Quote:
Originally Posted by HWYSTR455
My experience/comment regarding the strap. Without the strap, or actually, even with the strap, people tend to grab the door at the top, with thumb to the inside on the door panel, and 4 fingers over the top, fingertips on the outer door skin.
Over time, it makes waves along the top of the door skin. Look at other cars down the side, from one end of the car or the other, and you will see the waves easily. Look closely at any dark color car, and you will see it at least to some degree.
Even if you are aware, and try not to shut the door that way, there are some, even yourself, will close them that way anyway. (Yell at passengers that do so).
With foresight, you could add a plate to the door inner structure/frame that would prevent that, but that's a pretty serious undertaking.
Grabbing the lower plastic portion found on earlier models can loosen/deform the plastic panel. Can also round out the screw holes.
I don't care for originality, and don't care for the lower plastic piece that the earlier cars have, I would always bang my knee on it. It also takes away from interior space. So I went to later ones.
Problem with later door panels is the arm rest/grab handle combo, the plastic in the grab handle always breaks. The 'map pocket' is pretty useless too. But at least it's easy to change if it breaks. Later repop handles are reinforced in the area they commonly break, which helps some.
I say use the pull, and try to use it (and inform passengers to use it too). But it's kind of six one way, half dozen the other.
EDIT: You should close the door from the outside by using the door handle too.
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I agree with everything you have said. If this was back in the day when I drove my TA everywhere I needed to be Monday through Friday (with occasional passengers…) and showed her off on Saturday and Sunday, I would no doubt anchor and hang the door pull straps.
But since taking delivery last November, I have had literally one person in the passenger seat one time, once - my wife - and I still open and close car doors for her.
So far I am really diggin’ the ‘strapless’ look for this particular car: not quite as modern as the YO one piece panels with the engine turned inserts - but somehow cleaner and sleeker looking without the pull-straps. I am aware and careful when closing the driver’s door, and the passenger side just doesn't get enough legit day-to-day use to be of concern.
If I ever do add the factory pull straps, I am definitely going the Rivnuts approach. That’s a great way to make these ‘yank proof.’