If you’ve ever been on your way to work, headed to your favorite coffee spot, or just out for a leisurely cruise, and you encountered another driver who felt the need to share your lane, then you likely know the frustration of having your trip turn into an exchange of insurance information. The search for a quality body shop to repair the damage to your car can be just as annoying. That’s why choosing one that understands the importance of returning your car to its previously aerodynamic state should be a part of that search.
The Importance of Aerodynamics
Besides improving the unsightly nature of a car that has sustained body damage, there are other advantages to having your car’s body repaired after an accident. Modern cars and trucks are designed to be more aerodynamic than ever before. Die-hard automotive enthusiasts might understand the relevance of why an aerodynamically sound vehicle slips more seamlessly over the road than a damaged one, but for the average driver, the reasons might not be as obvious. Simply put, the smoother the shape of your car, the better it will move.
How Body Damage Slows Your Vehicle
Dents in your bumper, hood, grille, fender, doors, or roof can significantly reduce your vehicle’s ability to push through the outside air as it moves over the road, making it move slower. Even a hanging side mirror can impact your car’s aerodynamics. Cladding, which is the material added to the bottom of the body of cars to keep out dirt and debris is often more cosmetic than it is functional. Still, if your car is equipped with cladding before an accident and it gets damaged, it can be wise to also have it replaced. Air that gets under your car after the cladding has been damaged can create a lift effect when you attempt to travel at a higher speed. Acceleration becomes a problem if damages are left unattended because the engine must work harder to push the car through high winds or even resist the pull from larger vehicles like diesel trucks.
Fuel Efficiency Can be Impacted by Damages
When your engine works harder, more fuel is used. Obviously, this equates to an increase in the amount of money you spend on gas. Less efficient fuel mileage usually creates the need for more frequent oil changes. For those of us who don’t have the benefit of an ongoing dealership service plan, this can become expensive. Over time, normal travel from point A to point B can be costly. If your work commute is substantial, then the cost racks up even more quickly. It is cheaper in the long run to simply have body damages repaired.
Two Birds…One Stone
Body damage from a car accident can leave you with that feeling of fighting through a wind storm even when there isn’t one. Such damages can create issues with air resistance, or drag, which can cause your vehicle to be difficult to handle. Acceleration and fuel efficiency can also be negatively impacted by a reduction in aerodynamics. If a car accident has left your vehicle dented and unattractive, you can kill two birds with one stone by having the body experts at Downtown Autobody in Rohnert Park, CA restore it to its old aerodynamic and aesthetically state.