Splash Guards - yea or nay? [Archive] (2024)

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Midnight Express

19th July 2012, 09:22

I am not sure that I really like the looks of them, but I am concerned about whether that compromises the rocker panels. I had them on the '99, but do they need to go on the 2012? Do they really help protect that well?

wooo

19th July 2012, 09:24

... I am concerned about whether that compromises the rocker panels. ...Not sure what that means.

They look good, and they provide some protection.

MadRussian

19th July 2012, 09:27

It's not total protection, but some is better than none.

All the vehicles I had with them, stayed cleaner looking longer.

Midnight Express

19th July 2012, 09:47

Wooo- What I mean to ask is whether you feel it really helps to protect the rocker paels in any significant way or is it just window dressing without much practical value. As I said, I had them on my '99, but there seemed to be enough water and scut thrown up on the side of the car to make me wonder whether they actually really provided much protection. At the ridiculous price they are getting from Mazda, I am wondering if they are really worth it or not?

humfrz

19th July 2012, 12:07

I didn't have them.,... now I have them. Yep, they do help reduce the damage to the rocker panels and the fender behind the rear wheel.

humfrz

19th July 2012, 12:09

Not sure what that means.

I'm back, mr wooo. Do you feel safer....??

:jump:

humfrz

Curmudgeon

19th July 2012, 12:22

Living in a wet PNW my problem was crud thrown up from the front wheels, and the splash guards do help. At first I only added the front guards, but since they are relatively cheap I installed the rear wheel guards also. The OEM splash guards look really good.

mx5mia

19th July 2012, 12:25

I commuted 23 miles on the 4 lane each way for work the first year I had my 2006. One day while washing it I saw about 18" behind the front fender was all nicked up from stones flying up.

I installed the factory "Splash Guards" front and rear, and the stone chips did not get any worse. I wish I would have put them on sooner!

Worth it in my book.

wooo

19th July 2012, 12:27

I'm back, mr wooo. Do you feel safer....??

:jump:

humfrzAnd the little dog too. :thumbs:

How was the surf? Pendulous right handers?

humfrz

19th July 2012, 15:03

^......well, we never got to the ocean.......:(

Family emergency in central California. So, be just blasted down I-5 and back.

Oh well, we have seen the coast before and it ain't going nowhere.....;)

humfrz

2seat

19th July 2012, 22:10

Splash Guards.
I had them on my last two Miatas, but I am holding off on the NC.
Funny thing is I like the smaller guards of the NC better than my old larger NA guards.
I don't drive the car every day, and if I drive in the rain it is because I got caught in it.
The NC looks good with the guards and without.

jasunday

19th July 2012, 22:20

I installed front splash guards a couple weeks ago, more for looks than protection. I liked the looks so much that I ordered a pair for the rear. They arrived within the hour and I plan on installing them tomorrow.

RubyDoo

19th July 2012, 22:53

Poll question was too simple, so you might be catching yesses that would be noes. In subsequent posts it seems you are asking "Do OEM splash guards give enough protection to be worth their cost?" So I answered no. They look good and do help some. I wanted more protection for less money, and no hollow plastic to eventually fill up with heavy dust, so I got RallyArmour urethane flaps (http://www.rallyarmor.com/store/universal-mud-flaps-universal-urethane-c-60_116_168.html).
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae121/Iverburl/miatadotnet/mudflaps/flaps4.jpgBut you can see I do a lot of unpaved driving.

Midnight Express

20th July 2012, 09:31

Sorry Rubydoo- my first poll question. I'll have to work on the wording, as both you and Wooo had issues. Not trying to confuse, just get some opinions and start some discussion.

Now, those are some REAL flaps you have there. Protection plus!

Jeff

The Canuck

20th July 2012, 09:40

Those mudflaps just look all wrong.....:eek:

wooo

20th July 2012, 09:46

... as ... Wooo had issues. ...My confusion was that your statement ... but I am concerned about whether that compromises the rocker panels ...

seemed to be a suggestion that the splash guards would make things worse for the rocker panels.

When apparently you meant ... but I am wondering whether they really help to protect the rocker panels in any significant way ...

RubyDoo

20th July 2012, 11:41

Those mudflaps just look all wrong.....:eek:Understandable, but so would this:
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae121/Iverburl/miatadotnet/miatarust.jpg
Many here would also think this looks all wrong:
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae121/Iverburl/miatadotnet/Just-spring002.jpg
It's what I get when this melts:
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae121/Iverburl/miatadotnet/RoadDriftCentered.jpg
So maybe you can see how cosmetics for me are a bit different than for many owners.

