Xpditor

I asked for, and received, hand painted pin-stripes on my ordered car deal. It's not here yet.

On the www.autopia.com forum where the detailers hang out, I have been told by every responder to "lose the pin stripes."

I have only seen one car with the cheesy taped ones. It didn't really get my heart fluttering.

Am I showing my age? Is the TL too cool for pin-stripes? Should I 86 them? Anyone here get them? Do you like the way they look?

2004TL_believer

I was considering them, but I just think the clean lines are best left untouched. This car's sheet metal is to die for. Consider getting the side mouldings to protect from the parking lot dings.

dsc888

I would say a resounding NO to pinstripes. The car has a nice BMWesque line running along the front to the back and adding another stripe would be overkill. In fact, even some guys here are having a hard time adding body side moldings to just the doors alone given that it makes the sides look too "busy." It's just my opinion.

dsc888

Vegas_TL04

YUCK..no way. do NOT put pinstripes on the car. Was very 80s...they should be outlawed IMHO.

caball88

please do not put the pin stripes on, they belong on classic cars not a modern car like the TL. i saw one at the dealership with it and i almost lost my lunch. it makes the car look like a camry.

KevinB

If you like them get them. I saw an anthracite at the dealership with a white pin stripe and it looked pretty good. Personally, I decided I like the look better without one but in the end only you can decide.

UminChu

To each his/her own. My taste says no way, but it's your car. It's your taste that matters, not mine.

roadman

It depends on who is doing the work. There are real atrists out there who do great work. It sounds like you just asked for pinstripes, no particular style. If that is the case then do not do it

junk_99_dl

All the cars at the dealership where I bought my car automatically came with the pin stripe. I ordered mine and told them that I didn't want a pin stripe touching my car. I think it loses some of the sporty look with the pin stripe.

2004TL_believer

Thanks for the good feedback. Decided to do without the stripe. Car is perfect as is. Also probably going to not go with side molding either. Taking a risk on the dings, but really love this car untouched.

Xerxes480

Good choice! I don't need to add my "resounding NO" to the discussion.

-X-

Ron A

Thank you for this thread. My white diamond pearl came with gold pinstripes, put on by the dealer to milk a few extra dollars on the sale.

I didn't think I liked them but they were there, so I thought I would give it a chance to grow on me.

I have just removed the pinstriping, took less than an hour including cleaning off any glue residue and rewaxing that part of the car.

IT LOOKS GREAT!!!

Thanks again

cM3go

i personally wouldn't, but its your car, you do what you like!

Ron A

I DID. Why wouldn't you?

Do you like them? I didn't.

Are you afraid of messing up the paint? I wasn't, and I didn't.

Xpditor

I emailed the dealer and nixed the pinstripe.

But, it was included in a package deal so I don't know how much "credit" to ask of them to apply against something else?

Anybody know what the dealers are charging for hand-painted double pinstripes?

Xpditor

After I told the salesgirl I didn't want the pin striping, I asked her to adjust the price of the car.

"Oh," she said, "Our cost is insignificant on those. We just pay some guy to put them on."

Funny, when I was negotiating for them, they were very expensive and put on free-hand by an artist brought over from the Louvre.

Where's my boots? Better yet: Where's my change?

GoBig

Pen stripes are out.

Ron A

Just an update. As posted above I removed the pinstripes on the 4th. It looks better every day. I really like it without the stripes. Looks bigger with the unbroken line.

I still have the body side moldings on. Now that the pinstripes are gone I can see what everyone has been saying about unbroken lines and the flowing body style, and I agree now that it would probably look better without the BSM, but the thought of dings bothers me more than having it look nicer, so the BSM stays. In fact, I am taking it in today for the door edge moldings. The dealer agreed to remove and replace the front door BSM since you can't put the door moldings on after the BSM, and install the door moldings, and I only have to pay for the door moldings, which is a good deal to me.

So, bottom line, I have to agree with you folks who don't want the pinstripes. Unless you are a diehard fanatic for pinstripes, leave them off.

VTEC=happiness

Glad you decided against it...if it was something they were throwing in to the deal as a freebee then there is no value to recoup. If there was a negotiated price, obvioulsy you should get that amount back. Perhaps negotiate for another accessory that you would like.

kilrb

lol... That's exactly what I was going to say! They had my exact car in the showroom with stripes, and it scarred me for life. I had to go home and sit in the fetal position in the shower, crying for an hour...