am contemplating installing a clearbra on my car. Sometimes reason steps in before i spend $700 on something.
I don't drive it like my dd, so i don't follow people as close as i normally would.

My dd front bumper is peppered, but i am not too worried about it.


I have seen some reviews on the clearbra, and some people wouldn't own another car w/o it and some really don't think it's necessary.

My car is an 02 boxster with 52k. I didn't pay that much for it and never plan on driving it in the winter, unless it was a winter where there was no snow, or cinders on the road, and it is a rare 60 degree day.



So, since i don't tailgate in this car and won't drive it in the winter or bad weather, why do i really need to spend $700 for a clearbra?

 

You are gonna confuse the cartalk peeps with the whiskers option

 

I wouldn't bother, you won't be driving it enough.

 

if it was your DD then yes... but since it isn't...

 

i was thinking also i would say if it was a 3 yr old car or newer, like a 911, then i would seriously think about it.

I was planning on getting it installed, but i think i may cancel.

 

Is the clearbra really that effective to begin with?

Here in Motown, the patch crews are out every spring filling in potholes with sludge that turns into mini-IED's. I've yet to see a clearbra effectively prevent dings from marble sized shrapnel.

 

i think its a waste, since you have to change it every couple of years.
might as well just get it repainted for the same price.

 

I agree with everyone else....since this isn't your DD, you should just keep it..

 

Hi dallison

I use a "clearbra" of sorts on all of my vehicles that isn't the traditional film. It works very well, as my vehicles are often on gravel roads and have yet to have a problem. If interested, let me know.


Terry

 

Yes.

I wish I got one on my car. Now everything is all fucked up.

 

if it's just gonna be a weekend/fun car and only driven occasionally then
but since i don't know exactly how much and what kind of roads you are gonna drive it on, i voted whiskers

 

half highway and half back roads. Neither really has any debris or huge amount of rocks on the road.

 

if it's not your DD, nah.... just avoid trucks when you are on the highway and don't tailgate ppl.

 

I'm interested regardless. Is it a spray?

 

I would consider it if I was going to keep the car til its death, but prob not for $700.

 

Get a clear vinyl wrap instead. Might be marginally more expensive but probably a much better job at protecting the car too.

 

Yep, aluminized clear. The same stuff used to cover aluminum wheels. I use it on all my vehicles except the collector stuff.


Terry

 

My IS came with the clear bra on the hood and side mirrors and I've never had any issues. If you already have minor paint chips on your hood, adding a clear bra on it would magnify them. If anything, I'd get it for your head/fog lights. I had it put on my TSX after seeing a few divots on my headlights and finding out how much it would've cost to replace one Did the same for my IS.

 

Wish I had gotten a clear bra now. My front is all messed up (mostly from bug residue more than rock chips). I'll definitely spring for one next time....

 

i cancelled my appointment. Most of the time when i spend a good chunk of money i think it ower better. I ask myself, do i need it where it is necessary or do i want it?

for this, i don't need it

 

$700?! Hell no.

If you can get it done for under $400 then sure.

 

its not your DD. so no.

you have a yellow boxter. i assume you like to stand out. if you have 700 disposable dollars, put it towards a cosmetic mod.

 

in this case, no.

 

I would if you are gonna be on the highway much

 

Normally I would say go for it as they work well and protect your car.

However, for $700 I give it a big hell no. We had my wife's A4 done when we got the car and it was much less.

 

$700 seems like too much to part with for some clear vinyl for your hood and bumper. If it's just a fun car then you're probably only going to bring it out when the roads are nice anyway.

 

I have bought a clear bra for each of my daily drivers for the last eight years and I plan to put one on my V. I also plan to put one on my S2000 as it will occasionally be used for long trips (Wake The Dragon ) even though it's a weekend car.

Even though your car is a playtoy, the lack of chips on the front can only enhance resale value if/when you sell it in the future. Always think ahead if you can afford to do so!

BTW, the poster who said it had to come off every two years is dead wrong. The longest I've had a clear bra on is four years and it looked as good as the day it went on. The newer materials are 3M/Xpel FTW.

 

What color is your car again?

 

yellow

 

It looks like ass usually, especially when someone only does half of the hood also I'm sure you can get rid of it, but especially when its only half of the hood, you can see wax residue caught on the edge. Not to mention the orange peel-like texture of the clear bras I've seen

 

I had the clear bra on my yellow Scion xB, it was gret to have as a DD, but the annoying part was the black dirt that permanently outlined the edges of the bra..

 

Since the car probably has some chips already I wouldn't bother (until/if you re-spray). For me I will clear bra every car I ever own until something better is invented. I do too many stone chip repairs not to.

 

Man, you guys either purchased shit clear-bras or did it way before the technology was good.

As mentioned, we had it on the wife's black A4 (front bumper, half the hood and wrapped around to part of the front quarter panel, lights, and side mirrors).

Never had:

- Wax build-up
- Orange Peeling
- Dirt on the edge or under (granted the car was black)
- Never heard of changing it and we had it for 3.5 years, looked at good on the day we got rid of it as the first day

I stand behind my vote and original reply that it's not worth it at that price, but the other stuff is something we never experienced, and for the right price on the right car, we'd do it again in a heartbeat as many things bounced off that clear-bra and not one blemish was left behind...

 

I've never had wax buildup or orange peeling on any of my clear bras. I did have a small amount of dirt on one small edge of the one on my RL, but otherwise none. I'm with juniorbean. For the right price, do it.

 

^^I'm not saying I have a super keen eye or anything but on pretty much every single car I've seen with a clear bra, the FIRST thing I notice from far away is the line where the clear bra ends on the hood/fender.... then when I get up close I notice the immediate difference in texture between the clear bra and the uncovered paint, and I see the line of wax/dirt/etc on the edge of the clear bra.

I'm not saying I'm against clear bras, but if you're going to do it, get it done all the way.... the whole hood, and cover the whole fenders up to the body line at the doors. The WORST is when you look down at the bumper, I guess some clear bra kits aren't 1-piece, but some of them have seams where they don't meet! Looks like garbage...

I doubt they're all shitty ones because I've seen a few on some very high $$$ cars though I don't remember if they had all the problems. Still, I could easily tell a clear bra was on there.

 

Here's a link between two popular (amongst Vette owners at least) clear bra brands.... Venture Shield is better on paper, but both 3M and VS are hit/miss.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z...re-shield.html

And here's the close-ups of the clear bra seams Frankly I'd be pissed if my car looked like this afterwards, but thats just me.

 

I'm with costco on this one. I contemplated getting a clear bar when i picked up the c2s but most p-car owners in HI don't get one. To me, the demarcation line sticks out like a sore thumb and my dealer said if removed a few years down the road, there can be color discrepancy of the paint. Some have said prolonged UV light may cause a color change of the clearbra but i'm not sure about this. My 911 is my DD but i avoid tailgating semis and don't drive it after a heavy rain. Of course, it doesn't snow here and the roads aren't as jacked up as the mainland.

After 1.5 years, so far so good.

 

i was wondering if you had one, thanks

 

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like vinyl lasts as long but honestly if I'm ballin' a Z06, I can afford $500 every year or two to have them replace it.

I still think one big sheet of clear vinyl is the way to go.