Miata hood

I just got my 99 Miata back from the body shop. I got caught up in traffic and did something stupid and ended up under the bumper of an SUV. Insurance paid for the repairs. The only bright side of this is I got a paint job out of this as the clear coat was peeling on my old hood. I got a new front piece, headlights and hood and a fender straightened and paint. Looks good. But I was looking at it closer today and took a magnet to the hood and the magnet stuck, didn't on the old hood. I thought all Miata hoods were aluminum for weight distrubution. This one is definately steel. My question is how much will this affect handling? This car is also my autocross car besides my dd. I've only driven it back from the shop yesterday and didn't drive it today. I don't think it would be a good idea to complain to the insurance company very aggressively, it might get out that I autocross (race) it. The shop didn't seem to notice the suspension mods or at least didn't say anything about it.

Must be an aftermarket hood the bodyshop used to save money. I have no idea how it would affect handling.

I doubt you would notice it while driving, but there should be a significant weight difference in the hoods.

Forget about what you do with the car. If you were entitled to a factory hood and you got aftermarket reject the car take it back complain to the insurance that the body shop cut corners and get it done correctly. The issue will be down the road when you go to sell it. Those in the know will see the wrong hood. It is a case of diminished value of your car.

I would check the work order and your insurance policy. At least in my state you are entitled to factory parts. You dont have to except aftermarket.

If It was me I would bring it to the attention of the body shop and the insurance company and demand another hood that is correct.

mw wrote: I doubt you would notice it while driving, but there should be a significant weight difference in the hoods.

That's what got me looking closer at it. It was heavier than the old hood.

The insurance company/policy allows for "suitable" aftermarket parts so basically I'm stuck. Still going to mention it to the insurance company, though.

I would argue (likely successfully) that aftermarket parts are only "suitable" if they conform to OEM specifications. Your hood doesn't.

People spend money exponentially trying to reduce the weight of these cars. Weight is EVERYTHING on these cars. It's not acceptable for them to put a steel hood where an aluminum hood use to be. It may be difficult to explain this so that the insurance agent "gets it", but it sure doesn't seem alright to me. I'm guessing you got a significantly cheaper and much less desirable product than what was originally on the car. That doesn't seem suitable to me. Goodluck with the insurance agent.

billy3esq wrote: I would argue (likely successfully) that aftermarket parts are only "suitable" if they conform to OEM specifications. Your hood doesn't.

+1 to that. Adding 20-30 lbs to the front of the car is not "suitable".

The weight difference between a steel and a stock Miata hood is shocking. It's definitely not a stock equivalent.

Might want to try the loss of gas mileage, and the adverse safety effects from handling being messed up. Worth a shot.

definatly the effects on handling/safety

Bringing back an old thread I started. Yeah, I felt the handling effects. Griped to the insurance co. and the body shop that did the work. Stated I didn't mind them using aftermarket parts if they met OEM specs but a steel hood in place of an aluminum hood doesn't meet this. The factory put an aluminum hood on for a reason. Told them I was happy with the work, just not the parts used. Then came up with a line about making it nose heavy which leads to severe understeer and snap oversteer, baffle them with technical terms It seemed to work, maybe they didn't know I knew what it meant or they didn't. After haggling a few weeks and the insurance adjuster telling me that most people wouldn't have noticed. I had to keep my mouth shut about autocrossing but I did tell him I drive sports cars like sports cars and I restore antique sports cars. I did one autocross with the steel hood. Didn't do as well as I normally do. Usually mid field but this time lower half. They installed an aluminum hood a few days later and I can tell, it seems more balanced and doesn't push as much as with the steel hood. Looking forward to the next autocross now.

All is well again.

Good job.