Body Panels

[Scott@Bjorn3D]

On my 94 the front fenders and the doors where not metal. Does anybody know if they are doing this with the 2010?

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Scott@Bjorn3D

On my 94 the front fenders and the doors where not metal. Does anybody know if they are doing this with the 2010?

GM is getting away from the plastic body panels, Many owners of Foreign makes complained about the gaps required for the plastic because of heat expansion. Event he Saturns no longer use them. It is a shame because of the ease of replacement and cost is cheaper than for steal...
So I don;t think you will see any major plastic panels on the Camaro, unless they decide to make a fiberglass or carbon fiber hood...and that is a possibility.

[xl1200r]

From what I've read, it will be an all steel body with the exception of an aluminum hood.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by xl1200r

From what I've read, it will be an all steel body with the exception of an aluminum hood.

Although I agree with Skyman08's statement, I would be one of those owners (well, I never officially complained but never liked the idea). IMVHO, the composite panels just gave me a sense of lesser quality - it felt cheap, like a Saturn. It was definately nice having lighter, dent-resistance, rust-resistant panels, but I never liked them. Having said that, I'm very happy the 5th Gen. will be all metal (except the facias), even at the expense of weight. I don't mind rocker moldings, mirrors, and spoilers being plastic (duh) but a metal door just sounds and feels better when I close it.

Again, JMVHO.

[turbocrazy]

Weighing in at 3860 I highly doubt anything is lightweight or plastic on the exterior of the camaro.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by radz282003

Although I agree with Skyman08's statement, I would be one of those owners (well, I never officially complained but never liked the idea). IMVHO, the composite panels just gave me a sense of lesser quality - it felt cheap, like a Saturn. It was definately nice having lighter, dent-resistance, rust-resistant panels, but I never liked them. Having said that, I'm very happy the 5th Gen. will be all metal (except the facias), even at the expense of weight. I don't mind rocker moldings, mirrors, and spoilers being plastic (duh) but a metal door just sounds and feels better when I close it.

Again, JMVHO.

I have owned 5 Saturns and 3 Fiero's, and one of my Fiero's went through a heck of a hail storm one time, I mean golf ball sized hailstones, and not one dent was left on it. (I can't say the same about my 96 Blazer after dime sized hail, $4,000 in damage). Also on my Saturns and fieros I never had one door ding. It was great. There were many more advantages to the plastic panels than disadvantages. You may have never liked them but many many owners of Saturns and Fieros would probably disagree with you...

[radz28]

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

I have owned 5 Saturns and 3 Fiero's, and one of my Fiero's went through a heck of a hail storm one time, I mean golf ball sized hailstones, and not one dent was left on it. (I can't say the same about my 96 Blazer after dime sized hail, $4,000 in damage). Also on my Saturns and fieros I never had one door ding. It was great. There were many more advantages to the plastic panels than disadvantages. You may have never liked them but many many owners of Saturns and Fieros would probably disagree with you...

For your reasons exactly I do see a benefit - I just didn't like the feel Excellent points though and totally understandable. Another thing is I've seen so many panels deteriorate over time, I suppose from sun damage, neglect, and who knows how many other number of things. Metal just makes me feel better

[KILLER74Z28]

It's all steel with the exception of the hood and that’s Aluminum.

[djm96z28]

I hope the steel is a little thicker than the steel in the rear quarter panels on the 4th gens. You can be washing the car and lean over and feel the fender give in. And if another car door edge even touches the rear quarters on a 4th gen, you have a ding. I hate how thin that metal is.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by radz282003

For your reasons exactly I do see a benefit - I just didn't like the feel Excellent points though and totally understandable. Another thing is I've seen so many panels deteriorate over time, I suppose from sun damage, neglect, and who knows how many other number of things. Metal just makes me feel better

Uh... can you say Rust? Get a metal panel scraped down through the paint and you have a good starting place for rust, also if a drain hole gets stopped up rust can develop from the inside without you even knowing until it breaks through... Many people with bad plastic panels would have been the same people not taking care of the metal panels on their cars and would have had rusty faded paint with lots of dents all over .. so I guess really it is a matter of perception, some people even thought my Sky had plastic panels. they thought since it was a Saturn they all were plastic. so just by viewing you cannot always tell what is plastic and what was metal. Many people didn't know the 4th gen Camaros and Firebirds doors and front fenders were plastic until you showed them....

[1_2Many]

In my opinion the whole body should be aluminum. Lighter and no rust worries.

[Dan1028]

Originally Posted by 1_2Many

In my opinion the whole body should be aluminum. Lighter and no rust worries.

That would be nice, but then again, the Camaro would be unaffordable for most people that want to buy it.

[Rogue Leader]

I have kind of a love/hate relationship with the panels. Love that they don't dent, love the light weight of the doors on my 99TA and 2000 Vette. Hated the cheap feeling of that lightness sometimes though, hated having to worry about it cracking instead if something was misaligned... why you say? Hated how the door skin on both my 99 and also my sisters 94 Camaro peeled off eventually and had to be glued back together.

[fastball]

In the event of an accident, I'll take steel over plastic or aluminum every time thank you.