Spitfire/2D-Roadster

20th July 2012, 13:35

Those mudflaps just look all wrong.....:eek:

What if he added an outline of a Great Dane, Yosemite Sam, or a reclining woman?

Those are some big flaps, but he does drive where he needs them. Do you see the size of those snow drifts? Salted roads are great for safety, but are evil for rust. :D

Midnight Express

20th July 2012, 13:45

Wooo.... got ya. Will be more careful. Rubydoo... where exactly IS the "Driftless Zone"? I just want to make sure I never move there!Jeff

RubyDoo

20th July 2012, 15:40

The intersection of Minnesota/Iowa/Wisconsin. Driftless not because of lack of snow drifts, but lack of glacial drift which is the layer of stuff they leave behind. We got missed in the last cycle. It makes for good Miata driving, especially in Wisconsin where they pave nearly everything. Also a double entende' in reference to the Miata's tendency to keep its feet.

humfrz

20th July 2012, 15:57

My confusion was that your statement

seemed to be a suggestion that the splash guards would make things worse for the rocker panels.

When apparently you meant
DANG, mr wooo, even I understood what he was asking ......:D

If fact, I like polls with only two possible responses.....makes my life easier......:jump:

Too much gray area stuff out there:rolleyes:

humfrz

wooo

20th July 2012, 20:14

DANG, mr wooo, even I understood what he was asking ......:D ...Jeez Humfrz you can be argumentative. Did you see those photos of my bottom in the other thread? And mirrors on the floor even. That's different. That should quieten you down. :jump:

I almost drove over the mirror when I went to the sherry shop this arvo. Don't tell anyone. :O

humfrz

20th July 2012, 23:27

Jeez Humfrz you can be argumentative. Did you see those photos of my bottom in the other thread? And mirrors on the floor even. That's different. That should quieten you down. :jump:

I almost drove over the mirror when I went to the sherry shop this arvo. Don't tell anyone. :O
Well, mr wooo, I didn't catch the thread with the mirrors on the floor. However, It has been my experience that most people put the mirrors on the ceiling .... of the bedroom .....:eek:

That way you won't run over them on the way to the sherry shop.....:D

But, whatever ......... :dunno:

humfrz

RubyDoo

21st July 2012, 00:20

I like polls with only two possible responses.

humfrzOK, humfrz, here's a poll just for you, with 10 possible responses:

___ Yes, I get it.

___ No, I don't get it.

humfrz

21st July 2012, 01:28

OK, humfrz, here's a poll just for you, with 10 possible responses:

___ Yes, I get it.

___ No, I don't get it.

Hmmmm.........well, sometimes I don't get it; but sometimes I do think I get it; but sometimes I think I get it...but then don't really..........:confused:

:cry:

humfrz

Monticello

21st July 2012, 11:51

I had the Mazda splash guards on my NC1 and thought they were worth the money. But, when I checked into getting them for my NC2, found they cost twice as much. I still would like to have them, but am too stubborn to pay that much extra for what appears to be the same splash guards. After 2 1/2 years, there is no damage to the rocker panels or behing the wheel, so think
I'll continue to hold out.

humfrz

21st July 2012, 12:57

...........I'll continue to hold out.
Yu'll be sorrrrrreeeee..........:sad:

humfrz

MrDevali

21st July 2012, 14:09

After seeing Rubydoos pic of the corroded car, I too would install some big ass flaps. :eek:

wanna1

21st July 2012, 21:14

Yu'll be sorrrrrreeeee..........:sad:

humfrz

Is that a old bobtail Bronco and is it yours?

Gromulus

21st July 2012, 21:29

Yes, and the understated ones on the NC's look great.

skip50

21st July 2012, 23:46

Needed them back east when I lived on dirt roads. Not so much here in AZ if I stay on the hardtop.

humfrz

22nd July 2012, 00:24

Is that a old bobtail Bronco and is it yours?
Nah, not mine; I stole that pic from the Internet....may be a Bronco...??

humfrz

relentless

22nd July 2012, 04:46

Absolutely no !!

Splash guards do not add anything aesthetically to the appearance IMHO.

This was an old debate on the 350Z forums. Some owners liked them since it made the car look lower (especially from the rear) .... :confused: ... :rolleyes:

Not an expert here ... but I am unable to think of any splash guards on most modern day sports cars (except rally cars) ...

bazmx5

22nd July 2012, 05:45

On the cars I own and have them, they are effective in offering some level of protection, unless you live somewhere similar to RubyDoo, they could be of little value.

n10sity

22nd July 2012, 08:52

[QUOTE=RubyDoo;5884032]The intersection of Minnesota/Iowa/Wisconsin. Driftless not because of lack of snow drifts, but lack of glacial drift which is the layer of stuff they leave behind.

