First Off-Road Experience

[geronimo_jenkins]

First time off road after one year of ownership on a road trip in Wyoming.

 

[Rick]

Looks like a beautiful area.

 

[Dale5403]

So how did you like it out in the dirt? Had mine on some gravel roads a couple weeks ago and it handled great at 55MPH.

 

[jhu8]

So how did you like it out in the dirt? Had mine on some gravel roads a couple weeks ago and it handled great at 55MPH.

Yikes, what gravel road allows or makes you feel safe at going 55mph? I'd be afraid of chips in the paint for sure.

 

[hbalek]

Yikes, what gravel road allows or makes you feel safe at going 55mph? I'd be afraid of chips in the paint for sure.

Take it from me, this car dings very easily! Last week it was the first acorn falling season with my 10 month old ST and my neighbor's tree did a number on my beautiful truck. Over 6 little dings in the hood and hatch in one night. When I realized and moved it, it was too late sadly. Apparently the hood and hatch are made of aluminum and ding very easily. Beware of trees, gravel and hail for sure! This happened in my own driveway and I noticed both their vehicles are all dinged up. I would've removed those trees after one incident!

 

[peterk9]

The hood is definitely aluminum as were the ones on the 5th gen. I haven't heard that about the liftgate. Take a magnet to it and see.

Peter

 

[jhu8]

Take it from me, this car dings very easily! Last week it was the first acorn falling season with my 10 month old ST and my neighbor's tree did a number on my beautiful truck. Over 6 little dings in the hood and hatch in one night. When I realized and moved it, it was too late sadly. Apparently the hood and hatch are made of aluminum and ding very easily. Beware of trees, gravel and hail for sure! This happened in my own driveway and I noticed both their vehicles are all dinged up. I would've removed those trees after one incident!

Ugh yeah that's unfortunate. My 16 mazda cx5 has very very weak/soft paint. I think it's these new eco friendly paint formulations that just aren't as durable anymore.

 

[hbalek]

Ugh yeah that's unfortunate. My 16 mazda cx5 has very very weak/soft paint. I think it's these new eco friendly paint formulations that just aren't as durable anymore.

The paint is fine it's the lightweight aluminum sheet metal that dents easily. My paint is totally undamaged from the acorns.

 

[Adam58]

The paint is fine it's the lightweight aluminum sheet metal that dents easily. My paint is totally undamaged from the acorns.

I'm sure a door ding specialist could pop them out pretty easily?

 

[Dale5403]

The rear hatch is steel. Confirmed it with a magnet today.

 

[hbalek]

The rear hatch is steel. Confirmed it with a magnet today.

Yes it is steel but still got dinked on the edge of the rear glass sill so that one probably can't be pulled out. The ones in the hood I'm sure can be pulled out because they are in the middle areas of the panel. The spoiler appears to have a ding too and I thought it was made of plastic.

 

[Dale5403]

How large are those acorns? The ones by us us would not do that. Any pictures?

 

[hbalek]

How large are those acorns? The ones by us us would not do that. Any pictures?

They are not very large at all maybe an inch in diameter at most. The tree is very tall and they fell a long distance I guess. The dings are small and not deep but I know they're there. Most people wouldn't notice them unless I showed them. I've lived here 17 years and parked a 2003 G35, 2010 MKZ, 2013 MKZ and none of them were dinged by the same acorns. This leads me to believe the sheet metal on this vehicle is very thin! I'll try to take pics...