Chrome bumpers made a quick exit from the automotive scene in the late '80s. In their place are elaborate, but flimsy, plastic covers hiding stamped-steel impact beams with a wide swath of Styrofoam ...

Maybe you've been there, trying to drive your car into a corner too quickly or simply putting it in Reverse and cringing at the crunch. The resulting damage used to mean a quick trip to the auto-parts ...

It is deceptively easy, but usually very expensive, to junk plastic car parts when they are damaged in crashes. Zip off that damaged bumper bar, side mirror or headlamp and bolt on a fresh one.

While pulling into our driveway this past winter, I hit one of those huge snow banks that had turned into rock-hard ice. I know, what’s wrong with my eyes, right? I took out a piece of the plastic ...

Chrome bumpers made a quick exit from the automotive scene in the late '80s. In their place are elaborate, but flimsy, plastic covers hiding stamped-steel impact beams with a wide swath of Styrofoam ...