I washed my 95 Miata for the first time yesterday, and to my shock,
discovered that I had two dents behind the front license plate.
I returned the car to the dealer, and was told
1. They are not going to fix it (ugg), and
2. This happens to a lot of Miatas.
So, is there a perl of wisdom out there for taking care of this? I am
obsessing over it, but can’t afford a new bumper cover.
John Bobincheck wrote:
> I washed my 95 Miata for the first time yesterday
PLEASE tell me you bought it used!
> I returned the car to the dealer, and was told
> 1. They are not going to fix it (ugg), and
Damn dealers.
> 2. This happens to a lot of Miatas.
Including my used 92! My guess is that it had a minor fender bender.
My solution is I think I’ll be buying a bra real soon to cover it up. I
just can’t get the darn license plate bracket off because the screws are
too tight and I stripped them.
-James
(25 years old, but gets the impression I’m not the oldest one here)
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
"John Bobincheck" <roc…@ccnet.com> writes:
>I washed my 95 Miata for the first time yesterday, and to my shock,
>discovered that I had two dents behind the front license plate.
>I returned the car to the dealer, and was told
>1. They are not going to fix it (ugg), and
>2. This happens to a lot of Miatas.
>So, is there a perl of wisdom out there for taking care of this? I am
>obsessing over it, but can’t afford a new bumper cover.
Styrofoam cubes. Pull the 3 fasteners under the upper edge of the
"mouth" (phillips screw-shapes – thread them down a bit, then
the fastener just pulls out). Pull down the rubber/plastic bumper
cover enough to get your hand up inside. The inner bumper is a
rectangular-section plastic beam, with about 1" between it (the
structural bumper) and the outer cover (the body-colored rubbery
part). Get a "feel" for this distance, then cut a cube of styrofoam
from an el-cheapo cooler (about $1 at a gas station), and shove it up
in there – one cube for each dent. This will push the outer bumper
cover out – making the "dents" almost invisible. The only difficulty
is that the cubes press on the style-crease in the bumper. I added
smaller cubes above the larger ones to push out the outer surface
(above the style crease).
Other people have reported reasonable results with a heat gun,
but I’d probably either burn the paint, or melt a hole in the
bumper cover… Besides, styrofoam is cheap, and once you have
a feel for what is going on in there, it’s relatively easy to
push the cubes around to get a good shape. I did not use any
adhesives at all – tension of the outer bumper pressing in has
kept them in place for almost 2 years now…
Good luck,
Eric
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
Dennis Maurer wrote:
> James <jhedj…@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> : -James
> : (25 years old, but gets the impression I’m not the oldest one here)
> Not by a long shot, a VERY long shot <g>
In fact, probably one of the younger folks here.
Eric Lucas
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
James <jhedj…@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
: -James
: (25 years old, but gets the impression I’m not the oldest one here)
Not by a long shot, a VERY long shot <g>
Dennis
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
James <jhedj…@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>-James
>(25 years old, but gets the impression I’m not the oldest one here)
Hey, I look 18-20, am 27 and tend to feel more like the average 45
year old.. Go figure?
Funny.. out of hundreds of millions of sperm *we* were the quickest!
http://www.mindspring.com/~vdragon
Remove *nolamers* to e-mail.
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
> (25 years old, but get the impression I’m not the oldest one here!)
James, the young guys are definitely the minority in here. Just Eli, me,
you, Brockman (I think!), couple others… the rest are all grouchy old
men. Like Myk. He’s 27. It’s all downhill for him now.
I know it’s just a matter of time before Witherspoon sells his Miata and
buys a Buick.
<ducking and weaving madly>
Jason ; )
–
’92 Classic Red – "Phoenix"
Team Everglades Miata Club
Team r.a.m.m.m.
Team Miata World (1-800-832-3292)
Team You paid how much for yours?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://members.tripod.com/~JasonZero
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
> I know it’s just a matter of time before Witherspoon sells his Miata and
> buys a Buick.
Haven’t been around here long enough to know who Witherspoon is, but
that’s pretty darn funny. I heard oldsmobiles are on sale right now.
