Argh, this clear bra stuff has been an agonizing decision process.

I'm thinking of going with just bumper and lights, no hood. The reason is I just hate the line on the hood. To me it's very visible and ugly. Also my reasoning is that the bumper and lights are going to take the brunt of the damage from pebbles and stuff anyway.

So, is this a good idea, or not?

I also looked into a permanent spray-on coating that was pretty intriguing-sounding to me, at http://www.armorauto.com. Posted a thread about that, but no one here seems to know anything about it yet, and there appear to be no installers in my area.

 

I got a Stongard clear bra put on the whole front end a week ago. At first I hated seeing the line on the hood and wanted to rip off the hood and fender pieces. Now, after a week, I'm not noticing it as much. I think that I'm going to stick with it.

 

i think the hood is the most important part, it has paint that will chip, whereas the bumper is just plastic and there isnt anything that will chip off.

 

I had my clear bra installed this morning and I couldn't be happier. My TSX is a SSM and I can't really see the line at all. I had the lights, bumper, hood, and the side mirrors. It is more than worth it to have the clear bra on the hood than have a hood full of chips and knicks. Just my

 

OK, I guess the bumper/lights idea is not a great one, then. I might just have to live with that line. I've been able to see it in every clear bra pic I've seen so far, and it bugs me (although I still need to check out some examples in person, maybe it'll be a different story). But on the other hand I plan to have this car for many years, so I want it to keep looking good. So....

Argh. Tough decision for me. I guess I might just go with the whole thing and get used to that line. (Oh yeah, and I promise not to start yet another clear bra related thread here...ha...sorry, but I just had to research this a lot and get my head around what I would be getting into if I got one.)

 

I'll take some pics for you tomorrow if you want. I don't think the line is that visible until you get close to the car but you can be the judge of that. What color is your TSX??

 

Arctic Blue Pearl.

Thanks for the offer on the pics

 

In person, how visible the line is on my SSM depends on the angle. If you're parallel to the line looking across the hood, you can see it from 15-20 feet I'd guess. However, if you're perpindicular to it looking at the car head on, I'd bet you don't see it past 10 feet.

Look at it this way, the car is covered with gaps and lines, this is just one more.

I didn't see your location in your profile. Perhaps if you post that, someone is close by and can give you a first hand look.

 

(Profile fixed)...I'm in California. Actually I found a guy nearby that really wants to do an installation for me. I can go over to his shop and see some finished cars, he says.

 

You'll see the line...if you look for it and know it's there. When I had a small piece put on my car to see how it looks, my brothers didn't even notice it on there until they got up close to my car. I only have my head/fog lights covered. Had too many chips to put it on my hood.

 

I think the bumper should be covered. My pint chips were mostly above where the bra would have covered on the hood, so it would ot have helped me at all.

 

I have a CG TSX with a clear bra on the hood, front bumper, trunk lip, and side mirrors. Most of the time, I can't see the line on the hood. It is usually visible only when the car is extremely dirty.

Regardless, the hood bra is absolutely necessary with the TSX, imo. I've had mine for just under a year now, and a bunch of small paint chips have begun to appear on the upper portion of the hood. I can only imagine the damage that would occur to the lower portion of the hood if it didn't have the bra.

 

how much more would it cost to clearbra the entire hood?

 

Sclass88 what type of clearbra did you get for your ride?

 

It's bascially a custom install. You'll have to ask an installer what the price they'd charge. I can tell you it won't be cheap.

 

I personally don't think that the line is that horrible. Then again unless you cover your whole car you will get chips in other areas. I decided not to get a clear bra and have about three chips all in spots other the front end of the car where the bra would have gone. I am glad that I saved the $ for a new paint job in the future instead.

 

All clear bras that I've seen only go up about one-third of the hood. I guess it makes sense, since that is the area that would receive the most abuse. But still, I've wondered from the start why no one offers to just cover the entire hood. It would eliminate the problem with the line, and offer just that much more protection. Yeah, it would be more expensive, but I might be willing to pay for it if it were offered.

 

I should have bought a clear bra from the beggining. The car is 3 months old an has serious rock chips on the hood. I wish they made a clear "shirt" instead of just the bra. As a matter of fact.....does anyone know where I can get a force field?

maybe I should try EBAY?

 

Yeah mine is 7 days old and I've already found scratches. I didn't think the paint job was this sensitive. I'll have to find a ClearBra place in the Bay Area as well.
Winterwaves, how much was the quote you got and who was it from?

 

theElio, I know somebody out in Tracy that does a good job, I know its a bit far, but if you can't find anyone else PM me and I'll give you the info.

 

It's this place: http://www.ultimateautocare.com/home.htm

Sean quoted me $640 for the full bra (hood, bumpers, lights).

 

That doesn't sound too far out of line. Mine would have been almost $500 (I had a 25% off coupon), but I didn't have the lights done.

 

Cool. Think I'll be doing it either this weekend or next.