NOW I know where the "driftless zone" is!! :jump:

MikeF

22nd July 2012, 10:09

Factory ones are too small......but....I like them for their subtle impact in the looks of the car......I wish they were larger to have more coverage and actually "work" like a mudguard.

I put some factory ones on my 94R because of visual impact too.....and they do keep the dirt and rocks off the paint keeping the chips on the paint/clearcoat to a minimum!

I put them on my NC and added much larger aftermarket mud flaps to increase the saved area on the fenders. I still want to modify them some more until I think they are correct functionally/aesthetically.

You can see in some of the pictures that the paint is chipped in the areas beyond where the new mudguards are placed (car had 95k on it when I bought it).

Pics are in this thread.......... http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?p=5816309#post5816309

There are mudguards available that are more like the guards on the NA model.....from the aftermarket......but you'll have to do alot of studying to buy the ones w/ the best fit.

wooo

22nd July 2012, 10:15

There have been dire warnings and photos about rock chips causing rust to the exposed rocker area. But on the NC that is a plastic overlay that won't rust, and could be removed and refinished.

Has anyone removed that overlay to check the condition of the metal underneath?

Midnight Express

23rd July 2012, 14:10

Good question Wooo (how many does that make today?). While I was spending 14 hours detailing my car over the weekend, I did notice that there is a plastic piece over the rockers that would typically be the place that would be pinged by stones and such the most.

Mikef, I agree they are small, but proportioned so that they don't interfere with the aesthetics of the car too much. Oh you actually want them to work too?!? I think the ones you point to are a bit too large.

Jeff

RubyDoo

24th July 2012, 07:23

A combination of my urethane ones in front of the OEM ones might be a tamer visual, and the urethane ones could also be trimmed.

Sportbikenut

8th September 2012, 08:55

Any suggestions on best place to buy the set of 4 OEM guards? For a 2010. Thx!

Monticello

8th September 2012, 10:02

There are several Mazda dealers listed in the Marketplace section of this website. The last time I checked into buying splash guards for my car, Montgomery Mazda (onlinemazdaparts.com) had the best price. However, this best price was still around $400 for a set.:(

jack10525

8th September 2012, 10:05

That's a negative ghost rider. The pattern is full!!!

Midnight Express

8th September 2012, 12:24

Well I picked up a set anyway and I was completely underwhelmed by their diminutive size. Not sure they are particularly useful and they are certainly some of the most pricey per pound additions you can make.

jim dreiling

8th September 2012, 14:37

I bought a, perfect, used set for my 06. I think that they help quite a bit. Mine are black on a Sunlight Silver car and I think they look good. They, sort of, disappear.

rakessler

8th September 2012, 15:31

I bought a, perfect, used set for my 06. I think that they help quite a bit. Mine are black on a Sunlight Silver car and I think they look good. They, sort of, disappear.

Jim,

I did the same with my SS 08. Had the silver body colored splash guards but felt they stood out a little to much for my taste. Painted them black - which hopefully goes with the de-chrome/black-out theme I am working towards on the SS. To me spash guards are just supposed to be black.

Hope the lighting in the pics is ok. Had just dried her off and waiting for the rain to stop before installing the bra for a trip out of town to autox tomorrow...

rakessler

jim dreiling

8th September 2012, 15:36

Yep they sort of disappear when you put black on silver. Me likes!:thumbs:

Tom Arnold

8th September 2012, 15:44

I have these on my Black 08 PRHT and a set of (rerar only) on my 90 Red. I do not have front guards on either car. They are functional and do not take away anything from the appearance. I had to paint my 90 guards so it's nice you buy the NC's already painted.

Try this link:

http://mazdagear.com/splashguardsrear-mx-5.aspx

1995miata

8th September 2012, 15:47

My splash guards blend nicely with the body of the Black Flea - I'd probably be a bit more uncomfortable with them on a colored car. But they save paint and look good, so it makes sense to have them. Yes, they cost too much...

Sportbikenut

8th September 2012, 17:08

I can't believe how expensive these little pieces of plastic are! Anyone find basic flat black aftermarket ones? Similar size as OEM, not those huge one's!!

monty11ez

8th September 2012, 17:46

Plastidip make a clear spray that a lot of people use for a clear bra or mud and rock chip guards for behind the wheels. That is what I plan on using for mine.

o2cls

8th September 2012, 19:13

I like em.

Mazda did a great job with the design of those along with the AP package.

DAC/FEC

11th September 2012, 04:26

I pick up a blue set of mud guards off ebay that have never been install for under $175 My car is white so I painted them semi gloss back.