To Skid or Not to Skid

[topless kitty]

Originally Posted by Fowvay

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!!!

no, i did not have a skid plate. but that was from IMPACT, not from anything ripping into it. it all shattered, had i had a skid plate, the same damage would have been done. this guy did that damage.

[Fowvay]

Honestly I think that in all probability a metal skid plate would have saved you from damage. For realz. I swear.

[topless kitty]

unpossible.

i wish i took interior pictures before it got hauled to the crusher. airbags blew, windshield cracked, the entire floor was pressed up which caused the dashboard to pop apart. a skidplate would NOT have prevented any of that, in fact would have reduced clearance and made it worse. this is why a lot of MK3 VR6 guys won't run skid plates, they'd rather dent an oil pan than give up the ground clearance, when you're down to less than 2 or 3 inches you don't want to sacrifice any more.

[Yello_jellybean]

That is understandable if you are THAT low.. kinda, but.... not to fuel this debate, most of us run stock not dropped and that was a 1 in a million accident. I know that the skid plate gives you less clearance, even on a stock NB but it really would do more good, than anything MOST of the time.

Originally Posted by topless kitty

unpossible.

i wish i took interior pictures before it got hauled to the crusher. airbags blew, windshield cracked, the entire floor was pressed up which caused the dashboard to pop apart. a skidplate would NOT have prevented any of that, in fact would have reduced clearance and made it worse. this is why a lot of MK3 VR6 guys won't run skid plates, they'd rather dent an oil pan than give up the ground clearance, when you're down to less than 2 or 3 inches you don't want to sacrifice any more.

[99Turbo]

Topless what are we looking at? I know it is the bottom of a car and I know that something is amiss when pieces are dragging on the ground. Is that the whole engine ripped loose from the front mounts? Some further details please...

[topless kitty]

this car met that manhole cover. that's all sorts of things hanging that shouldn't be. i was cruising along on the van wyck in jamaica, saw that monstrosity, slammed on the brakes which of course created a nosedrive, and rammed into it at around 40 MPH. came to an immediate stop, airbag in my face, other various parts where they shouldn't be. a skid plate would have prevented none of this.

[99Turbo]

That is quite true.
Your car now is also lowered?

[topless kitty]

yeah but only a cupkit.

[99Turbo]

In your will you need to donate that set of balls to someone who will appreciate them

[topless kitty]

i'm not as hardcore as i once was my MK3 and MK5 were on coils and as low as they could go. my MK2 had a 60/40 kit which was pretty low but nowhere near what it could have been, and the cupkit on the beetle was a bit of a disappointment, but it's better than nothing. i'm sure within a year or so i won't be able to take it and i'll get coilovers, or maybe bags

[99Turbo]

There is something called "Drop Zone" springs for sale in the classifieds (parts forum).

[kate_the_valkyrie]

Originally Posted by Fowvay

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!!!

That right there has convinced me to get one once I have the transmission fixed.

Thank you Fovway...

To SKID IT IS

[topless kitty]

Originally Posted by kate_the_valkyrie

That right there has convinced me to get one once I have the transmission fixed.

Thank you Fovway...

To SKID IT IS

won't make a difference if the hit is as hard as mine was.

[kate_the_valkyrie]

Originally Posted by topless kitty

won't make a difference if the hit is as hard as mine was.

Keep in mind my beetle isn't lowered. But thank you for the input.

[99Turbo]

Originally Posted by kate_the_valkyrie

Keep in mind my beetle isn't lowered. But thank you for the input.

When compared to other cars they come lowered from the factory.

Ferrari 430-3.8" of ground clearance
Porsche 911-4.2"
New Beetle-4.6"
Mazda 3-5.7"
Shelby Mustang-5.7"
Mazdaspeed 3-5.9"
Honda Civic Si-5.9"
Ford Mustang-6.5"
Toyota Highlander-8.1"
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon-10.5"

[Oh Randi]

Originally Posted by 99Turbo

When compared to other cars they come lowered from the factory.

Ferrari 430-3.8" of ground clearance
Porsche 911-4.2"
New Beetle-4.6"
Mazda 3-5.7"
Shelby Mustang-5.7"
Mazdaspeed 3-5.9"
Honda Civic Si-5.9"
Ford Mustang-6.5"
Toyota Highlander-8.1"
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon-10.5"

I noticed you put in your own cars! Nothing gets by me!

[99Turbo]

Yes and a few I would like to have

Here are some pics of when that hunk of metal went under the car. After it took out the plastic shield and put the big dent in the transmission pan, it smacked the cross brace under the exhaust and flattened one side of it (pic 1). Evidently flipped and shoved the shaft up through the floor, yep all the way through (pic2). Another shot of the smashed brace and the grooves that it cut in the bottom as it passed by (pic 3).

[kate_the_valkyrie]

I have decided that it is an item to get placed on the "to do" list with Bobby. I think it will be better considering I plan on keeping him until he falls apart.

[kate_the_valkyrie]

Originally Posted by 99Turbo

When compared to other cars they come lowered from the factory.

Ferrari 430-3.8" of ground clearance
Porsche 911-4.2"
New Beetle-4.6"
Mazda 3-5.7"
Shelby Mustang-5.7"
Mazdaspeed 3-5.9"
Honda Civic Si-5.9"
Ford Mustang-6.5"
Toyota Highlander-8.1"
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon-10.5"

Where did you find these heights?? I wonder, I work for a roadside assistance company and I'd love to find a page or site or something that has all listed vehicle heights, or somewhere close to as many vehicles listed as possible....??

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

It would be pretty easy to compile a list of vehicle specs. like that, it would not be necessary to locate them in one spot.