Carbras.

[insatiable]

Has anybody have a comment on using a Carbra on q Boxster? I have had one on my IS300 Lexus and it has saved a lot of stone damage but I wonder with the Box. having such long sloping bonnet whether it will be little more than bumper protection. Also is it possible to get it to fit really snugly?
Happy New Year from " Down Under"

Maybe you should look into the clear film paint protectors instead. There is a lot of good info here in the forum. Just do a search.

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

I don't like the Clear Bras, they have issues which cannot be resolved. Instead, I use the OEM Bra and Mirror Bras whenever I am taking a Trip or going to the Backroads. My car is not a daily driver, so the 10 min. or so to install/remove the Bra is no big deal. I do not leave it on to prevent a Fade line and do not ever leave the Car outside overnight.

The Bra works very well, but eventually any Car will need some cosmetic attention regardless of what you use. The truth is, some Stone Chip repair is inherent in any low, sloped hood Sports Car. I regularly Touch-up my Lotus Esprit and do a respray every 5-8 years depending upon how much it is needed - just the cost of doing business...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[eslai]

What issues do you have with clear bras? I'm pretty happy with mine and from what I understand they don't damage the paint. If you know something I don't, now's the time to tell me while the car is young.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by eslai

What issues do you have with clear bras? I'm pretty happy with mine and from what I understand they don't damage the paint. If you know something I don't, now's the time to tell me while the car is young.

Hi,

A lot of people like them, but there are a variety of issues with them. The Lotus Esprit crowd experimented with them several years ago and here's the general concensus:

a.) They are NOT invisible

b.) As they age, a Dirt Line appears, making them even more visible, especially on light colored cars.

c.) They scratch easily when washing/waxing/claying and look old before their time.

d.) They offer some UV protection and so the paint underneath will fade at a lesser rate than the non-protected paint, making it noticable over time.

e.) They offer some protection, but for larger impacts, they merely hold the paint chip in place - remove the Mask and the paint comes away with it requiring a respray when this is exactly what one spent $$$ to avoid. A conventional Bra offers much greater impact protection.

f.) A friend who had it on his Countach had a pin hole penetrate the Mask unoticed and he got some corrosion because of the water it trapped underneath.

g.) Inevitably, use a Clear Mask, and you get chips just above it, so you're Touching Up anyway.

I guess in sum, they offer some protection, but at a price which is out of proportion to what you get. If you're keeping the Car for 2 years, maybe worthwhile for preserving the Resale, but keep it any longer and the Mask becomes more a burden than a blessing. As always, just my humble $0.02...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[tqtran]

Don't forget the yellow stains from bugs that seem to never go away......

[eslai]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

a.) They are NOT invisible

b.) As they age, a Dirt Line appears, making them even more visible, especially on light colored cars.

c.) They scratch easily when washing/waxing/claying and look old before their time.

d.) They offer some UV protection and so the paint underneath will fade at a lesser rate than the non-protected paint, making it noticable over time.

e.) They offer some protection, but for larger impacts, they merely hold the paint chip in place - remove the Mask and the paint comes away with it requiring a respray when this is exactly what one spent $$$ to avoid. A conventional Bra offers much greater impact protection.

f.) A friend who had it on his Countach had a pin hole penetrate the Mask unoticed and he got some corrosion because of the water it trapped underneath.

g.) Inevitably, use a Clear Mask, and you get chips just above it, so you're Touching Up anyway.

I guess in sum, they offer some protection, but at a price which is out of proportion to what you get. If you're keeping the Car for 2 years, maybe worthwhile for preserving the Resale, but keep it any longer and the Mask becomes more a burden than a blessing. As always, just my humble $0.02...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Good points! I know it's not "invisible" but it looks better than a regular bra. Th e bit about the dirt line is definitely true on light cars, but on my seal grey, no problems and the dirt line can be erased with a little work, supposedly.