-James
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
> James, the young guys are definitely the minority in here. Just Eli, me,
> you, Brockman (I think!), couple others… the rest are all grouchy old
> men. Like Myk. He’s 27. It’s all downhill for him now.
*GULP* I guess I will choke it up and admit it. I, too am 27. *Sniff*
I will place my order for a town car tomorrow to appease the beastly
urges of the old man in me. Good bye cruel world…
Daniel J
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
> "John Bobincheck" <roc…@ccnet.com> writes:
> >I washed my 95 Miata for the first time yesterday, and to my shock,
> >discovered that I had two dents behind the front license plate.
> Eric Witherspoon wrote:
> Styrofoam cubes.
I’ve used another item for years without any problems – go get two
brake bleeder valve covers (the little rubber boots) from the parts
dept. At most they’ll be $1 each. They sit right on the bolts and
don’t vibrate off. I’ve had them on my car since 92 and have only
lost one. Yes, if someone backs into you hard enough you will still
get a dent, but it will probably be hard enough to leave an imprint
of the license plate, too! The thing I like about the valve boots
is that they are barely noticable when you look at the car…
-alex-
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
Hey now! I’m 32 with my first Miata and I make Video games for a living. Now I
can’t speak for my physical age but I’ll be dammed if anyone can prove my
mental facilities to be any older than 18!
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
James wrote:
> > I know it’s just a matter of time before Witherspoon sells his Miata and
> > buys a Buick.
> Haven’t been around here long enough to know who Witherspoon is, but
> that’s pretty darn funny. I heard oldsmobiles are on sale right now.
> -James
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
jaso…@webtv.net (Jason 00) wrote:
>> (25 years old, but get the impression I’m not the oldest one here!)
>James, the young guys are definitely the minority in here. Just Eli, me,
>you, Brockman (I think!), couple others… the rest are all grouchy old
>men. Like Myk. He’s 27. It’s all downhill for him now.
Aye.. even have a Tax Deduction heading my way.. (shudder).. Grouchy?
Now look here you little whippersnapper.. When I was your age we
didn’t tolerate you hoodlums!
>I know it’s just a matter of time before Witherspoon sells his Miata and
>buys a Buick.
The heck with the Buick! (trading in for the BMW 540is 6-speed and a
Mercedes 500SL)
Funny.. out of hundreds of millions of sperm *we* were the quickest!
http://www.mindspring.com/~vdragon
Remove *nolamers* to e-mail.
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
I’m really old then, my 30th Birthday was last month.
Jason 00 wrote in message <6ghhip$c6…@newsd-142.iap.bryant.webtv.net>…
> (25 years old, but get the impression I’m not the oldest one here!)
James, the young guys are definitely the minority in here. Just Eli, me,
you, Brockman (I think!), couple others… the rest are all grouchy old
men. Like Myk. He’s 27. It’s all downhill for him now.
I know it’s just a matter of time before Witherspoon sells his Miata and
buys a Buick.
<ducking and weaving madly>
Jason ; )
–
’92 Classic Red – "Phoenix"
Team Everglades Miata Club
Team r.a.m.m.m.
Team Miata World (1-800-832-3292)
Team You paid how much for yours?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
http://members.tripod.com/~JasonZero
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
>> I washed my 95 Miata for the first time yesterday
>PLEASE tell me you bought it used!
Yes, it was a "previously owned" vehicle. I was suprised that a 95 with 60K
miles would drive just as well as a new one, and it was $12K
>> I returned the car to the dealer, and was told
>> 1. They are not going to fix it (ugg), and
>Damn dealers.
I just did not think to check behind the license plate. I asked the
friendly Mazda dealer about the car, and they could only tell me it was a
lease return, from somebody in Marin.
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>> 2. This happens to a lot of Miatas.
>Including my used 92! My guess is that it had a minor fender bender.
>My solution is I think I’ll be buying a bra real soon to cover it up. I
>just can’t get the darn license plate bracket off because the screws are
>too tight and I stripped them.
>-James
>(25 years old, but gets the impression I’m not the oldest one here)
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
I’m buying the sacrificial cooler today, thanks!
