Clear Bra and front end rock pits
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Registered User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 291
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From: Gilbert, AZ
Clear Bra and front end rock pits
I just bought my S2000; we are still in the honeymoon phase, so I am being paranoid about things like rock chips. How many of you use Clear Bra or the 3M product? Can you tell that it is there? Is it worth the cost and visibility, or should I just suck it up and say "damn the rock chips.........I'm gonna go drive and have fun"!?!
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,290
Likes: 14
From: Atlanta
Mike, Speed 2000 is in Atlanta. Also check www.stongard.com. If your in the Atlanta Club you also get a small discount.
StonGard is pretty cool.
StonGard is pretty cool.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,731
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix
I have had StonGard installed on my 2 cars for about 5 months. My observations:
1) It has saved me a lot of rock chip damage. I have numerous tiny chips on the car, but none where the StonGard is installed. I will probably have to have the entire car painted in 3 or 4 years at this rate, with or without StonGard.
2) StonGard is not invisible. I get a lot of "Hey, dude, Honda sure did a sh*tty job of painting your car...oh, you have some kind of plastic stuff on it." If you look at the car from some angles, it is difficult to see...from most angles, it is fairly obvious. At the Irvine meet, I watched at least 5 people stop, look at my car, then run their hand over the edge of the film.
3) Dust and dirt gets under the edges of the film and looks like crap. My dealer and installer both said that it is unavoidable.
4) Every installer you hear about is always the nation's best, the guy who works on Ferraris and Porsches, etc., etc. Mine was, too, but I still had to wait 3 or 4 weeks to get him back out here to fix bad corners and other problems. Most of the bubbles and white spots disappeared after a month or so. The S2000 kit is very difficult compared to most cars and it will NOT be installed perfectly (my installer said that whoever made the initial kit made it lopsided). My other car looks great, though.
I view it as a trade-off: StonGard protects the paint from damage, but StonGard makes the car look a little worse. Given the $600 price, it is a tough decision.
As you probably already know, don't get the StonGard headlight covers if they are offered.
My nickle,
Tanq
1) It has saved me a lot of rock chip damage. I have numerous tiny chips on the car, but none where the StonGard is installed. I will probably have to have the entire car painted in 3 or 4 years at this rate, with or without StonGard.
2) StonGard is not invisible. I get a lot of "Hey, dude, Honda sure did a sh*tty job of painting your car...oh, you have some kind of plastic stuff on it." If you look at the car from some angles, it is difficult to see...from most angles, it is fairly obvious. At the Irvine meet, I watched at least 5 people stop, look at my car, then run their hand over the edge of the film.
3) Dust and dirt gets under the edges of the film and looks like crap. My dealer and installer both said that it is unavoidable.
4) Every installer you hear about is always the nation's best, the guy who works on Ferraris and Porsches, etc., etc. Mine was, too, but I still had to wait 3 or 4 weeks to get him back out here to fix bad corners and other problems. Most of the bubbles and white spots disappeared after a month or so. The S2000 kit is very difficult compared to most cars and it will NOT be installed perfectly (my installer said that whoever made the initial kit made it lopsided). My other car looks great, though.
I view it as a trade-off: StonGard protects the paint from damage, but StonGard makes the car look a little worse. Given the $600 price, it is a tough decision.
As you probably already know, don't get the StonGard headlight covers if they are offered.
My nickle,
Tanq
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 58,680
Likes: 2
From: West Henrietta UPSTATE NY
I am seriously considering this.
If I do go this route it will be right after I get the car in April.
1- do I have to do anything special before I have this film applied?
2- should the car be waxed first?
3- once it is on do you wax right over the top of it or do you treat it with something else?
4- is it as clear and invisible as they claim?
Please advise!
If I do go this route it will be right after I get the car in April.
1- do I have to do anything special before I have this film applied?
2- should the car be waxed first?
3- once it is on do you wax right over the top of it or do you treat it with something else?
4- is it as clear and invisible as they claim?
Please advise!
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,610
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
I use a Colgan front end cover when I drive at length on the highway or go on drives with the group. So far, and to my surprise, I have gotten a LOT more crud on the winshield than the bumper.