I've never seen paint touch-ups that really satisfied me and wow, I get a lot of rock chips apparently--my other car is covered on the front. Resprays never adhere as well and so you end up with more rock chips than before and then you end up on an expensive schedule of respraying the car all the time.

I'm trying to protect the original paint on the car as much as I can, so disregarding the cost, I went with the clear bra. Since this is my daily driver getting over ten thousand miles a year, the cost-benefit thing doesn't end up seeming as ludicrous as it might for someone that owns a multitude of vehicles.

The UV issue is the one that freaks me out the most. SUPPOSEDLY it's not going to do that... but we'll see. In any case, it's certainly going to be less of a difference than if one were to leave a regular bra on a car year-round!

Oh, and tqtran, maybe it's the version you've experienced, but on my car, the yellow stains disappear very fast. That had me worried the first time I saw it happen, but when I looked later, the stains were gone.

[boxtex]

Originally Posted by insatiable

Has anybody have a comment on using a Carbra on q Boxster? I have had one on my IS300 Lexus and it has saved a lot of stone damage but I wonder with the Box. having such long sloping bonnet whether it will be little more than bumper protection. Also is it possible to get it to fit really snugly?
Happy New Year from " Down Under"

Check this site there is a strong warranty with this company, I'm using it on my 2002 boxster no problems so far.
I had the bra installed on the bumper, hood, over the fenders, and mirrors. Paid 500 + tax. It was better to find an installer and have him do the work, than ordering the material and do it my self.
Good luck, here is the site.

http://www.autopaintguard.com/kit_search.asp?prevyear=2002&prevmake=33&prevmodel=588&prevsubmodel=0&prevseries=0&year=2002&make=33&model=588&submodel=1984

[Ronzi]

Insatiable, the bra is two pieces. A big one that covers the front and the fenders to just behind the headlights, and a smaller one that slips over the hood. It has a couple of bungee cord tensioners that seem to keep it stretched over the hood very well.
I pulled the invoices for the bra and the mirror muffs. The bra was $149.50 from a local Porsche dealer, and the mirror covers $19.95 for the pair mail-order from another dealer. Both are Porsche-logo items.
If I had to pay over $400 for the bra, I believe I would have to think hard about doing so.

[insatiable]

Originally Posted by boxtex

Check this site there is a strong warranty with this company, I'm using it on my 2002 boxster no problems so far.
I had the bra installed on the bumper, hood, over the fenders, and mirrors. Paid 500 + tax. It was better to find an installer and have him do the work, than ordering the material and do it my self.
Good luck, here is the site.

http://www.autopaintguard.com/kit_search.asp?prevyear=2002&prevmake=33&prevmodel=588&prevsubmodel=0&prevseries=0&year=2002&make=33&model=588&submodel=1984

Tks. for this info .I checked the site looks a good product but I'm not aware of it in Oz. however will contact 3M here.
Howlong have you had it and what colour is your vehicle ,is the edge noticeable?
Cheers

sorry but i really do not like the look of these yokes, maybe it helps for protection but really is buck ugly, i though Ronzi you were a new superhero and your car was your sidekick

[boxtex]

Originally Posted by insatiable

Tks. for this info .I checked the site looks a good product but I'm not aware of it in Oz. however will contact 3M here.
Howlong have you had it and what colour is your vehicle ,is the edge noticeable?
Cheers

.
things to keep in mind about the 3M product is that is more cloudy and less stronger than the product I suggested, try to pierce through with a screw driver and you see that you have to really push hard that screw driver my .002 cents

[Ronzi]

Well, olly986, at least my car's not Silver.

One other thing.
A few years ago I had a 911 Targa. I got caught in a windstorm (no rain, just high wind) which totally sandblasted the front end of the car, windshield, mirror housings, etc. Fortunately my insurance co. paid to repaint 2/3 of the car, I picked up the back-end 1/3. The total bill from the body shop was a little over $9,100.
I do not want that to happen again.

hey Ronzi
my car isn't silver either!
just slagging, loves the mountain tops behind