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
Eric Witherspoon wrote in message <6gh2sf$…@sjx-ixn6.ix.netcom.com>…
>"John Bobincheck" <roc…@ccnet.com> writes:
>>I washed my 95 Miata for the first time yesterday, and to my shock,
>>discovered that I had two dents behind the front license plate.
>>I returned the car to the dealer, and was told
>>1. They are not going to fix it (ugg), and
>>2. This happens to a lot of Miatas.
>>So, is there a perl of wisdom out there for taking care of this? I am
>>obsessing over it, but can’t afford a new bumper cover.
>Styrofoam cubes. Pull the 3 fasteners under the upper edge of the
>"mouth" (phillips screw-shapes – thread them down a bit, then
>the fastener just pulls out). Pull down the rubber/plastic bumper
>cover enough to get your hand up inside. The inner bumper is a
>rectangular-section plastic beam, with about 1" between it (the
>structural bumper) and the outer cover (the body-colored rubbery
>part). Get a "feel" for this distance, then cut a cube of styrofoam
>from an el-cheapo cooler (about $1 at a gas station), and shove it up
>in there – one cube for each dent. This will push the outer bumper
>cover out – making the "dents" almost invisible. The only difficulty
>is that the cubes press on the style-crease in the bumper. I added
>smaller cubes above the larger ones to push out the outer surface
>(above the style crease).
>Other people have reported reasonable results with a heat gun,
>but I’d probably either burn the paint, or melt a hole in the
>bumper cover… Besides, styrofoam is cheap, and once you have
>a feel for what is going on in there, it’s relatively easy to
>push the cubes around to get a good shape. I did not use any
>adhesives at all – tension of the outer bumper pressing in has
>kept them in place for almost 2 years now…
>Good luck,
>Eric
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
I am fairly new to this group (yes it was the "Sex in a Miata" topic
which first attracted me) and I am 26 years old. Fortunately, I am a
Canadian, and with the current rate of exchange, that makes me only 17
and a half in American years. Guess I couldn’t go to any bars…but who
wants to drink American beer anyway?
Paul
White 1990
"R2-D2"
I
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
Ouch! Try Anchor Steam, Red Hook, or Sierra Nevada – there are plenty of
good American beers!
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
Paul MacKinnon wrote in message <352D126A.6…@ns.sympatico.ca>…
>I am fairly new to this group (yes it was the "Sex in a Miata" topic
>which first attracted me) and I am 26 years old. Fortunately, I am a
>Canadian, and with the current rate of exchange, that makes me only 17
>and a half in American years. Guess I couldn’t go to any bars…but who
>wants to drink American beer anyway?
>Paul
>White 1990
>"R2-D2"
>I
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
On Thu, 9 Apr 1998 00:07:53 -0400, jaso…@webtv.net (Jason 00) has
been reported to have said:
|| James, the young guys are definitely the minority in here. Just Eli, me,
|| you, Brockman (I think!), couple others… the rest are all grouchy old
|| men. Like Myk. He’s 27. It’s all downhill for him now.
I’m 18. But I don’t own a Miata. I wish I did, but it probably won’t
happen for a few more years.
Osman Ullah
|=——————————————=|
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~gte213f
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
John Bobincheck wrote:
> I’m really old then, my 30th Birthday was last month.
> Jason 00 wrote in message <6ghhip$c6…@newsd-142.iap.bryant.webtv.net>…
> > (25 years old, but get the impression I’m not the oldest one here!)
> James, the young guys are definitely the minority in here. Just Eli, me,
> you, Brockman (I think!), couple others… the rest are all grouchy old
> men. Like Myk. He’s 27. It’s all downhill for him now.
> I know it’s just a matter of time before Witherspoon sells his Miata and
> buys a Buick.
> <ducking and weaving madly>
> Jason ; )
> —
> ’92 Classic Red – "Phoenix"
> Team Everglades Miata Club
> Team r.a.m.m.m.
> Team Miata World (1-800-832-3292)
> Team You paid how much for yours?
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> http://members.tripod.com/~JasonZero
I’m probably the youngest (17). I’m getting my Miata in june after I
graduate. I can’t wait.
