Are Body-Side Moldings Effective?

[kimona]

I always park as far away from the crowd as humanly possible... but often find someone parked right up beside me when I return. Thankfully, no door dings yet.

[DebbyM46227]

Originally Posted by MUSKOKA800

Save your money. Park far away and use your brain when you open your door.
I had about 300,000 kl. on my Talon when it was retired. Not a ding on it. It pays to park far from the mall and walk a few extra feet. Also, park beside a nice car. It's owner cares not to bash metal. Stay away from soccer-mom vehicles. Kids don't care and aren't strong enough to hold the door if caught by the wind.
Chances are any moulding will be at the wrong level to protect from the careless animals who park beside you. Pick'em up trucks, SUV's and mini-vans doors are more likely to cream your mirrors.

I'm just sick. Saturday I went to Walmart and parked WAY out in the lot, as far as you can park. No one around me and I parked within the lines. While inside shopping, I'm thinking someone intentionally pulled up to my Yaris, opened their door into it, dinged it, and then took off. My Yaris is only 6 weeks old and now I have a huge ding about 5" behind the driver side door handle.

It was either a redneck (lots of them at this Walmart) or a General Motors union thug who spotted my nice shiny new Japanese car, and decided to get even with me.

[centrysis]

Wonder if you could go back into walmart and check the cameras.

[DebbyM46227]

I called them about checking their cameras. They laughed at me when they found out it was "just" a door ding. This is one of the worst Walmart's I've been to. A couple years ago, I nearly fell in the parking lot - when I got out of my other car I stepped in an oil slick and slid - someone had drained their oil and did an oil change in the parking lot. Not kidding.

[YarisSedan]

Paint on any aftermarket molding will fade after several years and typically would make the car look worse than it would with a clean door but a small door ding. My plan is if i plan to keep my car for a very long time after 7 or 8 years after ive accumulated a few if any door dings just take it to a professional paintless dent removal place and have them pop them out.

Every car ive owned i usually remove the molding and pinstriping and front license plate. I think the car looks cleaner that way.

[chrisj]

Mine already has 2 little dings (one on each side), and they are even different heights. I ordered some generic tapered molding (2 pieces) from J.C. Whitney which will arrive on Saturday. My car is black so they should look okay. Thing is, I am putting the molding in different spots from where the dings are (just above the top of the wheel well) on the doors. We'll see.

[fnkngrv]

just carry a gun in the glove box....that fixes it all....or else one of those air release valves for tires...well maybe four of them right? j/k


it is a question of do you feel that function is over form or vica versa...