911rox

A clear bra greatly reduces the chance of damage to the paint beneath... Ultimately it comes down to the size and shape of the debris hitting the car. It is a sacrificial barrier and works great IMO...

I've had stones large enough hit the car that I was certain would have chipped the paint beneath too... When the film was removed and replaced, no damage was found. If the car is going to see country roads or tracks regularly, clear bra is a must... Cheaper to get high wear areas re-filmed as opposed to the cost of respraying and associated devaluing of the vehicle... Just my 2 cents

Nick

Had the clear bra on two cars and though yellowing wasn't an issue the bra did get nicked and the marks are permanent. My last car a white 997.2 TT Cab. I went naked and after 18 months very few barely noticeable marks on the front end. I will NOT do a bra on the GT3.

Then again, I am not as **** as some are about their cars.

doubleurx

Xpel can self heal, unless the material gets torn. 3M does not.

CAlexio

Did i hear that there is a 3M spray now which works to protect the paint, easier to apply and cheaper than film?

sunnyr

+1. It like a condom. Yea **** can still happen, but it greatly reduces the chances.

It also has other advantages - no more tree sap and bird **** stains on the paint. No more swirl marks on the paint either while washing/drying/putting on and off the cover - you have so much more margin for error. I first got the front half of the car done and was so happy did almost the entire car (everything except the rear quarter). Just make sure you get a good installer and you won't even know it is there.

Z356

My sincere apologies, KBS911. I indeed sounded like a bitter clinger, hanging on to my guns, religion...and thorax airbags! I am partially off the soap box now. The truth is that my frustration lies with Porsche and their inability to have anticipated the apparent change in US regulations so that they could have engineered a sport bucket seat (w. airbags) that could have been offered no only in the MY2014 991 gt3, but as an option in every 991 (since MY2012) & 981 (since MY2013)!

The point I was trying to make is simply questioning the wisdom of risking injury or life by not having a functional seat airbag in normal street driving (not at the track) on your modern Porsche, which is engineered to have one. At the track, the risk can be mitigated by the safety add-ons you mentioned.

Saludos,
Eduardo

alpine-al

Here's a link to a review of the 3M Paint Defender Spray on rennlist.

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...ay-review.html

[ Apologies to all for perpetuating an off-topic post. ]

Mike in CA

There was some discussion about the 3M Paint Defender in another thread here recently and the reviews are very mixed on Amazon. I think I'd be leery of spraying the stuff on any car much less a new Porsche.

http://www.amazon.com/3M-90100-Paint...efender+system

Zero911

I'm sure the product is ok. But only in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. You can buy clear bra film too, same stuff the pros use but if for example I were to apply it, I know I'd have dust issues, bubbling, accidental cut marks in the paint, etc. Look at all the crappy window tint jobs out there. Without having practiced using this particular spray product you'll have issues similar to painting a car... dust, uneveness, orange peel look, etc.

Ok, back on topic. I hope the rumors are true that the sport bucket seats coming in for 2015 are a similar design as those used in the 918. Those are hot.

KBS911

Eduardo,
No apologies required. You are correct to think about safety first, so should Porsche. They know full well that these cars are tracked, and should accommodate their customer base. It's good that the seats come out quickly with only 4 bolts. I am anxiously awaiting the new seats. Can't come soon enough.

Regards,

Ken

Mike in CA

Agree, it very well may be ok as a product. Unfortunately for the vast majority of people having the experience to properly apply the product is the most critical part of getting a good result. I have no intention of practicing on my new GT3.

911dev

Of course, any object big enough, and/or with enough velocity, etc. could cut through; odds are greatly in favor the bra will protect the paint.

shizzle

^I've used the stuff on the rocker panels of my 991C2S. As a temporary cover for the panels during track days, I find it works great. Just make sure you give it a couple days to cure. I've never left it on for more than a week, so I've found that taking it off is generally also not too much of a hassle. IMHO, it's way better than putting on masking take, or that saran wrap stuff some folks use. It's definitely not a replacement for a proper clear bra.

Mike in CA

Can see it making sense in that application. I've used painters tape and it's a PITA....

Manifold

Any word on when the track seats will be available in the US? I may be getting closer to being able to order the car (if I want it, still not sure), but I really need the track seats. Pisses me off so much that the clubsport package isn't available in the US ...