I washed and waxed my beautiful 06 ABP today and it looks great! As I was cleaning the car I noticed I already had 2 small nicks on the hood from flying debris. I think I am definately going to get a clear bra.

Question 1) Those of you that do have a clear bra, what does it cover? Does it cover the whole front of the car or does it just protect the lower hood. I saw the pictures excited took, but I couldn't tell how much it covered.

Question 2) When applying wax, should I wax the plastic bumper pieces or just the metal?

Question 3) I think I am going to get the splash guards, are they difficult to put on?

By the way the car looks great after waxing. I took a bunch more pictures in the daylight which I'll post in the picture forum when I get around to it.

 

On my TSX, the kit that I got covers the front portion of the hood. (about 12" deep from the centre chrome trim), as well as all of the front up to the wheel wells and the two outside mirrors.

I tried to edit a pic and outline the area but imageshack is having a few problems.

My splash guards were already on, but from other posts they are fairly simple to put on, just four screws each I believe. The challange is with the back wheels. There are a number of threads that can help you with this.

I believe that you wax all the parts that are painted the car colour.

Excited

 

as far as waxing goes, check out the wash and wax forum. i'm in the process of purchasing all the materials that are needed for taking care of the paint (wash, clay, paint cleanser, and paint sealants. i'm going to put a sealant on, because the pics i've seen and the info i've read seems it's good idea.

the following is a pic in excited's thread of the clear bra line. i'd almost consider doing this, but i don't know if i think it's worth it. i think with the sealant along with polishing occasionally, the car will look pretty good.

 

Here is a laughable attempt at hi-lighting the area that the clear bra covers. I run my wireless mouse over my leather couch so not the best surface to draw good lines.

bradykp, the purpose of the clear bra is to prevent paint chips from stones. This is my first one so I can't give a long term testimonial but from other threads they seem to be worth it.

You really don't notice it on the car.



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Excited

 

quite aware of the purpose, and quite aware of how well it blends in. just feel no compelling reason to spend the money on it seeing as though my past cars had no huge chips from stones. it's like buying insurance, which is usually a total waste of money IMO, so i'll pass on this. But i can say objectively i think it's effective, just not worth the $$$ to me.

 

Cool. It's a personal choice.



Excited

 

I've had a couple tiny stone chips (largest was the size of a pinhead) over the 8yr life of my old car. I wouldn't be able to justify the price, especially since I couldn't live with that line across my hood.

 

How come no clear bra on the headlights? they don't get scratched or cracked? I am waiting on my 2006 TSX to get delivered, and was thinking about putting on a clear bra also.... but $500 ~ $600 is a lot of money....

 

In the picture that I showed the line, I really had to get in the right light to catch it. Trust me you will never know that it is there unless you look for it.

Here in the Edmonton area they do not use a lot of salt but they do use a lot of sand, some with larger particles. (stones) They is also a heck of a lot of pcikup trucks here. My Escape's windshield is pitted and has been cracked and once puctured by rocks. It currently has two big rock chips and one crack and my hood has a dent in from rocks. Although the clear bra would not protect the TSX from such large stones it does illustrate how much debris is airborne here.

I also tend to be on the more protective side. If there are proactive things that I can do to protect my TSX I generally do it.



Excited

 

You may find the price negotiable. I got mine as part of a total car protection package that included rust proofing, paint protection, leather protection and the clear bra which came to about $800 Cdn.

I guess that you can get 3M protection for the headlights, my kit did not include it.



Excited

 

Well, I guess I'm definately getting the clear bra. I've got 300 miles on my car and just found 2 more small nicks on the hood. This is crazy! I know it's easier to notice these imperfections on a new car, but I never had much of a problem with my light colored Accord. I guess it didn't jump out as much on a light colored car. Thanks for the info Excited. I inquired about the clear bra kit today and they said it came with film for the mirrors as well. I'm wondering how this will look with the turn signals built into the mirrors.

 

1400 miles and i think there's no scratches (lots of "scratches" are actually just swilr marks). i'm pretty sure i have one pronounced swirl mark, and some bug guts on the bumper that wouldnt come off with car wash soap.....TBC

 

My kit is cut around the edge of the signal light on the mirrors. Once again you would never know that the clear bra is on. I can't even take a picture to show the line.

Good choice.



Excited

 

Search "paint chips" and you might chage your tune. Honda paint is pretty thin and many people have complained about it.

 

still not worth it. i'd be more prone to an accident in NJ anyways. then where does my clear bra go?