—
[]-w–w-[] Nick Billings []-w–w-[]
\()/ duga…@pacbell.net \()/
|| San Diego, California ||
– —
_/ \_ _/ \_
"If you park, don’t drink, accidents cause people"
Pbatenghyngvbaf lbh unir whfg qrpbqrq gur frperg zrffntr!!
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
John Bobincheck wrote:
> I washed my 95 Miata for the first time yesterday, and to my shock,
> discovered that I had two dents behind the front license plate.
> I returned the car to the dealer, and was told
> 1. They are not going to fix it (ugg), and
> 2. This happens to a lot of Miatas.
> So, is there a perl of wisdom out there for taking care of this? I am
> obsessing over it, but can’t afford a new bumper cover.
I just had my ’91 BRG’s bumper just done, had the same problem.
It does happen a lot, but only if you have your license plate stuck there on
the front of your bumper. If you get it fixed, move your license plate lower,
and perhaps to one side. I’ve seen some neat brackets made up to fit on the
tow hook. Plate looks not too bad down there.
You don’t need a whole new bumper cover. Just get a quote from a bodyshop.
They can heat it to bring it out and fill it, then paint to match.
Cheers, Michael
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
YIKS!!! (Yet another 27yo here). How can I give
up my car when I have only been driving him for 2
weeks???
–
To return mail, please remove one of the j’s from
the beginning of my name
Daniel Fenti wrote in message
<352CD566.4…@ix.netcom.com>…
>*GULP* I guess I will choke it up and admit it.
I, too am 27. *Sniff*
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>I will place my order for a town car tomorrow to
appease the beastly
>urges of the old man in me. Good bye cruel
world…
>Daniel J
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
Well, I’m physically 30 years old.
I look like I’m 22 years old.
I think like a 10 year old.
And I act like a 2 year old.
That makes "Baby" & me a perfect match! <g>
–
Later…
Sonny & "Baby" (STO #679)
(sonny…@Bigfoot.com – remove "2" when responding)
Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>> : -James
>> : (25 years old, but gets the impression I’m not the oldest one here)
>> Not by a long shot, a VERY long shot <g>
>In fact, probably one of the younger folks here.
> Eric Lucas
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
>jaso…@webtv.net (Jason 00) wrote:
>>I know it’s just a matter of time before Witherspoon sells his Miata
>>and buys a Buick.
Just a hold-over until my Boxster comes off-lease. You know there’s
an Eaton-SC kit for that thing now… Only 4.5# boost, but it gets
the car the power it should have had since the beginning…
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
Sheesh! First I’m a newbie, now I’m an old fart!? What a week!
I wish I had the opportunity to buy a miata at your age, but when I was
finally able to buy my first car (’86) my choices were: Fiero 4cyl,
Civic SI, MR2. Seeing as I wasn’t interested in paying MSRP, I really
only had the one choice. In south central wisconsin, Honda and Toyota
dealers are so few and far between that you practically have to beg them
to sell you a car.
Hmm, now that I think of it I’ve had to beg to get any attention at
every Honda dealer I’ve visited here in SoCal, too. I keep grudges, too
– so since Honda dealers apparently don’t care about getting my
business, I will NEVER buy a new Honda. Love my Acura, though.
Jason 00 <jaso…@webtv.net> wrote:
> James, the young guys are definitely the minority in here. Just Eli, me,
> you, Brockman (I think!), couple others… the rest are all grouchy old
> men. Like Myk. He’s 27. It’s all downhill for him now.
> I know it’s just a matter of time before Witherspoon sells his Miata and
> buys a Buick.
–
Owen Strawn
’92 Classic Red
"Michiko"
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm
Jason 00 (jaso…@webtv.net) mumbled:
% James, the young guys are definitely the minority in here. Just Eli, me,
% you, Brockman (I think!), couple others… the rest are all grouchy old
% men. Like Myk. He’s 27. It’s all downhill for him now.
Yep, I’m just 24…
James, (well, the other James), who just paid off his ’92.
No car payment means more money for mods!
—
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
() James D. Brockman brock…@wfu.edu ()
() *MISC* ()
()"I didn’t get anything. I had to pay $50 ()
() and pick up all the garbage." -Arlo Guthrie()
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Comment by admin — March 15, 2010 @ 9:20 pm