I am looking for feedback from '04/'05 TSX owners who don't have the splash guards on their cars and live in areas where salt/sand is used on the roads in the wintertime. I want to know how is the paint directly behind your wheels (that the splash guard would theoretically protect) is holding up. My '06 hasn't been through a winter yet so I haven't installed my splash guards. I was going to put them on the car after I had them painted to match that car's body color. Now I'm wondering if it's worth the time and expense; I guess I am questioning how much the splash guards really protect the paint on that car. I am hoping some '04/'05 owners (who been through a few winters with salty/sandy roads) can chime in.

 

I took my splash guards off when I installed my body kit. More damage was done to the paint by the guards themselves than anything I've experienced since with them off. As long as you keep your car relatively clean, you should fine. The guards do keep stuff from slinging up on the sides of the car, though.

The car looks a lot better without them too, IMO.

 

I've had no problems and been through two upstate NY winters.

 

I'm wondering also..
06 owner here without splash guards.

 

No problems on my 04. The whole car gets salt and junk on it anyway, so I don't really see the point of splash guards.

 

I had several paint chips on driver, front passenger door, side skirts for having no splash guard. I decided to put them on again.

 

I took the front guards off my 04 AT and absolutely ruined the side stock skirts after a trip down a dirt road at a friends cottage. Ask Dan Martin, he saw the carnage.

My side skirts on my 04 MT look good after 3 winters. I wouldn't take them off IMO.

 

Thanks dom. So far I've been able to avoid gravel roads, but since this our primary car (as opposed to our S2000) it will likely have to traverse them at some point.

Now has anyone figured out how to keep the splash guards themselves from ruining the paint?

 

I would say gettin clear bra installed (or any similar paint protections product) where the edge of the splash guard contacts the paint.

 

I breifly experiemented with some thin rubber right at the point of contact but they kept falling out. I suspect some more time and some contact cement to hold the rubber in place on the guard would have resolved the issue. Havn't had a chance to do it though.

 

My guess is that it chew through that in no time.

 

Is that with or without splash guards?