Are stone chips on the hood a problem or what are people doing to prevent them? I suppose a bra is an option but I'm not sure how that would look. Comments or ideas? Thanks. Ron
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Are stone chips on the hood a problem or what are people doing to prevent them? I suppose a bra is an option but I'm not sure how that would look. Comments or ideas? Thanks. Ron
I recently received my car and thinking about putting StonGard on it. On their web page (www.stongard.com) the complete kit for 356A is sold about $400. Installation better be left to experts, so there will be additional cost. BTW I've seen this product first at local Lexus dealer.
The picture of a speedster w/ bra can be seen on ebay cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2419346899&category=6428 though I'm not sure it's correct one.
(Message Edited 6/20/2003 9:16:15 PM)
The picture of a speedster w/ bra can be seen on ebay cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2419346899&category=6428 though I'm not sure it's correct one.
(Message Edited 6/20/2003 9:16:15 PM)
How visable is it? Anyone got pictures of it on a Speedster? Good or bad thoughts?
David
David
I'm not really asking about bras. What I am asking about is, how much of a problem are stone chips, and if they aren't a problem, why not? If they are a problem, what are people doing about them?
Ron
Ron
I thought about Bra's as well. But I have a hood handle and think that it wouldn't look too good. So, in order to kep looking good. My car is allergic to trucks. Any truck passes me, I slow down to get a good distance. Watch the stones.
Stone chips are always a problem with these low profile cars, and when the car is painted a dark color (black, dark blue) the white underneath after a rock hit looks terrible. There are ways to fix it, with touch up paint. I got better at this over time. Ultimately, I had the front end repainted and purchased a black bra from Vintage for my VS Speedster. Your choices, short of a 3M clear bra (from Stonegard or other vendors), are to suffer the chips, and the blubs, and get the car repainted once every couple of years; or, put a fabric/leather bra on it, which looks bad and causes problems in addition to solving them (e.g. dirt lodging and rubbing between the material and finish).
When I recently bought a Roadster from Henry, I opted for a lighter color, and I also bought a StoneGard (3M)kit, which I had professionally installed. While there doesn't appear to be much involved in the installation, the kits are expensive and easily messed up. I figure that since I am sinking $400 in a pre-cut Stonegard 3M kit, then I should make sure it gets properly installed. The clear bra is not noticable from a couple of feet away, but when one looks for it, you can find the seam when you are up close. It loves wax, and the color underneath remains true. I do not know what might happen if it were removed, and do not expect to do so. Those are the options.
When I recently bought a Roadster from Henry, I opted for a lighter color, and I also bought a StoneGard (3M)kit, which I had professionally installed. While there doesn't appear to be much involved in the installation, the kits are expensive and easily messed up. I figure that since I am sinking $400 in a pre-cut Stonegard 3M kit, then I should make sure it gets properly installed. The clear bra is not noticable from a couple of feet away, but when one looks for it, you can find the seam when you are up close. It loves wax, and the color underneath remains true. I do not know what might happen if it were removed, and do not expect to do so. Those are the options.
Ahhhh yes the stone chip issue....
I have a black car and yes the stone chips are there however....
when I wax my car I use black shoe polish for the final touch on the front end and yes believe it or not it works great. If I were to buy another Speedster it might be white to match the chips. After this your back to painting the front end every couple of years. I really dislike bras, ther'e ugly and dirt gets trapped between the bra and the paint and rubs. I'm not sure about the 3m stuff, I'd like to see that first hand and after a couple of years. 3M is a good company, I'm not sure how easy that stuff is to get off when a new paint job comes around. Maybe that's the point though, never needing new paint.
J-P
I have a black car and yes the stone chips are there however....
when I wax my car I use black shoe polish for the final touch on the front end and yes believe it or not it works great. If I were to buy another Speedster it might be white to match the chips. After this your back to painting the front end every couple of years. I really dislike bras, ther'e ugly and dirt gets trapped between the bra and the paint and rubs. I'm not sure about the 3m stuff, I'd like to see that first hand and after a couple of years. 3M is a good company, I'm not sure how easy that stuff is to get off when a new paint job comes around. Maybe that's the point though, never needing new paint.
J-P
Thanks for the tips guys. I don't like bras either but wasn't sure if stone chips were a problem as I wasn't seeing any talk about them. I guess that's just because they are a fact of life?
I have some of that 3M stuff on my truck and it gets stone chips too after awhile. At this point it's 4 years old. I think the sun's ultraviolet is hard on it.
I also didn't realize that repaints were part of the program. I made the assumption that all these cars are gelcoated. I'm now guessing that they are painted. That's kind of funny because Henry gave me a nice tour of his place... I guess I wasn't paying enough attention! Good thing there wasn't a test at the end.
Has anyone done a total repaint? Same color or change? When looking at used Roadsters I was thinking that a repaint/color change would be a bad idea on these cars. Comments?
Thanks Ron.
I have some of that 3M stuff on my truck and it gets stone chips too after awhile. At this point it's 4 years old. I think the sun's ultraviolet is hard on it.
I also didn't realize that repaints were part of the program. I made the assumption that all these cars are gelcoated. I'm now guessing that they are painted. That's kind of funny because Henry gave me a nice tour of his place... I guess I wasn't paying enough attention! Good thing there wasn't a test at the end.
Has anyone done a total repaint? Same color or change? When looking at used Roadsters I was thinking that a repaint/color change would be a bad idea on these cars. Comments?
Thanks Ron.