To Skid or Not to Skid

[99Turbo]

Kate your friend may well be able to make you one, the main problem would be fabricating the angles at the front. I am not sure what you would use, 14 gauge steel maybe and something similar in Aluminum plate. If you have someone that has access to it carbon fiber would be ideal, buying one made from the stuff would be prohibitive but if you can make your own maybe not.

Here is a link to the dieselgeek site so you can get some idea of what they look like off the car. Panzer Skid Plates by www.dieselgeek.com

On the 1.8t's the plate has to come off to change the oil filter. You and your friend build a plate where that isn't necessary and you may have a very marketable item.

Dirt buildup is no more than you have with the plastic pieces.
I say pieces because dieselgeek now has what he calls "The Full Metal Jacket" which has two aluminum pieces to replace the plastic side panels also.

Sometimes you can also find a used one on VW Vortex or in the classifieds on this site.

[ChristopherC]

Last time I checked a Panzer plate was only a bit more than a replacement plastic belly pan from the dealership and yet a Panzer plate covers far more area.

It's not always about bottoming out. Quite often running over something in the roadway that you don't have time to avoid (animals, debris, etc.).

YMMV.

[Kuplamies]

Originally Posted by topless kitty

i'm not quite sure i understand how anyone's hitting anything under their car at stock height. all my cars have been lowered, and on very rare occasions did anything hit the bottom of the car. it's just a matter of driving carefully. when i got my beetle, the stock "skid plate" had a few scuffs, at stock height. it now has an H&R cup kit and i haven't hit a thing.

Because I live in Finland, that skid plate is very important.
Of course I try to drive carefully, but...

I have to go to work every weekday a year and in the wintertime
there are maybe 5-10 inches of snow waiting for me outside.
That icy debris is often a biggest problem; fortunately the Panzer can deal with that easily.

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

Originally Posted by Yello_jellybean

All of that is very valid. Although, Truth is, I really don't know that the weight matters in all cases. If you are racing the car, then yes, you might want to consider that fact. The weight of the Panzer Skid Plate is 22lbs. I also know that it is aluminum NOT steel.

Not to argue but, for the sake of clarity:

1. Weight should always be a consideration regardless of the vehicles intended use, weight affects gas mileage, acceleration, braking and maneuvering.

2. 22LBS. is a lot to add to the weight of a vehicle whether the material be steel or aluminum because the material is not the factor here.

I reduced the weight of my vehicle by almost that much by changing tires from an Bridgestone S03 Pole Position to Goodyear F1's.

AND that most maintenance is not an issue. (example: oil changes) I really cannot say though, that service would or would NOT be an issue, due to the fact that anyone who is doing service on your car will have to remove the stock skid plate anyway. Also, anyone who has a Panzer Skid Pate knows that it is not that hard to remove. (just a few minutes really)

Maintenance time should be considered for those times that it will be necessary to remove that skid plate to perform services like oil changes because I believe it takes a bit more time to R&R the Panzer than it does the factory plate, many of this cars came new without a plate, I don't use any plate on my car which makes all of this a non-issue for me and over the cars 9 year life I have had no problems on some of California's worse streets and freeways as a result.

I bought one of these, very recently AND did a lot of research. I am very fussy about my car.

If folks feel that they need this addition then that is a personal choice, they should just make sure that they understand the ups and downs.

[kate_the_valkyrie]

Good point. About having the vehicle serviced and having to remove that. With the heat from the area I live in, I think I'm going to put this off for quite some time. Maybe I'll just have to wait until I get something else damaged and then seriously consider it. Of course, I may never have something severely damaged underneath


*knocks on wood*

Originally Posted by Too Cold NB1.8T

I have to agree (for the most part) with post #9 (boogety boogety), however, as long as you don't mind the extra weight of that steel skid plate along with the additional vehicle service time and/or probable shop labor expense from having to R&R that thing every time you need to get in there, then by all means.

There are many sensitive areas under the chassis that are subject damage should some nasty road debris decide to attack, problem is, you cannot reasonably skid plate the entire undercarriage.

[99Turbo]

ECS is selling the plastic ones for under $30.00. They will keep the dirt and other stuff out.
In my case although it was destroyed it did deflect the hit enough to save the engine.

Sounds like someone hit something with Bobby before you adopted him.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen-...r/Body/ES6188/

[Oh Randi]

IF you're confident you're not going to hit anything ever, then don't get one.

If you think you might hit something, put away a little bit from each paycheck and save up for it.

But if I was you, I'd get it. This coming from someone who just hit a pothole and cracked their oil pan. My car is stuck on the side of the road, unable to be fixed until at least Monday. And it wasn't even a big pothole.

Granted, Oklahoma DOES have really terrible roads (some of you will realize this when you come through on your way to Roswell), but this happened driving down my friend's driveway. And it's not bad at all.

I'm ordering mine within the next few days so nothing has a chance at my new engine. I'm planning on buying the full metal jacket from dieselgeek.com

[Oh Randi]

Originally Posted by Too Cold NB1.8T

1. Weight should always be a consideration regardless of the vehicles intended use, weight affects gas mileage, acceleration, braking and maneuvering.

2. 22LBS. is a lot to add to the weight of a vehicle whether the material be steel or aluminum because the material is not the factor here.

Does it really make that big of a difference unless you're racing the car??

Well, I guess I need to re-evaluate if I gain 10 pounds or something because it will affect my gas mileage and acceleration.

[Yello_jellybean]

First, let me say I avoided this thread after Mr. TooCold's comments, because I don't want to fight about this. This is in No WAY a cue to start anything.
With that said...

