafe standards change to get even more mpg on a gallon of gas. Blame Washington not the automakers.
I hit a dog with my wifes new (2014) vehicle a few weeks ago and did about $2,500 in damage and had to drive a rental for a week. Why so much plasting on cars now? Does any manufacture still put steel bumpers on their vehicles?
The steel bumpers are behind the plastic. In your case, it was a lot of cosmetic damage that needed replacing. Not sure what kind of car it is but $2500 seems very high.
My 2013 10th Anniversary Rubicon came with steel bumpers front and rear as this individual in a Fusion who was texting and driving found out the hard way.
The steel bumpers are behind the plastic. In your case, it was a lot of cosmetic damage that needed replacing. Not sure what kind of car it is but $2500 seems very high.
I'm glad somebody finally mentioned this. Indeed, steel bumpers are on the car, they are just hidden behind bumper covers - what people typically bumpers today.
The bumper covers are a less expensive and easier way for manufacturers to create flowing designs in the sheet metal, but they are less durable, and even a small bump can mean having to get the cover repainted - usually around $500 itself. If the cover is damaged, that can be another $300 or so, and if the impact is sever enough, the steel bumper may need to be replaced, or its springs, foam, etc...
Also, these days with pedestrian 'safety systems' in cars, even more of a car is designed to deform and collapse rather than be hard and unforgiving. That is why you see so much damage over seemingly small crashes. The cars are designed to give vs take.
Still, $2,500 seems way too high unless there was other body damage. I'm guessing it was a bumper, new headlight, maybe a panel that needed to be banged out and resprayed.
Any low vehicle, hitting the back end of any vehicle will most likely get damage as shown. And Jeeps are not the only vehicles in the world that have steel bumpers. What were the ratings for the Wrangler by Consumers? "Jeep tops 'Consumer Reports' list of worst car values" Jeep tops 'Consumer Reports' list of worst car values
Don't get me wrong, I owned a Rubi years ago, For rock crawling in my old home, Moab UT, it was fantastic. But even on a trip to Grand Junction, 120 miles away, it could beat you to death and a trip to TN made you think about walking part way.
But they are not a vehicle for most people.
As for steel bumpers, they are really not needed and the plastic with foam and metal do absorb energy during the impact and can help sustain seat belt injuries (not major but still hurt a bit). But if determined for steel bumpers and want a nice ride, get a truck, half-ton series, and they are made like large cars with beds. Some ride like Cadillacs or continentals.
Who ever said Jeeps were the only vehicles that had steel bumpers? And to counter your ratings by consumer reports, why do Wranglers consistently, year after year, come out in the top 3 highest resale values? We've had this discussion already in another thread and was merely showing one example of a vehicle with steel bumpers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by f5fstop
Any low vehicle, hitting the back end of any vehicle will most likely get damage as shown. And Jeeps are not the only vehicles in the world that have steel bumpers. What were the ratings for the Wrangler by Consumers? "Jeep tops 'Consumer Reports' list of worst car values" Jeep tops 'Consumer Reports' list of worst car values
As mentioned by several posters above, the vehicles do have a steel or aluminum reinforcement bar behind the fascia, but it generally doesn't extend transversely outboard the frame rails. There's usually an extension or support of a lighter construction in that position and that basically leaves a large void behind the fascia at the corner of the vehicles.
A corner hit (if that's the case here) would easily rack up damage in the amount (ore more) that the OP states. Fascia, headlamp, supports, fender, possible hood and outer tie rod end are typical damage on the front in that type of collision.
A "dead on" collsion would likely result in fascia, license bracket, grille, hood, lower fascia (if equipped) and possible condenser and hood lock damage.
I don't think OP's damage is as bad as either scenario mentioned, as these would both quickly go above $2500 in damages, when you consider parts, labor, paint, rental in the repair on a 2014 vehicle as it would typically be repaired with OEM parts with being so new.
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