My '86 944 is getting a new paint job, and here's a question I have come up with: Should I put body side molding on the car? It does not have any, and I wonder if this would be a good investment for protecting my new paint job.

Any opinions whether side molding detracts from the appearance of the 944? Or do you think it looks OK? I imagine it looks better than dents or scratches.

If I decide to get some, then from where? Tweeks has a "kit" for the 944 that costs $600. I can't imagine paying that much money for molding. Performance Products advertises pieces for the 924/924S. They are much cheaper than Tweeks. Any reason these wouldn't work on a 944? Can decent generic molding be purchased at a local auto parts store? Any other suggestions?

 

When you say molding, do you mean the little bar that runs along the door? My car's got 'em, and I never noticed them until I saw another 944 without them and they definately look better without. It's not drastic, but I certainly wouldn't pay to have them put on. They'll get dinged, too. I've noticed that my doors don't much get dinged unless I let someone else use the car...Just don't park close next to the guy in the rusted out hoopdie and you'll find yourself with far fewer door knicks...Put the $600 into new lights or tires.

 

Have them painted with the car, so if you want, you can put them on later.

 

My car did not come with it. So when I saw other cars with them I thought of how cool they look and how it protects the car from door dings or minor mishaps...

So... when I painted the car at home I decided to add them and paint them with the car. You know, paint the car, add them, do one more coat of paint and clear coated.

Now I look at cars that do not have them and I regreted putting them on. The car looks better without them... so I took them off... paint and all came with it.

Now I have to repaint the car, but this time they stay off.

If you do not have them and want to buy originals... it is an expensive piece of rubber... In my case I use a similar body molding that comes with self adhesive. Looked almost like the original part (only difference is that the original part is shallow at the begining of the door to allow for the opening without rubbing on the fender).

I like the car better without them. My two cents.

 

Don't do it! In my opinion it detracts from the looks of the car. I just park way out in the parking lot wherever I go to cut down on the door dings. I think the side moldings detract even more from the appearance of the C5 Vettes, but that's another story.

 

I removed mine and was much happier with the cleaner look.

 

Noooooo!... They're all gonna laugh at you!...

 

Can one of you guys without the moulding post a decent picture. I've never noticed one without before and am curious to see what it looks like.

Thanks,

Paul

 

I like my moulding...defines the lines of the car better IMHO:

 

Just a few better views...

 

Here...

 

I actually like my side molding, and don't believe it really detracts from the appearance of the car. And it does provide a little more peace of mind when docking at the local grocery store parking lot.

On the other hand, my Boxster does not have side molding. Porsche obviously decided that the car looks better without it. (It makes you live in fear of the dreaded ding, though.)

 

Here's a pic of my car before the new paint. Although I don't think the molding looks bad by any means (Andy K's car is beautiful), I prefer the look without the molding.

I think it's interesting in this picture how the light combines with the curves of the car to put a line right where the molding would be.

If anybody looks at this photo and wonders why the car needs new paint, the hood is (was) a mess with large spots of clear coat coming off. There are also a couple of seams along the back (under the spoiler) where the paint has chipped and there is rust. I often wish the car was Guards Red, but the Garnet Red Metallic sure looks good in this picture.

 

I like the wine-red color on a 944! What color did you paint your car, Mark?

 

I'm having the car re-painted the same color: Garnet Red Metallic (LM3Y). I thought about changing the color, but I'm too **** retentive to be happy with a car that's one color on the outside and another color under the hood, in the hatch, etc.

Besides, I like the Garnet Red and I like the fact that it's not overly common.