Randi,
He is right, about it being a performance issue, as far a gas mileage. The more weight on the car, it will suck your MPGs down. However, what he doesn't tell you is that it is pretty minimal. Obviously this matters to some people a lot. WE ALL know, the more MPGs, the better, but it will not weigh the car down enough that it is really a big deal. As said, it (the Panzer skid plate) weighs 22 LBS. Some baby seats weigh that or more. People don't have any issues with them. For DIFFERENT reasons, obviously (Safety) but still weight is weight. I don't think it is really a worry unless you want to go 12s on a quarter mile. REALLY. He can get all over my butt, if he want's to, but it's REALITY. Yes, it is added weight. Yes, that makes the car perform "slower" than a modded out FAST NB. Are you racing? Do you need to go REALLY fast? Does it REALLY matter? NO. AND as far as service is concerned... why don't you ask Kaiser or Growler or some guy that ACTUALLY has worked on A LOT of NBs before you listen to anyone tell you if there is an extra charge to do service on a NB with a Panzer skid plate. I am NOT saying he doesn't work on his own car, but how does he really know, if he doesn't even have one on his car? I have not encountered this yet. AND I HAVE a Panzer skid plate on my car. I am not trying to start a fight here, but some of his comments should be left up to a mechanic, or at least a person with the item in question installed on the vehicle.

The MAIN reason to get one is (and the majority of us would agree)... To save your undercarriage. Whether or not you drive like a loon, or just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Too Cold brings up valid points. His argument is valid. He is just more into "performance". AND there is nothing wrong with that. Different strokes.

Originally Posted by Oh Randi

Does it really make that big of a difference unless you're racing the car??

Well, I guess I need to re-evaluate if I gain 10 pounds or something because it will affect my gas mileage and acceleration.

[kate_the_valkyrie]

Thanks guys... more good points for me to consider....

[99Turbo]

Yello_jellybean you have me confused and upset, I know that you said you weren't trying to start a fight but I must speak my mind.

Why are you hauling baby seals around and what is the reason for weighing them? Is there some market for them that pays per pound?

This is very upsetting to me...what, wait, it says what?

Oh, baby seats. That's very different. Nevermind.

[Yello_jellybean]

You REALLY should have seen my face. I went Did I really write baby seals??? OMG!! HA HA! You got me. Way to lighten up the mood. I appreciate it.

Originally Posted by 99Turbo

Yello_jellybean you have me confused and upset, I know that you said you weren't trying to start a fight but I must speak my mind.

Why are you hauling baby seals around and what is the reason for weighing them? Is there some market for them that pays per pound?

This is very upsetting to me...what, wait, it says what?

Oh, baby seats. That's very different. Nevermind.

[kate_the_valkyrie]

Bahahahahaha....

I guess one might definitely need a skid plate hauling baby seals... those f'ers can get heavy i hear...

[Yello_jellybean]

Right. I will make note of that. He says: "I must speak my mind"....the whole time, I am thinking Oh, NO! here we go, I DON'T want to fight with you... Hee Hee. Funny!

Don't say that too loud guys, I will have PETA all over my case.

[Fowvay]

Originally Posted by boogety boogety

If you stay on a public, tax-supported road, you should be able to run skid-plate-less for the life of the car with no damage whatsoever...

Interesting theory but many of us need to do things like enter service stations, store parking lots and weird off road events like.... I dunno.. entering our driveways. There are also these crazy things called rail road crossing, speed bumps, pot holes, crowns and construction zones.

I don't know what bizarre fantasy land your car lives in but mine lives in the real world and whacks the subframe on something at least once a month.

[topless kitty]

a skid plate is NOT going to save your undercarriage. it may save your oil pan, but if you hit something large enough to destroy your undercarriage or damage anything beyond an oil pan, a skid plate isn't going to save you. trust me, i know.

[Yello_jellybean]

My bad. I should have clarified that. Anything else???

[Fowvay]

Originally Posted by Too Cold NB1.8T

If folks feel that they need this addition then that is a personal choice, they should just make sure that they understand the ups and downs.

Up's.

Improves aerodynamic flow under the vehicle. Critical for improved mileage and stability at speed.

Provides unparalleled protection from blocks of ice thrown from trucks, rocks, dead animals flung into the motor etc

If you have a TDi the panel need never come off as everything can be done from up top.

Downs

Initial cost perhaps offset in time with saving you money on plastic skid plates and oil pans.. perhaps.

Weight

Solutions....

It doesn't take any longer to remove than the plastic skid plat nor any longer to reinstall so there is no needed solution to the service problem.

Unsprung weight is much more critical to overall performance and handling than sprung weight since the suspension and drive train do not have to over come the mass of the wheels and suspension. 22lbs added to the sprung weight of a car will have about the same effect as adding 3lbs to the wheels/brakes/hub of the car. i.e.. not very much at all.

Seriously this is a total non issue from a performance stand point and all I can see are positives.


waits to be told how everything I said is true yet wrong based on opinion and reworded facts

[Fowvay]

Originally Posted by topless kitty

a skid plate is NOT going to save your undercarriage. it may save your oil pan, but if you hit something large enough to destroy your undercarriage or damage anything beyond an oil pan, a skid plate isn't going to save you. trust me, i know.

You had a steel skid plate and that STILL happened? I've seen a video of MadMike slide up onto a boulder doing well over 60mph. While screwing up his bumper, hood, lights etc The skidplate itself saved his engine and transmission from receiving even a scratch even though it hit HARD!!!

[Yello_jellybean]

Thanks Fowvay. You have been a great help to us all.