Thank God for the plastic cladding

[NoLimitSoldier]

Let me start of by saying this I realize that this was my fault and it was a mistake but I do feel stupid for it......... So here we go......


I'm moving my car at work today and it's raining and I see a spot next to the "Important Person" Canopy thing that I can't park in but if I get close enough I can stay dry getting in and out because I can get close to it..... Well while backing in (because it's the only way to get the driver side underneath the canopy) I look behind me and somehow when I turned to look the other way I got turned around and while backing up I hear BOOM! :bash: turn and look and the drivers side hit the corner 1/2" square aluminum pole that holds up the canopy.... So I finish parking get out and look and no damage minus a little teeny tiny scratch on the cladding.... I was like wow! If that had been the painted bumper there would have been a nice scratch there and the paint would have needed to be fixed..... So for all the ney sayers of the plastic cladding on the bottom I like it! From the sound of it and the shock I was in I swear I thought I busted a tail light... Anyway I'm disappointed I actually did it but very happy with the results if it had to happen.

 

[T133]

Yeap thats the only thing I like about that ugly plastic on 2003 4runner.

 

[dingo]

I actually like the look of the old gray cladding on a silver Sport Edition. Just looks right with a hood scoop. Plus the hard "knuckle" moulding on the fenders make it looks even more aggressive. The later year models are still plastic but are colored keyed.

 

[Gromulus]

Beauty is as Beauty Does

Maybe not as pretty as the painted, but much more practical! Too bad Toyota doesn't offer bolt-on fenders like the Wrangler.

 

[PaulSula]

I could swear that I have seen a picture of a current body style 4Runner with aftermarket fender flares like a jeep.

 

[greasefingers]

If it is hit harder then it turns white-ish around the impact area

 

[jharris2]

Yeap thats the only thing I like about that ugly plastic on 2003 4runner.

Hey - bugs don't stick to it, either -- makes it easy to clean!

 

[jharris2]

I actually like the look of the old gray cladding on a silver Sport Edition. Just looks right with a hood scoop. Plus the hard "knuckle" moulding on the fenders make it looks even more aggressive. The later year models are still plastic but are colored keyed.

:iagree:

I think silver with cladding is a good combination, but I'm just a little partial. Black and dark gray also look good with the cladding, IMHO.

Plus, it's a distinctive look.

 

[MW 4Runner]

Re: Beauty is as Beauty Does

Maybe not as pretty as the painted, but much more practical! Too bad Toyota doesn't offer bolt-on fenders like the Wrangler.

Check out THIS THREAD for fender flares...

 

[NoLimitSoldier]

I looked at this morning in full light and realized there is a slight dimple in the plastic area right next to the "rear fog lights" on the lower part...... Just out of curiosity does anyone know of anyway to maybe get it out no big deal if not but any ideas are appreciated

 

[GLOCK17]

If you can get behind it and push on that spot. Use heat gun to get spot good & hot becarefull you dont want to blister paint push on that spot from behind and with outher hand or a helper take very COLDwater on a rag and put it on the spot from the outside.You are trying to set the plastic in the right spot. Have done it for years it works take your time you may need to do this more than ounce.

 

[pipspeak]

I loved the gray fenders on my old Jeep... just not the way they started to fade after a few years in the California sun.

Especially nice was how I never picked up the horrible chipped bumper that's a telltale sign of street parking.

 

[Boston_Runner]

Nothing like the old school gray cladding and rubber bumpers. All these new cars nowadays, a 5 mph accident can cost up to thousands to fix.